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Watch what you say and do on Facebook and other social media sites or risk losing your job. Fairly conventional wisdom, but the Lake County School District in Florida has come out with specific guidelines and rules regarding what teachers can do on social media websites on their free time.

A few teachers have gotten themselves in trouble lately by posting inappropriate comments about students, including mocking them, calling them future criminals and "germ bags," and claiming to hate their guts. Other teachers have been caught flirting with students online or posting inappropriate photos on their Facebook profiles.

The District's "guidelines for Employee Use of Social Media Networks" outlines several best practices for district and professional social media use, but it also delves into personal use as well. Some guidelines include:

1. Employees should avoid obscene or vulgar language or engage in conduct that is harassing, threatening, libelous or defamatory.
2. Employees should avoid discussing or encouraging any illegal activity or inappropriate use of alcohol and illegal drugs.
3. Posting as a citizen about a non-job related matter of public concern and making comments that negatively affect the school district's effectiveness could be met with repercussions.
4. There may also be repercussions for blogging about personal subjects (drinking, dating, etc). Employees' blog or website should be "G" rated.

District spokesman Christopher Patton told 13 News that there have been two cases in the past few years where teachers have crossed the line with students online. "I think if we can make sure the teachers and the employees understand that social media isn't a way to be communicating with students that hopefully these situations will be resolved before they actually happen," Patton said.

School district administrators and teacher's union reps have been working on the new guidelines since late last year, but district officials are far from anti-social media. The Lake County Schools District is on Facebook and Twitter.

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