Carmel Central board adopts social‑media and anti‑fraternization policies after committee edits

The Carmel Central School District board on March 10 approved two major personnel and communications policies after extended debate: policy 9267, Social Media Use and Digital Citizenship (adopted as amended), and policy 9268, a prohibition on fraternization between employees and students.

Policy 9267 reached final passage after trustees discussed a proposed guideline (item C7) that encouraged a personal‑account disclaimer for staff and elected members. Trustees expressed concerns that language about personal accounts could be perceived as compelled speech for staff and might unintentionally pressure lower‑paid or junior employees. After debate the board voted to remove that clause from the policy before the final adoption vote; the amended policy then passed by roll call (Trustee Torpey recorded a “no” vote during the final tally).

Separately, the board approved policy 9268, which establishes clear boundaries for staff–student digital communications and restricts contact to district‑administered systems except for enumerated exceptions. Trustees and policy‑committee members said the changes strengthen student protections; discussion focused on reasonable hours for contact, safe communication channels and carved‑out exceptions for bona fide preexisting relationships, athletics or emergency situations. The board adopted the assembled policy package by roll‑call vote.

Policy committee members thanked administrators and legal counsel for extensive work on the drafts; several trustees urged continuing committee review on related topics such as monetization of student‑created content and clearer guidance for public‑facing trustee accounts.

The district will publish the adopted policies on BoardDocs and the district website; administration and legal counsel will advise on implementation steps and staff training to ensure consistent application.