Social Media Protocols

Redlands Unified School District recognizes the value of social media platforms as an effective means of communication in order to maximize engagement, promote community involvement, and inform the public about issues impacting public education. 

Content that appears on social media may initially seem trivial and insignificant but can quickly evolve into controversial, high interest stories. Part of the responsibility of the District and Community Relations Specialist is to support and consult with site social media representatives of the District in these matters. In these instances, it is required to work in collaboration with the District and the Community Relations Specialist to craft an appropriate response, if any. 

District employees, departments, and individuals are expected to use social media as a means to promote and generate topics regarding curriculum and instruction, activities, achievements, organizations, clubs, and any other District-related programs, departments, and events. Achieving these communication goals requires exercising reason and good judgment as well as an adherence to the following guidelines and conditions. 

As a district-approved social media administrator, you are, by extension representing Redlands Unified School District. It is important for social media users to be knowledgeable of the laws, liabilities and guidelines associated with such platforms. These guidelines apply to students and staff who make use of social media for educational and work-related purposes and shall be adhered to as outlined in the Redlands Unified School District’s Acceptable Use of Technology Policy. 

Additionally, social media platforms have terms and conditions, independent of Redlands Unified School District, that users must follow in order to use these platforms. Please make the time to read, understand and follow those rules accordingly. 

Snapchat and social media platforms or functions of social media platforms that allow users to send temporary still or moving images are strictly prohibited. 

At this time, the only district-approved social media platforms are Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn Pages. 

As social media channels continue to evolve, these guidelines will also be subject to modification. Redlands Unified School District staff and students will be notified when these updates are made. 

Users who are found to have violated the terms and conditions outlined and established will be asked to remove their profile. 

For further clarification and response, please contact District and Community Relations Specialist Christine Stephens by email or by phone (909) 307-5300 extension 20480. 

• There shall be at least two (2) account administrators for each social media page/group. The primary purpose of this condition is to ensure there is an additional account manager that can serve as a substitute in your absence. If you leave your position at the district, site, department, program, etc. of which you are representing on social media, you are expected to relinquish your account to a school site administrator. Social media accounts are property of the District. 
• If you would like to create a new social media account, you shall contact the District and Community Relations Specialist with the name of your organization/department and the names and email addresses of all administrators for the account. You shall not create an account until you receive a response approving your request. 
• If you have already created a social media account or page as an extension of the Redlands Unified School District and have not yet contacted the District and Community Relations Specialist about this site or platform, you shall contact them directly with the social media account information. Include the URL or handle for the account as well as the email addresses of the administrators connected to this profile. 
• If you plan to edit the name of your social media account, add additional administrators or close your account, you shall notify the District and Community Relations Specialist prior to modification or removal so that files can be updated in a timely fashion. 

• Content shall be posted with the understanding that it may be distributed throughout the Internet and other media channels and be viewed by the general public in perpetuity. Even if a post is deleted or modified, older versions or images of the original versions of a posting may continue to exist. 
• Posts shall be focused on furthering the district’s mission and communication goals:
  • Redlands Unified School District, as a unifying agent of several unique communities rich in local history, culture, and tradition, is committed to preparing students to become productive participants in a diverse, multi-cultural, democratic society through quality education, high expectations, flexible programs and innovative partnerships. Our students will be empowered with the knowledge and commitment necessary to confront the challenges of our changing world, as they become the leaders of the 21st century. 
• Content shall be current, accurate and updated on a regular basis. We have discovered a number of abandoned handles associated with the Redlands Unified School District. These do not serve as appropriate representations of the District as they do not further our mission or communication goals.
• Social media platforms shall not be used to post detailed policy or procedural information. Rather, users shall be directed to the official Redlands Unified School District website for such information. 
• Content shall be written in a respectful manner, and shall not be combative, demeaning, or otherwise negative. 
• Be aware of copyrighted information (e.g., music, images, video clips, print, etc.). Intellectual property is federally protected. Those who infringe on copyright law are subject to fines and litigation. Posting and redistributing copyrighted materials is strictly prohibited. Social media account administrators are prohibited from posting or redistributing copyrighted materials or intellectual property without first obtaining written and expressed permission, as required by law. 
• Content on social media must not violate laws against discrimination or contain material that is unrelated to its stated and intended purpose. Social media account administrators are strictly prohibited from posting content that depicts injury, violence, or incites individuals to create violence or contains comments that might be considered offensive, racist, bigoted or demeaning. 
• Staff or students who publish prohibited content shall be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with updated District Board policies and administrative regulations. Violators shall be referred to law enforcement when deemed necessary. 

At no time is it acceptable to: 

• Capture, transmit or share still or moving images of students and other minors without clear and explicit permission granted by the only district-approved Media Consent Release. All students must have a media consent form on file via AERIES Parent Portal. If a parental denial is issued, a student must be excluded from being photographed in order to honor a parent’s right to deny consent. 
• Post confidential or proprietary information about Redlands Unified School District or its students, employees or alumni. Employees must follow the applicable federal requirements outlined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Employees who share confidential information without appropriate authorization do so at the risk of disciplinary action or termination. 
• Include personally identifiable information that can be used to locate any individual without the person’s written permission. This includes an individual’s screen name, personal photo, hobbies, identification numbers – such as Social Security numbers or student ID’s – addresses and phone numbers (other than an authorized business address or business phone number). 

• Upload, post, transmit, share, or store any private information of any affiliated or unaffiliated third party, including addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, Social Security numbers, and credit card numbers. 

• Use social media platforms to collect personal information of users, as most sites’ terms and conditions, as well as state and federal law, impose significant requirements and restrictions on the collection of personal information of users. In the case of minors, significant additional penalties can apply to violators. 

• Post content that could create a security risk for the account holder or the district. Examples include but are not limited to images of restricted access research areas and information technology facilities. 

The purpose of our social media sites is to share news and information about the Redlands Unified School District (RUSD). The District welcomes you to engage with its social media platforms, but please be advised that this is a moderated online discussion and not a public forum. Any community-contributed content on the page is the opinion of the specific author and does not represent RUSD. 

RUSD adheres to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Vimeo's Statement of Rights and Responsibilities and the District requests its followers to do the same. RUSD reserves the right to delete content, including but not limited to posted comments and images that are: 

• Defamatory, pornographic, proprietary, harassing, libelous or content that may be considered hostile; 
• Spam or include links to other sites; 
• Clearly off topic; 
• Advocate illegal activity; Promote particular services, products, or political organizations; 
• Infringe on copyrights or trademarks. 

The District encourages all users to utilize the “Report” function when they find abusive content. 

Redlands Unified School District thanks you in advance for your contributions to the District's social media pages. We appreciate your help in creating a safe and vibrant online community. 

Please note that the comments expressed on social media platforms may not reflect the official opinions and position of the Redlands Unified School District or the District's Board of Education. For more specific information regarding the District's Mission, Board Policies, or Administrative Regulations, please visit www.redlandsusd.net.