Suffolk Public Schools uses social media platforms to share news and information, celebrate our school, students, and teachers, and engage with our SPS community. We encourage you to share your support, connect with others, and visit frequently for news and updates. Please note that we cannot monitor our SPS social media accounts 24/7. Direct messaging on any social media platform, including but not limited to Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram, is not considered a formal platform for Suffolk Public Schools employees to engage in work/school-related communication. The Suffolk Public Schools administrative team does not encourage providing a response to the community or public inquiries via “Direct Messaging.”

SOCIAL MEDIA COMMENTING GUIDELINES

We ask that all comments, private messages, and other interactions on SPS social media accounts be respectful and courteous. We reserve the right to remove or hide content that includes, but is not limited to:

• discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, age, religion, gender, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, national origin, physical or mental disability, or sexual orientation
• obscene, defamatory, harassing, discriminatory, violent, vulgar, hateful or sexual material
• off-topic or disruptive remarks
• advocating the commission of a criminal act
  
• repeated posted content (Any subsequent posting of identical information will be deleted)
  
• spam, advertising, or commercial solicitations for information
  
• promotion or opposition of any person campaigning for election to a political office
  
• confidential material (posts that disclose information that Suffolk Public Schools and its employees are required to keep confidential by law or administrative rules)

Suffolk Public Schools reserves the right to temporarily block or ban users whose posts or comments on SPS social media pages fall within the above categories.

All posts and correspondence received by SPS may be subject to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and records retention requirements. As a result, SPS may be obligated to retain posts and correspondence in its records and/or to disclose them if requested. Any information posted on a Suffolk Public Schools social media page is considered public information and may be subject to monitoring, moderation, or disclosure to third parties. For questions, please email socialmedia@spsk12.net.

Impersonating an official Suffolk Public Schools social media account or posting false information about or from the school system under an anonymous account or alias is prohibited. Depending on the nature of the post, such action may result in notification to local law enforcement. If made by an employee or student, it could result in disciplinary action.