Schools limit teachers on Facebook

Teachers cannot become friendly with students on Facebook and other social networking sites and can’t text or send them instant messages under a new policy in Dayton Public Schools.

Many Cincinnati-area schools have written policies forbidding teachers from having personal communications with students on the Internet in general or on social networking sites, but only a few specifically mentioned “friending” on Facebook in those policies. One exception is St. Ursula Academy in East Walnut Hills which is explicit: “Faculty and staff will NOT ‘friend’ a current student or former student under the age of 18 on social media.”

Three Rivers Schools in western Hamilton County also prohibits “fraternization between district staff and students via the internet, personal e-mail accounts, personal social networking websites and other modes of virtual technology.”

Oak Hills advises teachers against using social networks to communicate with students, but provides guidelines for teachers who ignore that advice, said Todd Yohey, superintendent.

Monroe, in Warren County, prohibits communication on social networks during the school day and while using the district’s network. The district advises staff of the issues that can occur with Facebook, texting and other forms of social networking.

In the Kenton County School District, teachers are recommended to follow the state’s policy, which says that teachers should not friend students, Assistant Superintendent Kimberly Banta said.

In the Campbell County Schools, a formal policy is not in place but staffers are encouraged not to friend staffers, said Juli Hale, the district’s director of community relations.

The Dayton district is one of many around Ohio that contacted the Ohio School Boards Association on the issue of teachers and social media, Sara Clark, the association’s deputy director of legal services, said Wednesday.

“It’s a hot topic for school districts right now, and we are getting more calls on it,” Clark said.

The Dayton Public Schools policy also prohibits teachers from responding to students’ attempts at communicating through any personal or professional accounts not approved by the district.

Teachers in Missouri have complained that a state ban there on teachers having private conversations with students over Internet sites will hamper their ability to keep in touch with students.

Missouri lawmakers approved the ban after more than 80 Missouri teachers lost their licenses between 2001 and 2005 because of sexual misconduct, the Dayton newspaper reported. Some cases involved exchanging explicit online messages with students.

A judge, concerned about free speech rights, has temporarily blocked the law from taking effect.

A Cincinnati attorney who specializes in media and First Amendment issues said much of the concern in Missouri focuses on whether the law goes too far – especially in prohibiting contact between teachers and former students.

“There are sometimes good mentoring relations that couldn’t continue if a student went on to college,” said Jack Greiner, who also represents The Enquirer.

He said Missouri is the only state he knows of that has handled the issue through statute, but it may not matter whether prohibitions are made at the state or local level.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if someone challenges this somewhere in Ohio,” he said.

Enquirer staff writers Denise Smith Amos, Michael D. Clark and William Croyle contributed.

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Facebook music rumors revived as BandPage startup gets cash

RootMusic, a San Francisco startup that helps artists such as Rihanna, Katy Perry and Arcade Fire connect with their Facebook fans, received additional venture funding Wednesday amid reports that the social-networking giant is close to offering its own music service.

RootMusic, which says it has about 32 million monthly active users for its BandPage platform on Facebook, announced a $16 million round of financing led by GCV Capital.

The platform adds a page for fans to hear and share songs, watch video and view concert dates. The company was started in March 2010, but already more than 250,000 bands around the world use BandPage, and usage has increased tenfold since January, said RootMusic CEO J Sider.

There have been various reports that Facebook is ready to release its own music service. On Tuesday, CNBC, Mashable and other outlets reported that Facebook plans to announce a music platform at its f8 developer conference in San Francisco on Sept. 22, with Spotify, MOG and Rdio as partners.

Facebook spokesman Larry Yu would not comment directly on those reports or what’s coming for f8, but said in a statement that “many of the most popular music services around the world are integrated with Facebook and we’re constantly talking to our partners about ways to improve these integrations.”

Sider said he views a potential Facebook music platform as complementary to BandPage.

“If something like this would happen, it would raise awareness that as a fan, (Facebook’s) where I should go first to find information.”

The Facebook music drumbeat might prove to be sour notes for former social-networking rival Myspace, which has been trying to reposition itself as a destination for music. Indeed, RootMusic’s slogan entices musicians to “Make the Move to BandPage on Facebook.”

This article appeared on page D – 2 of the San Francisco Chronicle

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