Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Website Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Trustees debate CSBA website photo options and site-level photo-permission practices
Summary
Staff presented a CSBA-recommended website policy update; trustees debated two photo-release approaches and asked staff to rely on site-level Aeries flags and clearer permission language distinguishing district vs. outside use.
Staff presented an updated district and school website policy recommended by the California School Boards Association (CSBA) that emphasizes accessibility, a consistent professional appearance and limits on publishing personal contact information.
A key debate focused on student photographs. The CSBA recommendations present options allowing photographs on district websites unless parents opt out or, alternatively, prohibiting student photos tied to names without prior written consent. A site staff member described existing practice: registration packets include a photo-release item that is tracked in Aeries so principals can print a 'yes' or 'no' list. The staff member said site teams will contact parents when unsure and can blur or camouflage faces when permissions are not granted.
Trustees expressed concern that codifying some options could create liability. One trustee warned, "Once we put it in writing, it's it's it's a done deal," and said she preferred relying on consistent site-level procedures and a clarified permission form that distinguishes district use from outside media use. The board asked staff to consider more restrictive language if desired and to prepare any presentation on IT and workflow capacity before advancing a final policy.
Why it matters: the policy change would govern student privacy and communications across sites and on district-run social media; trustees want consistent site practice, clarity about outside use, and safeguards against inadvertent publication.
