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Santa Fe ISD will block TikTok on district-owned devices under state guidance; exceptions for investigations
Summary
IT staff told the board the district will block TikTok on district-owned devices and on district Wi‑Fi using the firewall and content filter, allow limited off‑network installs for investigations, and encourage staff to create content on personal devices and cross-post.
Santa Fe ISD staff told trustees the district will restrict access to the TikTok app on district-owned laptops and mobile devices in response to state-level directives and security concerns.
Corey, a member of district IT staff, said the policy will block TikTok at the network and device level using the district firewall and content filters. "We are blocking it on a network and district level, which includes our firewall and content filter," Corey said. He explained that the district has worked with human resources to tailor the regulation for Santa Fe ISD.
Corey said there will be limited exceptions: if the police department needs TikTok on a district device for an investigation, IT can assist with an off‑network installation and then remove the app when the investigation concludes. Devices connected via a virtual private network (VPN) that are not behind the district firewall will also be unable to access TikTok through district networks.
Trustees asked how the rule would affect public-relations uses. A trustee noted that PR staff member Stephanie has used TikTok to promote student programs and asked whether the district can still capture content. Corey said employees can record videos on personal devices outside district Wi‑Fi and then move the content to other platforms; the district will not allow TikTok on district devices or district Wi‑Fi during the school day because of the security restrictions discussed.
No formal board vote was recorded at the meeting for the regulation; IT staff presented the operational approach and responded to trustees' questions.
