Purpose

The Board recognizes that livestream video may be helpful to the District and its employees in both fulfilling its educational mission and in expanding the reach of school district events and activities to those not able to attend in person.  The Board further recognizes that without parameters, livestream video may pose legal risks to the District and its employees, and may otherwise disrupt the educational environment.

Delegation of Responsibility

The Superintendent shall develop procedures to implement this policy, and shall delegate to his/her designee(s) the right to enforce this policy.

Definition

Livestream video, as used in this policy, shall mean utilizing any camera located on school district property to broadcast live video content through the Internet, including through a social media platform.

Guidelines

Student Initiated Use of Livestream Video

The Board prohibits student-initiated use of livestream video at any time during the school day or at any school sponsored event that is not open to the general public, unless the building administrator has authorized the use of livestream video by giving written consent.

Employee Initiated Use of Livestream Video

The Board authorizes the use of livestream video for instructional and other educational purposes at the direction of teachers, administrators, and other employees, if approved by the building administrator.

Any in-school use of livestream video by students for educational purposes shall be supervised by a professional employee or by an administrator.

Prior to approving the use of livestream video for educational purposes, the building administrator shall ensure that adequate precautions are in place to ensure that students limit the sharing of personal information with individuals not directly affiliated with the school district.

Students shall be notified prior to the use of a livestream in their classroom or other areas of the school where they may be captured on the livestream.

No recording of a livestream of academic instruction shall be maintained.  The building administrator shall ensure that neither party of a livestream of academic instruction records the livestream.

Livestream of School District Events Open to the Public

This policy does not prevent employees, students, parents, and/or members of the public from livestreaming school district events open to the public.  Students, parents, employees and members of the public should not have any expectation of privacy while attending public events; they may be captured and broadcast on a livestream just as they could at any other public or community event, or facility open to the public.

However, school district administrators may prohibit livestreaming at specific events hosted by the school district on a case-by-case basis to comply with the law, to comply with contract terms, or to prevent a substantial disruption to the public event. 

The Board prohibits livestreaming of copyrighted musical performances, theatrical performances, or any material or performance in violation of copyright law.

Livestream Video in Lieu of Homebound Instruction

Upon acceptance of a physician or healing arts practioner's recommendation that homebound instruction is medically necessary, the Board directs that consideration be given to whether or not the student should receive livestream access to his/her essential academic classes in lieu of homebound tutoring.  Consideration must be given to:

-The severity of the student's medical condition, and whether or not the student can benefit from livestream academic instruction.

-The recommendation of the student's physician.

-Input from the student's parents.

-The age and specific needs of the student, including whether the student has the technical proficiency to access the livestream at home.

-Whether providing livestream instruction may be counter-productive, in that it may prolong the student's absence from school.

Students who access their essential academic instruction via livestreaming shall be considered present for attendance purposes during those hours during which they received instruction.  Livestream access to academic instruction is in lieu of and not in addition to homebound tutoring.

The decision whether or not to provide livestream access to academic instruction in lieu of homebound tutoring access is the sole discretion of the district.  Nothing in this policy shall be construed to require the district to provide livestream access to any particular student.

Telepresence Robots

The Board authorizes the use of telepresence robots in the District's buildings when approved by a Student's IEP or Section 504 team due to a long term illness or disability preventing regular school attendance.  The use of telepresence robots shall be considered an employee-initiated livestream. subject to the conditions outlined above.  The Superintendent or his/her designee shall develop procedures outlining employee responsibilities regarding the use of such robots in the District's schools.

Livestream Video for Routine Illness & Absences

No teacher or administrator shall be required to provide a livestream of academic instruction for a student's routine illness or absence.  If a student or parent requests access to such a livestream due to extenuating circumstances, the decision of whether or not to provide such a livestream shall be in the sole discretion of the teacher and building administrator.

Proper Attire/Code of Conduct

Any student participating in a livestream for academic instruction must abide by the district's Code of Conduct and may be held accountable for violations of the code of conduct while participating in the livestream.  Students participating in a livestream of academic instruction must also be dressed in proper attire consistent with the district's dress code.

Acceptable Use of District's Network

If a livestream utilizes the District's Internet connection, the School District's Acceptable Use Policy applies and is incorporated herein by reference.

Use of Personal Devices

If any livestream authorized pursuant to this policy utilizes a personal mobile device, the District's mobile device policies apply and are incorporated herein by reference.

Accommodations for Disabilities

The Board directs that public livestreams of school district events be as accessible as reasonably feasible for individuals with disabilities as for non-disabled members of the public.

Nothing in this policy shall affect the provisions or use of livestreaming as stated in an Individualized Education Program or Section 504 Service Agreement.

Penalties for Violations

Violation of this policy, administrative regulations, and or state or federal laws will result in discipline.  Employees may be subject to discipline up to and including dismissal.  Students may be subject to discipline up to and including expulsion.

Development of Administrative Guidelines

The Superintendent or his/her designee may develop administrative guidelines to implement this policy.  The Superintendent shall ensure that all students and employees are made aware of this policy and any administrative guidelines by means of the employee and student handbooks, the school district website, or other reaaonable means.