MOORESVILLE - Like most teens, when Gracie Norton surfs the web, Facebook is a site she visits once or twice a day.
"Just to get on, check notifications, see what's new," she said.
But starting this year, the Mooresville School district has implemented a new policy. Teachers and students cannot be "friends" on Facebook or connect on other social media. Gracie, who's a freshman cheerleader, will not be able to have any communication with teachers or coaches through personal pages.
"But we can still connect with our coach through their page, their coach page, we can still ask them whatever we want, talk to them. Just their personal life is protected," said Gracie.
With the prevalence of social media, the lines between personal and professional life can easily be blurred. Former Beech Grove High School teacher Sara Kifer faces stalking charges after she allegedly hacked into a student's Facebook account and sent him numerous text messages and e-mails during his senior year.
"It stopped for a little while over the summer when she had no way to get a hold of me but when I got a new e-mail address that she was able to find, it restarted again," the student told Eyewitness News.
Several local school districts do have electronic media or responsible use policies but they cover things like not posting derogatory statements about students or the school on public websites. None are as far-reaching as Mooresville.
"We want to avoid anything that might lead to a misconception. We want to be able to have an open, public conversations where everyone can see what's going on," said Susan Haynes, Mooresville Schools.
That's fine with Gracie, who says instructors should be viewed as leaders, not friends.
"We can still communicate with them like our other friends. It's just a coach page. It's not their personal life," said Gracie.
Read Mooresville's new policy
