Posting a Picture or Video of Your Kid on Facebook? Think Again

Want to post that video of your child doing X, Y or Z on Facebook? YouTube? Flickr? The Summit Board of Education may soon prohibit it.

Superintendent Dr. Nathan Parker said the board is considering changes to the district's "Public Performances By Pupils" policy which would prohibit those in attendance at student performances, athletic contests and other events from posting photos or videos on Internet sites including, but not limited to, Facebook, Flickr and YouTube.

Parker said the intent behind the policy is to protect the privacy of students.

"When attending events that include student performers/athletes, the Summit Board of Education recognizes that attendees often want to videotape and/or photograph the students," the policy reads. "However, in an effort to respect the privacy concerns of others, the District strongly requests that any video footage and/or still images of other students not be posted online to sites such as Flickr, YouTube, Facebook, etc."

It is unknown at this time how the district would enforce the policy, Parker said, but added it is possible it could require parents to sign a form in the beginning of the school year acknowledging they have been informed of the policy and the district may print the policy on event programs in the future.

"Even though Summit Public Schools strongly requests that attendees respect the privacy of others, families of student performers/athletes must also recognize that the District has no means for preventing attendees from taking such actions," the policy reads. "The Board of Education respectfully requests that any individual taking video or photographs of students ask permission of the students/families before posting online."

But Parker admits the district has no way of enforcing the policy except to say parents should act in good faith.

Parker also said he believed the policy would apply to the media.

The board will take public comments on the proposed policy at its regular meeting June 16 at 7:30 p.m. in the library at Summit High School.