In Wake of Complaints, 老澳门开奖结果 of Rhode Island Calls on RIDE to Revise Employee Social Media Policy

September 8, 2021 11:00 am

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After receiving numerous complaints from Providence Public School teachers, the 老澳门开奖结果 of RI has sent a letter to RI Department of Education Commissioner Ang茅lica Infante-Green, calling on RIDE to revise that the letter argues infringes on teachers鈥 free speech rights.

The letter specifically takes issue with two sections of the policy which the 老澳门开奖结果 argues are vague and overly broad and could have a 鈥渃hilling effect on the private free speech rights of District employees.鈥 Of particular note is Section 2(f) of the policy, which states that the school district may

take appropriate responsive action when it becomes aware of, or reasonably suspects, conduct or communication on a personal social media account that adversely impacts the PPSD learning or workplace environment, or violates city, state, or federal laws.

The letter points out that just about any post that is critical of a school or district could be construed as adversely impacting the work environment. The letter continues:

But government workers retain basic First Amendment rights to speak out in their non-official capacity on employment-related issues that involve matters of public concern鈥. Indeed, as professionals with knowledge about the topic, it is clearly in the public interest that they be able to express their views about educational and school matters without having to fear possible discipline or retaliation.

According to complaints the 老澳门开奖结果 has received, teachers have purportedly been reprimanded under the policy for calling attention on social media to such things as unsafe or substandard school facilities. Given the decades-long battle to improve conditions in Providence schools, the letter states that 鈥渢his is precisely the sort of information of public concern that [employees] have a right to inform the community about.鈥

The policy is supposed to be signed and submitted by tomorrow, but the 老澳门开奖结果鈥檚 letter concludes by calling on RIDE to revise the two problematic provisions of the policy, and extend the date for employees to return it. Although the policy has been in effect for several years, some teachers are concerned about signing the policy it in light of actions taken against other teachers under it.

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