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Social Media Guidelines

Commerce ISD Social Media Rules and Guidelines


The District uses social media as an outlet to communicate with students, parents, and other members of the school community. District-sponsored social media accounts will be updated regularly to share accurate information about student and staff achievements as well as other important District information. Through these efforts the District facilitates open communication with the Commerce ISD community. 
 
Commenting on District Social Media Accounts
Official District social media accounts are maintained by designated employees at the campus and central office levels and are monitored periodically during regular business/school hours. All users will be responsible for following the posting and commenting rules and guidelines, detailed below, which will be used as a basis for monitoring social media activity.
 
Prohibited activity on the District’s social media accounts include any post, comment, or other activity that:
 
  1. Does not relate to the subject matter of the original District post.
  2. Is obscene, vulgar, or otherwise inappropriate for the age and maturity of a school-aged audience.
  3. Endorses actions that may endanger the health or safety of students.
  4. Promotes the use of drugs, alcohol, or other controlled substances.
  5. May violate the intellectual property rights, privacy rights, or other rights of another person.
  6. Contains defamatory statements about public figures or others.
  7. Advocates for imminent lawless or disruptive action and is likely to incite or produce such action.
  8. Is hate speech that scurrilously attacks ethnic, religious, or racial groups or contains content aimed at creating hostility and violence, and the materials would materially and substantially interfere with school activities or the rights of others.
  9. Creates reasonable cause to believe that the activity would result in material and substantial interference with school activities or the rights of others.
  10. Includes a link to or content from any non-District account, post, or site. 
  11. Contains photographs or other imagery from any non-District account, post, or site.
  12. Contains commercial solicitations or promotion of a business.
  13. Constitutes political advertising or advocates in favor or in opposition of a specific candidate, party or proposition, including, but not limited to, activity regarding Board of Trustees elections. 
The District’s social media accounts are not the appropriate forum for: 
  • Reports of bullying, harassment, discrimination, or retaliation;
  • Reports of the commission of a crime or violation of law;
  • Reports of a safety and security threat;
  • Submission of specific complaints or concerns that should be addressed through the administrative complaint/grievance process.
Reports of this nature should be submitted to a campus or central office administrator.
 
We reserve the right to hide or remove any activity or block any user in violation of these rules and guidelines, if deemed appropriate. Student activity on District social media sites may result in disciplinary action under the Student Code of Conduct or other action as appropriate.
 
Before posting comments on social media... 
THINK – Is it True?  Is it Helpful?  Is it Inspiring?
Is it Necessary?  Is it Kind?

Feedback

We welcome dialogue with our community and have multiple outlets for commenting and messaging the district. For communications unrelated to the District-sponsored social media accounts, please utilize one of the other outlets, such as calling administration, emailing, or speaking during public comment at Board meetings. 
 
If you have a comment related to the District-sponsored social media accounts, wish to report an inappropriate comment, or submit photographs for posting, please email social@commerceisd.org 
 
If a photograph is submitted to the District’s social media administrators, they will assume permission for the photograph to be posted. Questions or concerns raised by a submitted photograph will receive a follow-up email from the social media administrators, or shall not be posted, at the discretion of the administrators.


Disclaimers

Commerce ISD is not responsible for the content on external websites linked to/from social media sites. Commerce ISD reserves the right to update these guidelines at any time. As a public entity, Commerce ISD cannot use public resources for political campaigning. Any comments by CISD employees that violate election and ethics laws will be promptly removed.