School Board Bans Facebook and Twitter as Communication Tool with Students, Except ...

School board members unanimously passed a policy Tuesday that forbids teachers to communication with students through private electronic media like Facebook and Twitter.

The Pinellas County School Board says the days of a one-corded telephone in the middle of the living room are gone, and today’s technologically advanced society allows for instantaneous and constant communication through a myriad of outlets.

“I don’t know what information is being transmitted,” said school board attorney Jim Robinson of private communication with students.

While electronic media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter leave a “cyberprint” that have led to countless teacher investigations, it also puts faculty at a new and dangerous risk. 

The policy states: “Such communication could cause the appearance of inappropriate association with students.”

The new restrictions may impact Dunedin teachers, who've come to rely on platforms like Facebook to communicate with students and their families. 

The Dunedin High School Scottish Highlander Band, with 332 friends, and Dunedin Highland Middle School Bands, with 99 friends, use their Facebook pages to update students on upcoming performances, answer questions about uniforms and highlight achievements. Proud parents and students also share performance photos and videos.

New Dunedin High School Cheerleading coaches created a Facebook page in May to introduce themselves and spread the word about upcoming tryouts. Its 43 "friends” stay updated through status updates, like this one on Monday:

“Summer Cheeerleading camp will be August 2 and August 3 from 9am-2pm cost is $100 this includes lunch. This is mandatory for the 2011 cheerleading squads--Varsity and JV... More information coming soon”

Pinellas and Florida are not alone. In Missouri similar legislation is awaiting a signature from Gov. Jay Nixon.  School and government officials recognize the need for such cautionary measures, but are also concerned that their legislation does not allow for exceptions.

After the recent tornadoes in Joplin, many students were located through social media websites when cell phone signals were down.

Pinellas Schools board members made certain to take exceptions into account. The policy also states “staff shall utilize School Board resources in all electronic communications with students regarding school matters. Provided, however, private electronic media, such as a cell phone, may be used when District resources are not available, when such use is in the best interest of all concerned.”

This language was added to the policy after board member Linda Lerner brought up a potential draw back to a policy that completely eliminated all ability to communicate with students through private devices.

“A teacher brought up the circumstance, a teacher went on a trip with students,” Lerner said. “The teacher, responsibly, wants to know where [everyone is]. We’re not going to give a phone to every teacher that takes a trip.”

The meeting recessed while School Board attorneys drafted the new language. Once reconvened, the amended policy was adopted unanimously.

The board hopes this policy hinders opportunities for teachers to enter into inappropriate relationships with students and protects the district.

“For staff to communicate on school matters with students by personal electronic means when sufficient School Board means are available exposes the School Board to a possible violation of its legal obligations,” the policy reads.

Though all seven board members voted to adopt the policy, some expressed a desire to add language that requires teacher communication with both students and parents.

“We hear from the public that some teachers are doing it all the time and other say that it’s rarely, if ever and it’s out of date,” said board member Peggy O’Shea. “It is an important piece today. We really need to step up on that.”