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District favors one‑way social media; recommends 'Let's Talk' as primary channel for public concerns
Summary
Board discussed revisions to social-media policy, emphasizing the district's intent that district and school social accounts be primarily one‑way; members urged consistent procedures, recommended 'Let's Talk' as the preferred two‑way channel, and flagged moderation and legal risks.
Pasco County School District board members reviewed proposed edits to the social‑media and communications policies, debating whether school‑level accounts should be allowed to host public comments and how the district should handle moderation risk.
Staff and board members said the draft language keeps the district’s social media channels primarily one‑way while authorizing the district to accept comments only when it elects to do so. “Let's Talk is the district preferred platform for gathering and responding public comments, concerns, questions, etc.,” read a prepared statement quoted by Speaker 5 during the meeting.
Board members raised operational and legal concerns about leaving comments open on school accounts. Multiple speakers said monitoring comments had become time‑consuming and could create constitutional or liability risks if moderation is inconsistent. “There is significant cost and potential constitutional liability to the extent the districts attempt to moderate comments,” Speaker 5 said.
Several members urged consistent districtwide procedures so school practices do not vary. The superintendent (title referenced in the discussion but not named) and attorney indicated the word "may" was intentionally used to preserve flexibility: the district "may utilize" social media so it is not compelled to use it in every circumstance. The attorney explained that the phrasing preserves the district's ability to decide on use and moderation in the future.
Board members also requested staff training and procedural guidance for school site accounts, noting technical pitfalls (for example, scheduled posts that unintentionally open comments). Staff said they will produce procedures and training to align school accounts with district practice and recommended that schools use Let's Talk for two‑way communications while using social channels for one‑way information distribution.
No formal vote on the social media wording was recorded in the transcript; staff were directed to finalize procedures and return the policy for adoption.
