Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Staff Communications topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves GBA code of conduct policy to standardize staff communication platforms
Summary
The board adopted a revised GBA code of conduct policy that formalizes approved communication platforms for staff, coaches and advisers and directs administrative oversight and training for implementation.
The Garrett County Board of Education on June 9 adopted a revised GBA code of conduct policy that includes procedures for staff communications and an approved set of digital platforms to be used for coach-, advisor- and class-based messaging.
The policy and attached procedure aim to limit the use of personal social-media or personal cell phones for school communications and to provide a consistent, supervised channel for messages to parents, students and administrators. During discussion board members and administrators named commonly used apps (TeamSnap, TeamReach, Band, GroupMe/Stack) as examples of platforms the district evaluated and discussed how administrators could be included as moderators to ensure an audit trail and protection for staff.
Board members raised implementation questions: how to notify all staff, how to ensure administrators are added as moderators to large team groups (for example, a football coach with many players and parents), how to fold the guidance into staff handbooks and new-hire training, and how to handle emergency exceptions. District presenters said they plan summer professional development for administrators, inclusion in the staff handbook, and coach summits to reinforce the rollout if the policy is approved.
The board adopted the revised policy by voice vote. The policy proponents described it as a "layer of protection" for staff and a way to provide a visible record of school communication while recognizing that emergencies will still permit immediate cellphone contact.
Implementation: district leadership said it will communicate the policy to principals during summer professional-development sessions, include the guidance in staff handbooks and require coaches and advisers to include parents and administrators when forming communication groups.
