Beginning June 27, 2025, all JCS staff members (including coaches, club sponsors, and volunteers) will be required to use ParentSquare as their messaging platform to electronically communicate with their classes, teams, clubs, etc. Email, using district provided accounts, is also an acceptable way to electronically communicate with students. It is important to note that staff members will no longer be able to electronically communicate with students via text messaging, group chat, social media, or any other unapproved messaging platform. In addition, teachers and students should not be friends or follow one another on social media.
While the law does include an exception for electronic communication by parents, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, aunts, uncles, and grandparents who are school employees or volunteers, there is another method for other exceptions to be made. Families who wish to provide written permission for a staff member or volunteer to electronically communicate with their child via text messaging, can fill out a waiver (linked below). This should be used for individual circumstances, not entire team, class, or group communication. All district team, class, or group communication should occur through Parent Square or through district email accounts.
Steps for Completing a Waiver:
The parent/guardian completes the waiver and submits for approval.
The staff member the parent/guardian is requesting to be able to communicate with their child (outside of the traceable communication system) will receive an email to digitally sign off.
The request will then go to the superintendent or superintendent’s designee for approval for completeness.
Families and the staff member will be notified as to whether or not the waiver has been approved.
This new law applies to all electronic communication between school employees/volunteers and students - whether school-related or not - including, but not limited to, extracurricular/club sports, church or youth groups, Scouts, babysitting, and similar activities. If a JCS teacher or staff member is involved with such outside groups, the law says these same guidelines apply to their electronic communication with students.