REDMOND — The Redmond School District has a new policy covering how educators are to interact with students in the world of texting, Facebook and other social media.

Communication using texting and social media isn’t forbidden between teachers and students, but it must be “appropriate and professional,” under the policy. The school board unanimously approved the policy Wednesday.

The social media policy is a first for the school district, addressing an issue that educators across the nation are facing as technology has changed how people communicate.

Board Vice Chairwoman Cathy Miller said it’s an important policy that will allow staff members to move forward with caution to avoid unintended consequences.

Besides a requirement to keep it professional and appropriate, the policy, which covers on-duty and off-duty posts, has a few other rules.

• Staff members cannot post confidential information about students or the district on social networks, blogs or public websites.

• Personal communication devices, included cellphones, must be turned off during instruction time or whenever they would interfere with work or school activities.

• Cellphones cannot be used to take photographs or video unless a staff member gets permission from the principal.

Before the change, Redmond didn’t have a policy specifically covering texting and social media activities, other than a broader policy requiring that electronic devices not disturb school activities.

Alleged texting with a student is cited in court documents in the case against Michael Bremont, the former director of Redmond Proficiency Academy, who is charged with sexually abusing a female student.

In that case, text messages were allegedly exchanged between Bremont and the student in which he flirted with her and admitted to inappropriate feelings, according to court documents.

Bullying complaint

The father of an Obsidian Middle School girl raised concerns with officials Wednesday about how the school responded when his 13-year-old daughter was allegedly bullied and injured at the school.

The incident took place May 9.

“My daughter, who goes to Obsidian Middle School, got assaulted by another kid,” said Ben Finerty. “He kicked her in the head and gave her a severe concussion.”

Finerty asked the school board what its policy is for that situation.

He said the school had told him that his daughter wouldn’t see the boy for the rest of the year. Instead, she has seen the boy at school, he said.

“He could have seriously damaged our daughter,” Finerty said.

Finerty and the girl’s mother, Belle Wentz, and stepfather, Marshall Wentz, also said in an interview with The Bulletin that they don’t believe the school did enough to address the problem.

The girl was out of school for about a week after her injury, which caused temporary loss of vision and severe headaches, they said.

School district officials didn’t directly address the specifics of that situation, but they stressed that safety is important.

“We absolutely, definitely believe in student safety, and it’s one of our priorities,” said Board Chairman Jim Erickson.

Superintendent Shay Mikalson told the girl’s parents he would meet with them Friday to talk about the issue.