Beverly Hills School Board Proposes New Social Media Policy

News Summary

The Beverly Hills Unified School District Board met to discuss a new social media policy and an internship program aimed at connecting local businesses with students. The policy includes guidelines for content oversight and staff engagement on social media, while the internship initiative seeks to collaborate with local businesses. Concerns were raised over a newly implemented educational policy limiting teachers’ discussions on controversial topics, highlighting ongoing tensions within the BHUSD regarding educational freedom.

Beverly Hills – The Beverly Hills Unified School District (BHUSD) Board convened on July 22 to review the initial draft of a new social media policy and discuss the establishment of an internship program aimed at enhancing collaboration between local businesses and students. This meeting followed the presentation of the social media policy draft on April 15 and addressed increasing concerns regarding the instructional policy passed just days prior.

The proposed social media policy is designed to provide guidelines for the district’s official social media accounts, which currently lack a comprehensive framework. Key elements of the draft include rules on oversight, prohibited content, and expectations for staff engagement. Specific prohibited content identified in the draft encompasses political endorsements, unapproved promotion of products or services, confidential student information, graphic or violent materials, personal opinions, and misuse of artificial intelligence in content creation.

During the meeting, the board reached a consensus that while students’ social media handles should not be tagged in posts, their names could be mentioned if guardians provide signed media release forms. Colby Gilardian, the public information officer for BHUSD, indicated that posts featuring student achievements tend to garner significant attention and engagement. The board intends to revisit this social media policy for further discussion and another reading in a future session.

Another focal point of the meeting was the proposal for the BHUSD BRIDGE Committee, a newly formed entity that aims to foster partnerships between local businesses and students for internship opportunities. Board Member Russell Stuart shared updates about the committee’s direction, emphasizing a concentrated effort on collaborating with businesses rather than broad community engagement. The superintendent, Dr. Alex Cherniss, plans to work alongside BHUSD Assistant Superintendent Dr. Dustin Seeman and representatives from the Chamber of Commerce to develop the BRIDGE initiative.

Amid these discussions, public comments reflected growing concerns regarding the recently implemented Standards-Based Educational Instruction policy, which had been unanimously adopted by the board on July 16. This policy, brought forth by Board Member Sigalie Sabag, restricts teachers from engaging in discussions about controversial subjects and imposes strict adherence to the approved curriculum. Some attendees criticized this policy for being overly limiting, claiming it may suppress open discourse in the classroom.

Judith Chan, a Vocal Music teacher at Horace Mann Elementary School, raised concerns about a previous incident involving her pedagogy in teaching civil rights through music. Chan claims that the incident, which was brought to the board’s attention by Sabag, led to scrutiny of her teaching practices, despite an investigation finding no misconduct on her part.

During the session, Board Member Amanda Stern was unable to attend due to illness but reassured everyone that routine medical evaluations indicated she was well. The board also took the opportunity to expand the definitions of prohibited content in the social media policy, incorporating restrictions related to AI misuse.

Feedback from parents and educators expressed dissatisfaction with the Standards-Based Instructional Education policy, as many voiced apprehensions about it encouraging self-censorship among teachers and restricting educational freedom. Chan articulated that the policies in place reflect a significant issue regarding self-censorship, as educators might fear consequences for discussing vital subjects within their classrooms.

This latest meeting starkly underscored the existing tensions within the BHUSD concerning educational policies, with residents advocating for greater autonomy for teachers. As the board conducts future sessions, the outcomes of the social media policy and the BRIDGE Committee’s initiatives, along with the ongoing community dialogue regarding curriculum restrictions, will be closely monitored by both the school district and the community at large.

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Additional Resources

• Beverly Hills Courier: New Policies Shake Up BHUSD
• Google Search: BHUSD educational policies
• Beverly Press: BHUSD Approves Regulations on Sensitive Topics
• Wikipedia: Social Media Policy
• Beverly Hills Courier: BHUSD Board Member Defends Social Media Post
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Social Media
• Patch: CA Schools Must Limit or Ban Use of Cell Phones Under New Law
• Google News: BHUSD social media