General Guidelines

This policy addresses employees’ use of publicly available social media networks including, but not limited to: personal websites, Web logs (blogs), wikis, social networks (Facebook, Flickr, My Space, Twitter, etc.), online forums, virtual worlds, and any other social media. The District takes no position on employees’ decision to participate in the use of social media networks for personal use on personal time, using personal computer equipment or other devices capable of accessing the internet. However, use of these media for personal use during District time or on District equipment is prohibited.

Consult NTC’s “Network / Internet Access, Safety, and Use Policy” (Board Policy 3052), as well as the employee manual and / or parent and / or student handbooks. Be aware that all existing policies and behavior guidelines extend to school-related activities in the online environment as well as on school premises.

Use good judgment. Think about the type of image you want to convey on behalf of NTC when you are posting to social networks and social media sites. Remember that what you post will be viewed and permanently archived. Social media websites and blogs are not private. Internet search engines can find information years after it was originally posted. Comments can be forwarded or copied, and archival systems save information even if a post is deleted.

Remember professional communications are available to NTC administrators. NTC considers an employee’s use of any electronic media for the purpose of communicating with a student or a parent to be an extension of the employee’s workplace responsibilities. Accordingly, the board expects NTC personnel to use professional judgment and appropriate decorum when using any social media in this fashion. NTC administrators may require an employee to provide access to any websites used by him or her for communication with students or parents and to produce copies of any electronic communication with students or parents, including text messages, web page posts, etc. This policy does not authorize an administrator to inspect an employee’s personal equipment without the employee’s express consent.

Social Networking Websites

Some social networking websites are not accessible on NTC’s network because they have been blocked. If NTC personnel, including teachers, would like to request that a website be made accessible to use for teaching and learning, that person shall submit a written request to the IT Director for review, identifying the online tools to be used and the instructional purpose in using them.

While on NTC property, neither NTC personnel nor students may use an outside, proprietary network to access websites that are blocked on NTC’s network.

Employees of the school district should limit electronic communication with students to matters concerning the student’s education or extra-curricular activities for which the employee has assigned responsibility. Excessive messaging to a single student should be avoided. Employees who engage in school-related communications with students shall inform students of the guidelines for communicating with students. In instances where the student’s or employee’s communications are inappropriate or outside permissible school policy, such communication should be reported to the employee’s supervisor or school district administrator immediately.

Personnel shall abide by the following requirements regarding use of social networking websites, even when done in their personal time, using personal property.

1. Fraternization with students using social networking websites on the internet:

   1. Teachers, instructors, directors, supervisors, and other NTC employees may have students as “friends”, “fans,” and “followers,” etc., on officially registered, NTC-approved social media accounts. However, you may not “friend” your current students on your personal Facebook accounts or have them as “friends,” “followers,” “fans,” etc. on other personal social media. The reason for the prohibition is to prevent student accusations of subjectivity or favored treatment in grading and disciplinary matters as well as to reduce the potential for other issues to arise, such as claims of harassment. The prohibition remains in effect as long as the professional role of teacher, instructor, director or supervisor continues with the students.

   2. All e-contacts with students shall be made through NTC computers, email, NTC approved social media networks / sites, and NTC telephone systems.

   3. Inappropriate contact with students or parents via e-mail, phone, or other methods of communication is prohibited.

   4. An employee’s use of any social media network and an employee’s postings, displays, or communications on any social media network must comply with all state and federal laws and any applicable District policies.

2. Employees may not post items on social networking websites with sexual content if they are identifying themselves as an employee of NTC;

3. Employees may not post items exhibiting or advocating the use of drugs or alcohol if they are identifying themselves as an employee of NTC;

4. Employees may not post pictures, video, or audio of students unless the student’s parent (if the student is under 18) or the student (if the student is 18 or over) has provided the student’s building administrator with written permission to do so;

5. Employees shall not use obscene, profane, or vulgar language on any social media network or engage in communications or conduct that is harassing, threatening, bullying, libelous, or defamatory, neither on NTC approved social media nor on personal social media sites while identifying themselves as NTC personnel;

6. Employees must obtain express written permission from the District to post the District logo on any social media network or in order to make any endorsements on behalf of the District.

7. Employees creating or participating in social media outlets for NTC related purposes must notify administration of the existence of said social media channel or site, and receive approval of usage of said social media outlet prior to conducting any communication through that channel. For instance, if an instructor sets up a Twitter account for their class, they must notify administration of that Twitter account’s existence, and receive permission before using it.

Note that when using an NTC e-mail address and / or equipment to participate in any social media or professional social networking activity, the communications are public, and employees are responsible for the content in the communication.

Copyright and Fair Use Guidelines

NTC personnel and students must respect copyright and fair use guidelines when posting material on social network sites, even those websites used and accessed for educational and classroom purposes. See www.copyright.gov/fls/fl102.html.

Hyperlinking to outside sources is recommended. Do not plagiarize. Give credit, where credit is due, to the sources of material. When hyperlinking to other sites and media, be sure that the hyperlinked content is appropriate and consistent with these guidelines. Be aware that photographs taken by professional photographers cannot be scanned and used on the internet without the photographer’s permission, even if they are photos purchased from the photographer.

Text and Instant Messaging

NTC personnel shall only text or instant message students regarding official NTC business pertaining to that student’s course work, student organization, etc. Staff shall not send personal messages that are not related to the business of NTC or that contain confidential information to persons not authorized to receive that information.

Use of Social Media

The Superintendent shall designate those staff persons who have management or administrator access to NTC social media, including, but not limited to the ability to remove content from NTC social media if determined to be inappropriate. Only content that is allowable on the NTC website is allowable on NTC social media pages unless otherwise authorized by the Superintendent.

Penalties

Both NTC personnel and students face the possibility of penalties, including student suspension and employee termination, for failing to abide by NTC policies when accessing and using social media.

Approved by the Board of Education on May 14, 2012