Colchester communications director urges narrow bill language so schools can use social media and notification tools

Megan Ball, director of communications for the Colchester School District, told a legislative committee that the district uses targeted digital tools to reach employees, families and students and that proposed broad restrictions on school use of social media could hamper classroom and career‑education opportunities.

Ball said Colchester adopted the mass‑notification platform ParentSquare about three years ago and uses it alongside the district student information system, PowerSchool, to email and text newsletters and to provide a secure, archived messaging channel for coaches and advisers. "We took that on about 3 years ago," Ball said, describing ParentSquare as a platform that allows the district to message students and families without exchanging phone numbers.

Why it matters: Lawmakers are considering language that would limit school use of social media and direct communication with students. Ball said that, if drafted too broadly, the bill could block educator‑approved, instructional uses — such as a yearbook or journalism class producing…