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Perkiomen Valley School District recognizes that many of our staff, students, parents and community members are active social media users. As a school district, we are also incorporating social media as part of our communications strategy. The purpose of these guidelines is to help you to participate online in a respectful, relevant way that protects your reputation, and the reputation of Perkiomen Valley School District, and that respects the relationship between teachers and students.
For the purposes of this document, social media includes, but is not necessarily limited to, social networking and media sharing sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, Flickr, Tumblr, Instagram, and YouTube. It also includes blogs, comments on websites, discussion forums, and any other activity online involving connecting or communicating with other users. These guidelines complement, but do not replace, any existing policies regarding the use of technology, computers, e-mail and the Internet that are in place at Perkiomen Valley School District.
Your Personal Responsibility:
We encourage responsible participation in social networking sites, subject to existing policies concerning the use of social media during work hours and other applicable policies, including, but not limited to those concerning non-discrimination, anti-harassment, anti-bullying, endorsements, and copyright/fair use. We ask that you carefully consider the very public forum you are participating in and act in a way that properly represents both your professional reputation and the Perkiomen Valley School District.
Express your ideas and opinions in a respectful manner. Seek to build trust and responsibility in your relationships. Avoid insulting others, including students, staff, parents, our extended school community, or other school districts. Do not use racial slurs, innuendos, obscenity or other inappropriate content. Avoid posting, sharing, commenting, or otherwise engaging in rumors or unsupported information. Maintain credibility.
GUIDELINES FOR USING SOCIAL MEDIA PROFESSIONALLY: As an employee of the Perkiomen Valley School District, you represent both the PVSD and all in the public school professions as you engage in on-line activity. For that reason, you are held to a high standard of exemplary conduct in online activities.
We ask that you represent the District and the students and parents you serve in the best light. Your posts and comments should help build and support the school community. You are responsible for what you post and communications that would be deemed inappropriate or actionable if they occurred inside or outside of the classroom do not become acceptable merely because they are made online. Always bear in mind that once posted, you cannot take it back.
Some guidelines we ask you to consider while using social media on your professional time:
We ask that you carefully consider the very public forum you are participating in and act in a way that properly represents both your professional reputation and the Perkiomen Valley School District.