Social Media

Belton ISD values the role of social media in connecting our schools with families and the community. To ensure consistency, accuracy and accountability, the following process must be followed before establishing any new district-affiliated social media account.

Before creating an account:

• Get approval first. A campus principal or department director must give written permission via email before a new account is requested.
• Assign administrators. The approving principal/director must be added as an administrator on the account. A second staff member should also be identified to help manage content and ensure the account remains active.
• Plan for management. Identify who will post content, monitor comments and keep information timely and accurate. Accounts that are inactive or not properly managed may be closed.
• Confirm student permissions. Work with the campus registrar to ensure no students featured on the account have opted out of directory information or electronic communication.

Setting up the account:

• All new accounts will be created by the Communications Department after approval is received.
• Once approved, account credentials will be shared with the requestor and the assigned administrator(s).
• Accounts should use a campus/department logo or photo that reflects their purpose. The official BISD logo is reserved for districtwide accounts only.

After the account is active:

• Follow the BISD Social Media Guidelines for posting content, tone and community engagement.
• Keep posts focused on celebrating students, sharing campus news, and highlighting events.
• Monitor for inappropriate content and handle it in line with district rules of engagement.
• Stay active — aim for consistent posting to keep your audience informed and engaged.

For questions or support, contact the Communications Department at communications@bisd.net.

Social Media Account Request Form

Do's:

• Post about student accomplishments, campus achievements and reminders about upcoming schoolwide events
• Share content from our main district page @BeltonISD & fellow campuses
• Tag us @BeltonISD and use our hashtags when applicable #celebrateBISD #EACHandEVERYstudent #inspiringdreams #empoweringfutures
• One to two posts per day is usually the best, with a minimum of three posts per week, otherwise people may unfollow the page. Timeliness & relevancy is key, so try to keep your posts recent
  and fresh
• Use original photos & check your spelling/grammar
• Make sure that if the photos or videos do not belong to you, get permission before you post. (Note, you don’t need permission to share photos and videos from other Facebook pages as they
  are public. You only need permission when you’re uploading directly to the page)
• Create EVENTS on the page (Examples include: STEM Night, Open House, athletic games and performances, etc. that are school-wide and open to the public)
• Use sites like Canva [www.canva.com] to create visually appealing graphics, fliers, posts, etc., or
  school wide reminders (ask if you need training)
• Personalize your campus voice by using pronouns Us, Our, We, Your and not as an individual [“I”or “My]”
• Delete/hide comments with profanity or posts that may be negative to members of staff/student body. Please refer to our Rules of Engagement (see below)
• Reply promptly
• Take screenshots of concerning posts/comments and forward them to your principal or director and our office immediately to communications@bisd.net
• Keep everything POSITIVE

Don'ts:

• Don’t go radio silent on pages. Schedule posts beforehand for breaks and holidays.
• Don’t share internal documents on your page
• Don’t violate FERPA. FERPA prohibits the release of private student information such as grades, discipline, attendance and test scores.
• Do not share GoFund me links or any type of link soliciting donations without prior approval from the Communications Office
• Don’t share or like any political advertisements or promotion of services/products
• Don’t engage in arguments with individuals who comment negatively, this is a platform to share positive news and stories to your families. Instead, provide a district phone number and contact name for the individual to speak with the appropriate Administrator directly.