RBUSD Considers Social Media Policy

The Board of Education took one step closer Tuesday night to establishing an overarching social media policy for .

"We're looking at not quite jumping into the pool, but putting our foot into the pool and getting in slowly,"  Assistant Superintendent Frank DeSena told the school board.

According to DeSena, Principal Dr. Nicole Wesley and other staff were interested in setting up an official Facebook page to inform the community about school events, activities and fundraisers, among other things.

"We're not looking at (posting) things like homework assignments at this point, but I do see that it will grow," DeSena said.

Nevertheless, because the district does not have any guidelines on social media, school officials are waiting for direction from the board, he said.

The page would only be operated by school administrators, DeSena said. Initial plans call for what DeSena described as "one-way posting"—that is, a page that only allows posts and comments from page administrators, and not the general public.

Board member emphasized that while she thought it was a good idea to get the district on Facebook, anyone using Facebook or another social media service in an official capacity should be required to read and understand the official policy before setting up a Facebook page.

"I think (policy) No. 1 is that you're a teacher, and you're expected to act like a teacher on this Facebook page," Emdee said.

Board member agreed that using Facebook might be beneficial to the district, especially when it comes to bridging the gap between the high school and the community at large.

"This is how kids communicate these days, and quite frankly, more of us are communicating this way," he said.

Nevertheless, board member Drew Gamet said that the district needed a "significantly better policy" than the example one given to the board. Additionally, the district needed to consider the liability it might assume over what is posted on the various Facebook pages, he said.

"I think you have some more work … That's what it sounds like to me," said board President Jane Diehl.

Still, "having an official (Facebook page or group) is something that needs to happen because there are already numerous unofficial groups," said student representative .

There are already several unofficial Facebook pages and groups dedicated to Redondo Union High School, including a "Sammy Seahawk" Facebook profile, a group dedicated to the Advanced Placement U.S. History class and a page for the High Tide, the school's student newspaper, according to O'Neal.

"The school is already heading in that direction," she added, "but officially doing it is a good move."