After a Monday night vote, Butler Area School District board members are now formally discouraged from using their social media accounts “to communicate with the public regarding the board and board-related business.”

A new social media policy for the district's elected officials was self-imposed by a near majority of board members, but not until after they removed punishments for disobeying the policy.

The one holdout vote came from a board member who frequently posts his thoughts on board business and other board members on his Facebook page. The policy originated from a quarrel over his posts.

At its previous meeting, the board passed a draft version of the policy with intentions of editing it for a final vote Monday.

When Monday night's meeting began, the policy listed eight guidelines for school board members. Generally, the guidelines discourage board members from using social media to talk about board meetings, pending school business or answering questions about business.Rather, the policy encourages officials to direct the public to come to the board's public meetings, read its official meeting minutes, or speak with the superintendent or a school building administrator.Legal problems relating to open records and public meetings laws are cited as reasoning for the guidelines.“The first thing (solicitor) Tom Breth told me during our orientation was that I'm one of us,” said board member Alice Nunes. “I am not the school board, and I do not speak for the school board.”

Prior to Monday's meeting, the draft policy also included a section titled “Potential consequences for violation of this policy.”Those consequences included stripping members of officer roles, such as board president, and preventing them from serving on other boards that include school board-appointed members.For instance, the board picks a member to represent it on the Butler County Area Vocational-Technical School's board.When consideration of the policy began, board member Bill Halle opened with his opposition to it.“I still just find it crazy that we're looking to try and limit free speech and access,” Halle said.

In its discussion of social media use over the past several months, board conversations repeatedly have turned to Halle.He frequently posts about meetings and board business on his Facebook page. He posted about 250 words online prior to Monday's meeting, and then another 460 words at 2 a.m. after they adjourned.Halle appeared most at odds with Board President Nina Teff, who he named in both Facebook posts. Board members have previously critiqued Halle for posting about them online after blocking their accounts, preventing them from seeing or commenting on his posts.“Approval of the proposed Social Media Policy drafted by outgoing School Board President Nina Teff will return the BASD to a governed state of 'SELECTIVE TRANSPARENCY' or informing the public of only what the “COLLECTIVE” Board of School Directors decides is the necessary information and the narrative the public is permitted to know,” Halle wrote.

Teff shot back during the meeting, raising two main arguments.“My 12-year-old son had to sign a social media agreement,” Teff said.If their students “are expected to behave in certain ways,” she figured, board members should be too.Her other reason was legal in nature, saying the policy could shield the board from liability over member actions.Both Halle and Teff raised their voices.Halle, at one point, said, “If you try to limit my free speech, I will see you in court.” Teff, at another, said, “I will not choose to waste my money and sue you when you defame me on Facebook, Bill.”After much discussion, the board passed an amended version of the policy that removes the entire “Potential consequences for violation of this policy” section. Other minor additions were made to the guidelines to specify that board members shouldn't post harassing content online or anything said in executive board sessions.The policy passed in a 7-1 vote. Halle cast the lone “no” vote.Teff, Jennifer Cummings, Suzie Bradrick, John Conrad, Alice Nunes, Al Vavro and Mary Waggoner voted in favor. Gary Shingleton was absent.