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| Denise Lowell-Britt |
Hollands kicked off the presentation with a quick review of
actual headlines in which board members faced fame and ridicule for their
tweets and posts. Four potential scenarios, from comments that could place the
district at legal risk to posts that could violate the open meeting law, were
presented to provide a backdrop for the presentation.
Lowell-Britt continued with a comprehensive review of the
applicable laws and legal procedures that must be considered when a board
member chooses to use social media in his or her official capacity. Paramount to any participation is ensuring
that the open meeting law is understood and not violated, and executive session
discussion is protected.
A second consideration is whether or not the post is a
public record. Determination is based upon content, not format or location,
leaving the board member’s personal technology subject to public scrutiny, and
the member liable if records are not maintained according to statute.
Copyright law and infringement is another potential pitfall.
Availability of content does not equate to permission to use. And access to
FERPA-protected information does not imply permission to share. The ultimate
concern is risk of litigation against the district due to the board member’s
participation in social media.
Hollands continued the presentation by sharing several ways
board members can positively impact their districts through social media. These
include celebrating successes, promoting positive media, inviting the community
to events, sharing important information and providing insight into educational
topics. Proven techniques for these purposes were provided. For example, a
board member should share a link to district-provided content rather than
restating and possibly misrepresenting the district’s official position on a
topic or compromising embargoes information.
In conclusion, Hollands shared best practices and board
policies to live by.
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