5242 - Communications Responsibility Policy

Policy 5242

PERSONNEL 

Communications Responsibility

District employees share the responsibility for communicating and interpreting district policies, programs, goals, and objectives to students, parents/guardians, and members of the community. Employees are expected to perform their services and functions to the best of their ability and interact with members of the community, parent(s) or guardian(s), students and other employees and volunteers in a sincere, courteous and considerate manner. Employees are expected to develop and maintain cooperative school-community relations and to achieve the understanding and mutual respect that are essential to the success of the district and its students.

Confidential information about students or other employees shall be released only as permitted by law and district policies and procedures.

Employees are expected to use professionalism and respect in all communications, including in-person and electronic communications. This includes the use of social media. Staff members shall not post electronically or via social media sites confidential or proprietary information about the District, its students, employees, parents/guardians, patrons, or alumni. Use of digital images of students or district operations without district authorization is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, images from school activities and events. District policies on maintaining professional boundaries between staff and students shall be followed at all times.

This policy should not be construed as an attempt to limit the inherent personal communication rights of employees in their private lives. However, the district maintains a legitimate concern in communications which present a reasonable possibility of substantially disrupting the work or educational environment, operations of the district, experience of a student, or where they create a professional concern regarding compliance with district policy and/or applicable law.

 

 

 

 

Cross Reference:         Board Policy   5121                Unprofessional Conduct
                                                            5260                Professional Boundaries Between
                                                                                                Staff and Students

 

 

Adoption Date:           May 8, 2012