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Some recent examples of school board cybertraps
- AZ – Google Drive with “dossiers” on parents
- Great example of a classic cybertrap – unintended disclosure of Google Drive URL
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CA – Board president arrested for possession of child pornography
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MA – Hostile text messages
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NJ – Anti-Muslim Facebook posts
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TX – Alleged “doxxing” of parents
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VT – Sharing of sexist and racist memes
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WA – Transphobic comments by board member
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CA – School board mocks parents during COVID, entire board resigned
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Issues Raised
- Relationship with Constituents
- Most boards have policies requiring board members to treat the public with dignity and respect.
- Relationship with Educators and Staff
- Criticism of specific individuals is highly inappropriate, given board’s role in disciplinary proceedings
- First Amendment Issues
- Board members have greater protection than school employees because of political process
- At the same time, the social media comments of public officials are subject to greater scrutiny
- Tension between supporting legally-adopted district policies and free speech
- Public Records Obligations
- Board members should maintain a clear boundary between personal and board resources (i.e., devices, accounts, etc.)
- Regardless of what platform or service is used, public officials have a duty to preserve communications regarding official business
- Understanding How Technology Works
- Privacy Settings
- Retweets and re-sharing inevitably will be seen as endorsements
- Discipline of Board Members
- Can a board remove one of its members?
- Generally, no.
- However, board may take other actions, including:
- Censure
- Removal from positions of leadership
- Even criminal arrest and conviction is not grounds for removal from office
- However, access restrictions can be put in place
- Misuse of School Resources
- Misconduct involving the use of school resources may raise legal issues for the district and possible criminal consequences for board member
- Cybertraps of Family Members
- Generally not a legal concern for board members
- May pose political liability
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Resources
– #2021–12–08 Protesters demand Salem-Keizer board member Danielle Bethell resign after Facebook post “https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/education/2021/12/08/salem-keizer-lus-protesters-call-resignation-danielle-bethell-school-board-county-commission/6426974001/” – #2021–12–06 Parents demand Hispanic Fort Worth school board member be fired after she ‘doxxed’ white parents who sued over COVID mask mandate and left abusive voicemails for one mother “https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article–10280653/Hispanic-Fort-Worth-school-board-member-admits-doxxing-parents-sued-COVID-mask-mandate.html” – #2021–12–02 Scottsdale Police determine no criminal conduct committed by school board member “https://ktar.com/story/4792525/scottsdale-police-determine-no-criminal-conduct-committed-by-school-board-member/” – #2021–11–09 The Greenburg files: Is there a file on you? “https://www.yourvalley.net/stories/the-greenburg-files-is-there-a-file-on-you,270628” – #2021–06–07 After sharing racially charged texts about West Roxbury families in October, a Boston school official has resigned “https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/06/07/metro/boston-appears-have-illegally-withheld-inappropriate-texts-after-career-ending-school-committee-meeting/”](