Traceable Communications

Russellville Independent School District uses ParentSquare for school communication, primarily with email, text and app notifications. ParentSquare automatically generates an account for each parent, using their preferred email address and phone number. We encourage parents to access their accounts so they can download the mobile app and update their preferences on when and how they are notified.

 

Here’s what you can do with ParentSquare:

• Receive messages from the school via email, text or app notification 
• Choose to receive information as it comes or all at once with a daily digest at 6pm 
• Communicate in your preferred language
• Comment on school postings to engage with your school community
• Direct message teachers, staff and other parents
• Participate in group messages
• Sign up for parent-teacher conferences
• Sign forms & permission slips, receive report cards, sign up to volunteer and more all from your desktop or mobile device

 

The Board shall designate a traceable communication system to be the exclusive means for District employees and volunteers to communicate electronically with students. The Principal of each school shall provide parents written or electronic notification within the first ten (10) days of the school year of each electronic school notification and communication program designated within the traceable communication system. The notification shall include instructions for parents to access and review communications sent through each electronic school notification and communication program.

 

A District employee or volunteer, unless authorized, shall not communicate electronically with a student:

1.    Outside of the traceable communication system designated by the Board; or 
2.    Through an unauthorized electronic communication program or application.

This shall not restrict any electronic communications between a student and his or her family member who is a District employee or volunteer.

 

DEFINITIONS
Family
“Family member” means parent, brother, sister, son, daughter, aunt, uncle, or grandparent.

 

Parent
“Parent” means parent, legal guardian, or other person or agency responsible for a student.

 

District Employee or Volunteer
“District employee of volunteer” means a school administrator, classified or certified employee volunteer, nonfaculty coach or assistant coach, student teacher, or sponsor of an extracurricular program or activity.

 

Traceable Communication System
“Traceable communication system” means one (1) or more electronic school notification and communication programs or applications that:

a.    Are designated by a Board of Education;
b.    Trace all communications sent to or by a student; and
c.    Provide parents an opportunity to access and review those communications.

 

UNAUTHORIZED ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION
“Unauthorized electronic communication” means an electronic communication with a student by a District employee or volunteer who is not the student's family member that occurs outside of a designated traceable communication system and without prior written parental consent; and includes any personal email account, text messaging, social media, or other electronic notification and communication programs outside of the traceable communication system.

 

CONSENT TO AUTHORIZE
A parent may submit written consent to authorize a designated District employee or volunteer who is not a family member to communicate electronically with his or her child outside of the traceable communication system.

 

REPORTING
A District employee or volunteer that receives a report alleging that another District employee or volunteer participated in unauthorized electronic communication shall immediately notify the Principal.

 

If the subject of the report is the Principal, the employee or volunteer shall immediately notify the Superintendent.

 

If the subject of the report is the Superintendent, the employee or volunteer shall immediately notify the Commissioner of Education and the Chair of the local Board.

 

Upon receipt of a report alleging that a District employee or volunteer participated in unauthorized electronic communication, the Commissioner of Education, a Principal, or the Superintendent shall immediately:

1.    Notify the parent of each student that is an alleged party to the unauthorized electronic communications; and
2.    If the individual that is the subject of the report is a certified employee:

a.    Notify the Education Professional Standards Board, which shall promptly investigate all allegations received under this subsection and proceed with appropriate disciplinary actions in accordance with KRS 160.145; and
b.    Investigate the underlying allegations and proceed with appropriate disciplinary actions in accordance with KRS 161.790;

3.    If the individual that is the subject of the report is a classified employee, investigate the underlying allegations and proceed with appropriate disciplinary actions in accordance with KRS 161.011(7); and
4.    If the individual that is the subject of the report is a District volunteer, the school or District shall investigate the underlying allegations and, if substantiated, the volunteer shall be prohibited from future school and District volunteer opportunities.

 

A Principal or Superintendent who violates shall be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with KRS 161.120 and KRS 156.132.

 

REFERENCES:
KRS 156.132
KRS 160.145
KRS 161.011; KRS 161.120; KRS 161.790