Highline School District Board of Directors must consider the following guidelines when using social media in accordance with the board’s Social Media Policy 4309 and Social Media Procedure No. 4309P. 

• Be cautious – think before you post. Is this something that you do not mind seeing on the front page of the newspaper? Will this be something that you would want your own children or the students of the school district to see as a good example of the way to communicate or comment? Post responsibly.
• Be careful of what information you share. Do not share personal information about students, employees, yourself, other board members, and citizens. Likewise, do not share information that the school district has contractually agreed to keep confidential, for example, proprietary information, trade secrets, and security information.  Think before sharing legally protected privileged information, such as attorney-client, physician-patient, and other privileged information recognized by a court.
• Be aware that social media sites are not the place for a private conversation. Face-to-face meetings or telephone conversations may be more appropriate.
• Do not allow anger or other negative emotions to cause you to post information that you will be sorry for later. Is this something that you would be ashamed of if you read it months, or years from now?  Remember that what you place on social media sites, and in e-mails, text messages, and chat rooms can spread quickly and permanently remain on the internet or in someone’s possession. Statements that are harassing, discriminatory, defamatory, and terroristic are not suitable and could subject board members, and possibly the school district, to a legal action. Be polite.
• Do not use abusive, profane, threatening, or offensive language. Use appropriate language. Do not swear or use vulgarities or other inappropriate language.
• Do not post self-promotions, items for sale, commercial messages, and advertisements that are associated with the school district.
• Do not conduct board business on social media sites.  Instead, use these sites for listening or reading about others’ opinions, making announcements, having conversations, and obtaining feedback.
• Comply with the law and relevant policies including school districts’ policies regarding acceptable use, student records, harassment and discrimination, and copyright laws; the internet service provider’s terms; the website disclaimers, terms of use, and privacy policies; and federal, state, and local laws, including the open meetings act and public records act. Also, respect the rights of other users to an open and hospitable technology environment, regardless of race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, honorably-discharged veteran or military status, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression and identity, marital status, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability.

Highline School District 401
Adopted by the Superintendent: August 2013
Revised by the Superintendent: 9.14