School Committee members Kate Sambuco and Christina Rodrigo met on March 20 to discuss the high school’s social media policy, related to school-sponsored events, and contemplated possible policy changes that could be implemented in the student handbook.
The concern focused on SnapChat being used to communicate school events like practices. While school policy clearly outlines that adults are prohibited from sharing school events via social media, it was debated whether students, in school representative roles such as captains, and coaches should be added to the policy.
The change would be applied to all high school extra curriculum activities, not just sports. The unanimous consensus was that students should not have to get SnapChat to stay informed and that using this platform was not inclusive for the student participants who do not have SnapChat.
Sambuco suggested an alternative mode of communication. “We just invested all of this time, money and energy into ParentSquare and that’s what that is for,” she said.
Sambuco and Rodrigo felt that other members of the committee would have detailed knowledge of the situation at the high school and would be able to offer additional insight. They would also seek guidance from HIgh School Principal Allyson Mizoguchi and Technology Director Jenn Judkins moving forward.
The subcommittee said this topic would discussed again at a future School Committee but were not sure when that would occur.
