Roselle Park, New Jersey File Code: 4119.24 STAFF USE OF INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKS AND OTHER FORMS OF ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION "Electronic communications," for the purpose of this policy, means a communication transmitted by means of an electronic device including, but not limited to, a telephone, cellular phone, computer, computer network, personal data assistant, or pager. Electronic communications include, but are not limited to, e-mails, text messages, instant messages, and communications made by means of an Internet website, including social media and social networking websites. The Superintendent and the School Principals shall annually remind staff members and orient new staff members concerning the importance of maintaining proper decorum in the on-line digital world as well as in person. Employees must conduct themselves in ways that do not distract from or disrupt the educational process. The annual orientation and reminders will give special emphasis to improper fraternization with students using electronic communications as follows: A. School employees shall not list current students as "friends" on networking sites; B. All electronic contacts with students shall be through the district's computer and telephone systems; C. All electronic contacts by coaches and extra-curricular advisors with team members and members of extracurricular activities shall be sent to all team members and activity participants; D. School employees shall not give out their private cell phone or home phone numbers to students without prior written approval of the Superintendent or his/her designee; E. Inappropriate contact with students via e-mail or phone is prohibited; F. Examples of inappropriate behavior shall be covered and discussed, including behavior to avoid and the need for all school employees to use common sense in avoiding inappropriate and unprofessional behavior when communicating and interacting with students; G. Inappropriate electronic communications with students, including communications via a social networking website, social media venues, or other Internet websites, include but are ~ t limited to: 1. Posting or sharing items containing sexual content; 2. Posting or sharing items exhibiting or advocating the use of drugs, alcohot or any illegal activities; 3. Posting or sharing items that pertain to students, including confidential information; 4. Posting or sharing any content that significantly affects the employee's ability to perform his/her job or disrupts the educational environment; 5. Posting or sharing any content th<1t w9ld violate district policies and/or procedures. 4119.24p H. Monitoring and penalties for the improper use of district computers, district technology, and the district computer network shall be discussed and staff shall be informed of the consequences that may result from inappropriate electronic communications with students and the possibility of penalties, including dismissal from employment, for failure to exercise good judgment in on-line and electronic conduct. I. School staff shall have no expectation of privacy when using district technology, the district network, and/or public social media and networking venues. The Superintendent or his/her designees shall periodically conduct Internet searches to determine if school employees have posted inappropriate material on the Internet. When inappropriate use of computers and Internet websites is discovered, the Superintendent or his/her designees shall download the problematic, inappropriate, or offensive material and seek to maintain storage and chain of custody of the evidence. The Superintendent or his/her designees shall also promptly bring the problematic, inappropriate, or offensive material to the attention of the Superintendent, the Board President, and the Board's Personnel Committee for review. Cell Phones School staff shall not contact a student's cell phone unless directed to do so by the student's parent/guardian or the adult student. School district personnel shall limit cell phone interaction with students to contact that pertains to legitimate school business. Legitimate school business includes, but is not limited to, the following: 1. Answering academic inquiries regarding homework, other classroom work or assignments; 2. Scheduling appointments for school related conferences and/or extra help; 3. Clarifying classroom expectations and/or assignments; 4. Sending notifications related to classroom, club or sports schedules, events, trips, assignments; deadlines. Cell phone contact with students shall be as brief and as direct as possible. When brief contact is not sufficient and/or feasible to resolve the matter, teachers shall schedule face to face conferences during regular classroom and extra-help periods to confer with the student. No cell phone contact shall exceed three replies. Text Messages No staff member, coach or volunteer shall text message any student individually. All text messages to students shall be sent to the class, team, club or organization. Staff shall not send messages that contain material that may be defined by a reasonable person as profane or obscene; messages that are racist, sexist or promote illicit, illegal or unethical activity; or messages that: 1. Violate the district's affirmative action policy; 2. Are personal in nature and not related to the business of the district; 3. Can be interpreted as provocative, flirtatious or sexual in nature; 4. Contain confidential information to persons not authorized to receive that information; 5. Violate the Board's policy on Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying, File Code: 5131 HIB. . 4119.24p ' Computer. Tablet. and Other Electronic Communication School district personnel shall adhere to the following guidelines when sending or receiving messages from students using district owned or issued computers/tablets/other electronic communication; the district network; and the staff member's external Email accounts: 1. All messages shall pertain to legitimate school business; 2. Personnel shall not reveal passwords to others. If a staff member believes that a password has been lost or stolen, or that E-mail has been accessed by someone without authorization, he/she must contact the Help Desk immediately. E-mail windows should not be left open on the screen when the computer is unattended. 3. District administrators shall have access to the employee's password or passwords for all district owned or issued devices and the use of the district network; 4. To ensure that federal copyright laws are not violated, staff shall not send messages that contain text without the author's permission. Staff shall not send messages that contain material that may be defined by a reasonable person as obscene; messages that are racist, sexist or promote illegal or unethical activity; or messages that: 1. Violate the district's affirmative action policy; 2. Are personal in nature and not related to the business of the district; 3. Can be interpreted as provocative, flirtatious or sexual in nature; 4. Are broadcast to a large group of other district personnel without supervisory permission; 5. Contain confidential information to persons not authorized to receive that information. 6. Violate the Board's policy on Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying, File Code: 5131 HIB. Personnel shall become familiar with the district's policies and regulation on staff and student access to networked information resources before initiating E-mail use. Employees learning of any misuse of the E-mail systems shall notify the supervisor of technology immediately. Social Networking Websites, Social Media. and Communications Made by Means of an Internet Website School employees have no expectation of privacy when using public social networking websites, public social media venues, and public Internet websites. School employees are prohibited from improperly fraternizing with students. 1. School employees may not list current students as "friends" on social networking sites or social media venues. 2. School employees shall not inappropriately communicate with students via social networking websites, social media, or other Internet websites. Inappropriate electronic communications with students include but is not limited to: 4119.24p a. Posting or sharing items containing sexual content; b. Posting or sharing items exhibiting or advocating the use of drugs, alcohol or any illegal activities; c. Posting or sharing items that pertain to students, including confidential information; d. Posting or sharing any content that significantly affects the employee's ability to perform his/her job or disrupts the educational environment; e. Posting or sharing any content that would violate district policies and/or procedures. Implementation This policy shall be distributed annually and as needed to all staff members. Adopted: October 20, 2009 Revised: March 16, 2010, __ _ 4119.24p