By BRETT R. WHITLING
Staff writer
CLARION – Clarion Area Elementary School Principal Roger Walter is considering the idea of creating a Facebook page for the school.
The page would be utilized for posting announcements but also for quickly sending out updated information.
“It’s a quick way to communicate to hundreds of our community members,” Walter said.
Walter said he has mixed feelings about the page but so far everyone he has talked to from a school district standpoint has reassured him creating the page is nothing to worry about.
If the page is created on Facebook, it would be considered a business page and only Walter would have access to posting new content or updates on the page.
Though Walter may be the only one who can post new content, anyone who is a member of the page has the ability to comment.
“Open public comments is the one area I would have to be careful about who is commenting on what,” Walter said. “Enough of the teachers have said they would help monitor the comments and clean up anything which should not be there.”
The unwanted comments from the public have been Walter’s main concern but other school districts have reassured him it is not an issue they deal with.
“The other districts have told me people value it, enjoy the communication and they keep it acceptable,” said Walter.
Walter used a recent example of one of the busses running late due to being caught in construction.
“It would be a great resource to be able to post and let people know whichever bus number it is, is running a few minutes late,” Walter said.
Board member Julie Hartley asked Walter about the “unofficial” Elementary School Facebook page.
Walter said he was aware of the page but did not want to post on it making it seem as an official page.
Walter said if they do decide to go ahead with creating a Facebook page for the school, they will also choose not to have it replace any other forms of communication the school and community relies on already.