Board approves updates to district social media and professional-conduct policies; heated debate and narrow approval on adult-student interaction language

The Santa Rosa City Schools Board of Education conducted a second reading and acted on three related policies about staff conduct and district social media on Sept. 10, approving two largely edited policies and taking a closely divided vote on a policy governing adult-student interactions.

Dr. Vicky Zanes and Patrick Gannon presented the policy package and explained edits made in response to prior feedback. The revisions were based on model language and local concerns and aimed to clarify which district platforms are approved, who may create and manage official accounts, and expectations about staff social-media and workplace conduct.

Trustees unanimously approved the updated district-sponsored social-media policy after staff added examples of approved platforms and clarified that ParentSquare remains the district's primary, privacy-backed communication tool. Trustee Kirby moved the policy; Trustee Prack seconded; the motion passed on a roll call with all trustees voting aye.

The board also approved changes to BP 4119.21 (professional standards) that clarify expectations for employees' personal social-media use during work hours and the prohibition on posting identifiable images of students without parental permission. Trustees added targeted wording to allow staff to use personal accounts during breaks and duty-free time and to use gender-neutral phrasing. That item passed on voice and roll-call votes after a motion by Trustee Kirby and a second by Trustee Prack.

The most contested item, a policy addressing maintaining appropriate adult'student interactions (presented as BP 4119.24 in the packet), prompted extended debate. The proposed language enumerates behaviors considered inappropriate, discourages staff from soliciting private disclosures from students, and instructs non-counseling staff to refer students who initiate discussions about personal or family problems to guidance or counseling staff. Trustees, staff and the student board representative debated whether the wording could discourage teachers from supportive mentorships and asked for clearer implementation guidance.

Trustee Kirby offered substitute language to preserve the ability of staff to share appropriate personal experiences for educational or relational purposes. Trustee Prack, Trustee Medina and others pressed for a clear implementation plan, mandatory training on professional boundaries, and protections for staff who log referrals. Student Trustee Carrillo and other trustees described the policy as a necessary boundary-setting tool; others said it risked deterring trusted adult relationships.

On the final vote, the non-student trustees approved the adult-student interactions policy 3'2; with the student trustees' advisory vote the full board vote count recorded in the meeting transcript was 4'3 in favor. After the vote, trustees asked legal counsel to review whether the district bylaw requiring a majority of total board membership applies to this action; staff said they would post the final policy language and return with an implementation plan that includes boundary training for staff.

Board members said the policy set a clear standard for staff conduct but repeatedly asked for an administrative regulation (AR) and a training rollout to clarify how referrals, documentation and volunteer expectations would be handled in practice.

Speakers included Dr. Vicky Zanes (policy presenter), Trustee Kirby (mover on multiple items), Trustee Prack (second), Trustee Medina and student Trustee Carrillo, along with public commenters who participated earlier on related issues.