Public commenter urges Red Clay to update staff social-media policy after national shooting

A public commenter at the Sept. 17 Red Clay Consolidated School District board meeting asked the district to review and amend its staff electronic communication and social-media policies following what he described as disturbing online responses to a recent campus shooting.

Brandon Bushon told the board he had seen "disgusting, vile behavior" online and said some people, including some district employees, had celebrated the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. "Two small children under the age of 5 becoming fatherless should not be celebrated by anyone, let alone teachers or staff within a school district," Bushon said. He asked the board to update policy 4021 (staff conduct: electronic communication and social media) or at minimum distribute a reminder to staff about civility expectations.

Bushon referenced board policy 9,011 (civility) as a starting point and said that district administration and staff are "held to high expectations with regard to respectful treatment of parents and guardians and other members of the public." He asked that the district clarify expectations for employees'online behavior and enforce standards if necessary.

The board did not act on the request at the meeting; public-comment requests like this are typically referred to administration for follow-up. The board's public comment rules were read at the start of the meeting: the board allocates 30 minutes for public commentary and allows up to three minutes per speaker. The board generally does not respond directly to public comment during the meeting and directed speakers to complaint procedures for personnel matters.

Bushon said he was not attempting to limit free speech but urged the board to consider policy and civility standards for employees to prevent celebrations of violence from occurring on district-associated accounts or by people who serve in the district.