Social Media Guidelines

Social Media Guidelines

Social media has emerged as a pivotal platform for engaging with school families, employees and the broader community, offering timely and easily accessible updates.

The social networking sites used by Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board (HPEDSB) are Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, managed by Communications Services.  Any other accounts or pages on social networking sites bearing the HPEDSB name or likeness are not official accounts. Many HPEDSB schools, programs and classes also have social media sites, which are managed by the relevant staff.

The use of all social media sites managed by HPEDSB and/or employees is guided by section 5 of Procedure 426: Employee Conduct and Ethical Behaviour, a procedure that describes the ethical and professional principles adhered to by all HPEDSB employees.

Social media response and availability

HPEDSB will update and monitor social media accounts most often during regular business hours, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday to Friday. On occasion, content may be updated outside of regular business hours to report on events that occur during evenings or weekends, or to report important information. Any messages or questions received outside of regular business hours will be reviewed the next business/school day. HPEDSB will attempt to read and respond to as many questions and direct messages as possible, although may not be able to reply individually to all messages received. If a topic or issue is urgent, followers should contact HPEDSB through other communication channels listed on the website, or Communications.

Social media accounts followed

HPEDSB will follow official accounts of various relevant stakeholder organizations, but does not follow students, or parents of students. Following an account does not imply endorsement of any kind. Comments and posts expressed by followers on HPEDSB social media pages do not necessarily reflect the opinions and/or positions of HPEDSB, its employees or the Board of Trustees. HPEDSB is not liable for content posted by any user or subscriber in any forum, message board or social media area and will report any posts deemed to be offensive, defamatory or inappropriate. Any followers who violate these terms will be removed.

Reposting and sharing

HPEDSB will like and share information from other users or accounts that may be of value to school communities. Likes and shares should not be interpreted as an endorsement of the originator or of any organization.

Comments and feedback

HPEDSB welcomes comments, suggestions and questions about the content posted on social media channels, provided they follow the general rules of respectful civil discourse. Individuals are fully responsible for everything they post and all posted comments are in the public domain.  To protect your own privacy and the privacy of others, please do not include personal information, such as your phone number, home address, or email address in the body of your comment.

HPEDSB will report any posts deemed to be offensive, defamatory or inappropriate, and will remove any followers who violate these terms.  Comments that are offensive to an individual or an organization, rude in tone, or abusive will not be tolerated.  HPEDSB does not discriminate against any views, but reserves the right to refuse, edit or remove any of the following:

  • comments contrary to the principles of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms;
  • comments that violate any Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board policy or procedure;
  • racist, hateful, slanderous, abusive, and/or obscene messages;
  • solicitations, advertisements, or spam;
  • comments that encourage or suggest illegal activity or cyber bullying; and
  • messages where the sender is not the author (nor the copyright holder, if applicable), and/or posted anonymously or by robot accounts.

Please be respectful and make sure your comments are relevant. If you have any questions about our commenting or service standards, or how they are applied, please contact Communication Services.