May 2017 - Social Media and Perrysburg Schools

By Thomas L. Hosler, Superintendent

“I saw it on Facebook…”

Depending on what follows that statement can bring pure joy or horror. If it is pictures of someone’s new baby, graduation photos or a family announcement, Facebook, Twitter or other social media platforms are a perfect vehicle. However, these powerful tools can also be quite troublesome. In the school world, we are painfully aware of how students can misuse social media and we work with students to educate them on being responsible citizens on social media and the all too real consequences when they are not responsible.

Sometimes social media can feel a little like the Wild West.

For example, earlier this year it was reported to us that it was being said on social media that the schools were banning students from watching the Presidential Inauguration. One post like that can set off a firestorm across social media. Some people read the post, assumed it is true and criticized the decision. Sometimes these threads become personal and vicious. For a couple days a battle raged on social media where people weighed in on what they thought about a school banning students from watching the Inauguration.

The school district never banned, blocked or discouraged teachers from showing or students from watching the Inauguration. In fact, a local TV station came to one of the schools and filmed a class watching the Inauguration live.

As Superintendent, I received just one email from a community member asking if the ban was true.

How many people saw the post and threads initially and moved on assuming that what they saw on Facebook was truthful?

This is just one example of how posts to social media can create a controversy based on not a single shred of truth.

Multiply that by posts about buses, lunches, projects, recess, student discipline, finances or curriculum.

Nevertheless, we recognize the value, importance and power of social media. In addition to teaching about the potential and danger, we as an organization must maintain a presence on social media and use it as a tool to engage the larger community.

Perrysburg Schools encourages the use of social media by faculty, staff and parent volunteers to communicate with stakeholders regarding events, programs, departments, classes, clubs, etc. As an active presence on social media, we often receive questions about our processes and information flow.

Any group or individual looking to establish a social media site or page that represents the school district is trained to ensure there is an understanding on the part of the creator about public records law, archiving requirements and when and how public forums may be moderated. Being a public entity, the school district must maintain records from open meetings and forums, including social media. Posts or comments may only be moderated if offensive (such as hate speech), promotional or profane.

With these requirements, the school district is somewhat constrained in that it can communicate outwardly in its own page, but, as an entity, it cannot interact in Groups on Facebook, for example, because the page is treated differently than a person. Because of the personal nature of individuals’ social media accounts, employees may not use these personal accounts to interact officially on behalf of the school district.

Some community members have noticed posts in area Facebook groups or on an individual’s personal page where direct information from the school district would have been beneficial.

In a society where people often: “Ready, Fire, Aim,” we are often asked, when there is social media speculation about an event or announcement involving the school district, how can they help? First and foremost, please contact the school district or school directly and ask the question. Had that been done with the example given earlier, there would not have been a two-day battle on social media. Often there is information posted on the school district’s web site home page that addresses the matter. All citizens are welcome to call, email, Facebook message, etc. to ask questions anytime, any day of the week, and we always do our best to answer any question as promptly as we are able.

As a longtime Rotarian, we remind people that a good rule of thumb when deciding to post or comment on social media is the Rotary Four-Way Test:
Is it the truth?
Is it fair to all concerned?
Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
Will it be beneficial to all concerned?