West Bath board adopts revised goals after extended debate on staff social media and student photos

The West Bath School Board voted Jan. 15 to approve revised board-goal wording after a lengthy discussion about staff social-media practices and the use of student photos.

Board members spent more than an hour unpacking whether the board should add a specific goal or policy addressing staff posting photos of students and broader adult modeling of social media. One board member cited the book "The Anxious Generation" and raised concerns that adult behavior online may affect student mental health. The superintendent told the board that photo permissions are handled annually and that staff are provided a list of students for whom photo posting is allowed.

The board’s action was procedural: members moved to take previously tabled goals off the table, debated new wording and then voted to approve updated language that broadens the goals to include PreK–12 students and the community. Several members said they favored education and research (book studies, workshops or committee review) over immediate policy drafting.

Superintendent (presenting budget and policy context) explained existing safeguards: parental consent is collected annually, photos are posted only when permissions allow and posted images avoid student names or identifying information. Still, board members emphasized different priorities—some highlighted photos’ value for documenting student work and family engagement, others emphasized mental-health concerns tied to social-media exposure.

Rather than drafting a binding new policy on the floor, the board asked staff and interested board members to research options and report back. Suggestions included assigning the topic to the wellness committee or forming a small ad hoc subgroup to gather evidence and draft possible language. No formal policy restricting staff photos or banning staff phone use during school hours was adopted at the meeting.

The board concluded the agenda item by approving the revised board-goal wording and asking that the discussion continue through committee work and educational sessions so that any future policy would be evidence-informed.