Board continues review of employee social media policy after questions about exceptions and overnight trips

The Warren County School Board continued deliberation on an employee social media and electronic communication policy at what participants described as a fourth reading.

Dr. Cosner (presenting staff drafts) said the district had two documents before the board—a merged draft and a redline—and stressed the need to communicate any final policy to faculty and staff before enforcement. He gave practical examples: a teacher who has a neighbor who mows the lawn or a babysitter may have legitimate non-school relationships that the policy should not unintentionally prohibit. He said, "If I friended him on Facebook to say, 'Hey, you need to come cut my grass,' I'm now in violation of the policy as it is written," and urged language that protects students while not criminalizing ordinary non-school interactions.

Board members and staff discussed clarifying section seven (limited exceptions), adding 'students' to a subsection that omits it, and making the rule read that employees "may communicate with students electronically only for legitimate educational purposes and primarily through WCPS-approved communication channels" while still allowing other channels when necessary for an educational purpose (for example, on overnight trips). One member suggested addressing field-trip communications via permission forms so parents explicitly authorize school texting when staff are remote.

Participants agreed staff should gather feedback from administrators and employees, solicit the attorney’s review, and return recommended edits. No final vote was taken at the meeting.