By NEIL ZOLOT
NORTH READING – The School Committee looked favorably on but did not formally approve a recommendation from Policy Subcommittee members Jennifer Leenders and Tim Sutherland to write a policy to prescribe the School Committee’s use of social media, at the School Committee meeting Monday, October 28.
They also approved establishment of a Social Media Subcommittee responsible for promoting social media content as approved by the full School Committee and for the School Committee to routinely approve topics based on the current environment, which may include but is not limited to upcoming events, budget information and policy information.
“We need to get our message out,” Chairman Scott Buckley feels. “We get coverage from the (North Reading) Transcript, but it publishes what it feels is important.”
He also feels having a sanctioned social media presence will eliminate violations of the Open Meeting Law. “There are no restrictions on what an individual member posts, but if two of us agree with it, it violates open meeting laws,” he pointed out, in reference to regulations that prohibit informal virtual communication between members.
“I believe in having a page to get out information,” Superintendent Dr. Patrick Daly agreed while cautioning that social media and virtual interaction is not an adequate substitute for the personal contact and interaction that can occur at School Committee meetings and public forums. “It’s a delicate balance.”
Buckley interjected some of those forums are poorly attended.
Addressing some of those concerns, the memo elaborates: “The North Reading Public Schools will maintain a district website and such district and school social media accounts as authorized by the Superintendent;
“The School Committee will maintain social media accounts to deliver approved messaging to the community on a regular basis. Topics will be approved by a School Committee vote at a regularly scheduled and posted meeting and approved message topics will be implemented and delivered by the Social Media Subcommittee, which will act on behalf of the School Committee; and
“In order for public communication with the School Committee and district personnel to be responded to in a timely manner, in line with legal requirements for public communication, commenting on all district and school sites will be turned off. Every school and district site will clearly indicate this policy and will direct those wishing to contact the school and district personnel to the appropriate venues to do so. Social media posts will not allow commenting and will point the community to the next posted School Committee meeting for public comment, consistent with policy.”
A Social Media Subcommittee might include two School Committee members, the Superintendent, the Assistant Superintendent for Finance, the Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning, the Special Education Director, the Director of Technology and school principals or their representatives.
The idea follows a School Committee goal to “support the Superintendent in communicating to the town the impacts of the budget cuts for the 2024-25 school year and the potential impacts for Fiscal 2026 and 2027.”
The memo indicates social media matters because “over 66% of adults in the United States use social media, the average adult spends more than two hours a day on social media, and in North Reading alone, the average reach of Facebook in adults reached per day is over 4,000 users.”
“How can we find ways to increase our reach?” Sutherland asked rhetorically. “We’re not looking to create an all-encompassing presence, but we need the ability to engage those 4,000.”
“You can work on a draft policy,” Buckley suggested.
“We can shape our goals and come back,” Sutherland responded.
Names for school field, cafeteria approved
In other action, the School Committee approved a recommendation from J.T. Hood School Principal Dr. Glen McKay to name a playground at the school after benefactor James Cavalieri for his “unwavering commitment to the betterment of our school and the well-being of our students. Generous donations have directly impacted our ability to provide essential resources and opportunities for our children, ensuring they receive the support they need to thrive.”
Additionally, the School Committee approved naming the cafeteria at the L.D. Batchelder School after Sean Killeen, the school’s former principal who now serves as the Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning. Daly said the honor is to recognize Killeen’s “more than 20 years of service.”
Killeen was not present at the meeting.
