Schools to set rules for social media use

If you work for Hamilton County Schools, administrators apparently don't care about the status of your Facebook FarmVille.

They don't want to monitor your personal e-mails or your online dating profile, either.

And they don't plan to collect your personal home computer and review all your Tweets.

Problem is, they weren't too clear on that in a proposed social media policy recently presented to the school board. The proposal drew criticism from board members and had teachers worried about an invasion of privacy.

"It left it too open to invade on their individual rights. I just thought it was too vague there," board Chairman Kenny Smith said. "We need to protect the children, without a doubt, but we have certain rights. We wouldn't want to give them up."

In September, a Facebook faux pas by Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce lobbyist Hayes Ledford led to his resignation, which prompted several local organizations to consider drafting a social media policy, officials said.

Richard Beeland, spokesman for Mayor Ron Littlefield, said the city does not have a social media policy, but officials are aware of the need.

Mike Dunn, spokesman for Hamilton County Mayor Claude Ramsey, did not return a request for information about county government's policy.

Hamilton County Schools' proposal has two parts: one governing employees' use of electronic media with their students, and the other their communication with the community while serving in their capacity as school system employees.

But because the school system's first proposed policy received so much criticism, school board attorney Scott Bennett has rewritten it to be more specific.

The rewritten version states employees must use "professional judgment and appropriate decorum" when communicating with students through text messaging or Web sites. It also states they should act "appropriately and professionally" when talking to community members who are aware of the person's employment with the school system.

One addition to the rewritten version is, if there is a question of inappropriate electronic communication between an employee and a student, school system officials cannot confiscate the employee's personal property -- such as a cell phone or home computer -- without his or her express consent.

"Think of Mr. Smith's sophomore biology class and there's a chatroom to discuss a homework assignment. That's clearly an extension of the classroom," Mr. Bennett said. "If he's discussing questions, clearly we have a right to know what he's telling kids in his capacity as a teacher."

During the first reading of the policy at a recent board meeting, board member Rhonda Thurman said she worried that the social media policy could be used as a way for students or administrators to force a teacher they didn't like out of a job.

Sharon Vandagriff, president of the Hamilton County Education Association, said she doesn't understand why the system even needs the policy.

"The fact that they feel like they have to remind teachers to act in a professional manner, it's a little demeaning," she said.

Policies protecting student confidentiality already exist in state law, she noted.

It may be common sense to act professionally, but some teachers just don't get it, said Angel Schrader, a second-grade teacher at East Side Elementary School.

"As a teacher, you are in the public eye. You're kind of held to different standards. There needs to be a policy," she said. "I have friends who have posted pictures and stories about their students on Facebook. That's a bad idea."

NATIONWIDE TREND

Because teachers are communicating more and more with their students electronically, districts all across the country are developing similar policies, said Hamilton school system spokeswoman Danielle Clark, who researched and helped draft the policy.

In developing the proposal, Ms. Clark said she looked at similar policies in Barrow County Schools in Athens, Ga., and East Baton Rouge Parish School Board in Louisiana.

Officials at both school districts did not return messages seeking comment.

Mr. Bennett said the purpose of having two readings for a new policy is to allow for employee feedback.

"This document reflects a lot of input and feedback," he said. "It's a moving target."

Since the policy has been revised, Mr. Smith said the school board likely would do a first reading again at its March meeting.

Follow Kelli Gauthier on Twitter at twitter.com/gauthierkelli.