AUSTIN (KXAN) — Beginning this September and transpiring twice for each yr, Austin ISD employees’ social media accounts will be screened for inappropriate content material which includes “illegal exercise violent, threatening, or sexually express posts or racist, bigoted, or discriminatory actions.”
The district states this new coverage will assure employees are environment a superior instance for pupils, irrespective of whether in or out of the faculty setting up.
This measure was to start with established when the Board of Trustees took action in February 2020, approving a agreement with Social Intelligence, a 3rd social gathering organization from California. The enterprise will operate reports employing personnel names, cell phone numbers, e mail and physical addresses, searching as considerably back again as 7 many years prior.
The district says the firm will flag each initial content material produced by the worker as nicely as elements buddies and family have tagged them in. The rule of thumb to look at, the district suggests, is if the inappropriate articles appears in any way on one’s profile, it will be flagged.
People discovered in violation of this new social media policy will be contacted by their supervisors. If the material seems to disrupt the employee’s performance in their purpose, AISD human methods may possibly get included. Individuals observed to be in violation of district plan may possibly be terminated.
The district claims Social Intelligence is not able to entry social media accounts which are established to personal.
Just one employee KXAN spoke to wondered if staff members could be fired for remarks built in the past.
“Is it just a very simple, ‘take this off your profile?’ Or does it signify that I am going through disciplinary action?” the nameless staff questioned.
Leslie Stephens, AISD’s main human funds officer, reported the district doesn’t want to willpower staff except if it rises to a level where it may possibly damage students. In any other case, they’ll possible just request them to delete the article.
The staff also questioned if the $1.8 million could not have been far better expended.
“Considering the district is running a deficit funds, the teachers are battling for a 2% raise, why are we expending the money on this suitable now?”
Stephens claimed this is coming from the budget especially stored for student safety costs.
“It’s just a make a difference of seeking to make sure that we symbolize our very best selves forward to our learners, mothers and fathers and group,” Stephens reported. “There is normally that prospect to clean up all those matters.”
Access KXAN’s Education Reporter Alex Caprariello by email at [email protected] or by cellphone at 512-703-5365, or obtain him on Twitter and Facebook.