DAPHNE, Ala. — Daphne High School’s use of technology and social media will grow in the upcoming school year with implementation of a Facebook page maintained by the principal’s office and an update to the school’s electronic-devices policy.

Daphne High School Principal Meredith Foster said she hopes the measures — namely 24-7 capabilities for information access, arguably more accessible and user-friendly than the school’s Web page, given Facebook’s across-the-board popularity and daily check-ins — get students and the community more involved.

“It is the best communication tool that I know of for social networking,” Foster said.

One benefit is the ease of sharing information.

“The great thing about Facebook is that when you send information out, it goes directly into a news feed. All of the students already have Facebook accounts, so when it goes into their news feeds, they get the information right then and will be up on things we need them to know. That way, they won’t have to check the website.

“People just don’t spend time checking websites, but if they are checking their news feed anyway for Facebook, it will be right there,” Foster said.

The page will particularly be useful after hours.

“While they are in school, we can make announcements, but while they are gone, this will be a great method of sending out and getting information from them,” the principal said, adding that students can comment on the page.

The school’s page, which can be found by searching for Daphne High School Trojans, is still in its early stages.

“It really hasn’t been launched heavily; I just told a few people to get the word out. So far, you can go on there and ‘like’ it and see what we have,” she said, referring to a feature that shows favoritism for a particular page. When users click “Like” on a given Facebook page, the networking site records the information and tallies how many people clicked the feature. This helps display a particular page’s popularity with readers.

Currently, the DHS Facebook page announces new staff members and displays their photos. The site has less than 60 members today, but Foster believes that number will grow. She expressed optimism that students and others will eventually accept the page.

“It is starting to catch on. When the students get back, it will really catch on,” Foster said, hoping that student involvement can curb unfounded rumors that occasionally circulate. 

“This is a way (students) know they can post something and they know that I see it because it goes directly to my email,” Foster said of the page.

In other news, the school has revised its electronic-devices policy.

“The big change with that is in terms of consequence for having a device,” Foster said. A former cell-phone ban instituted by Baldwin County Public Schools dealt with the matter in the past; now, the punishment for violation of a more lenient policy is up to the principal’s discretion.

“I am going to allow students to use them during lunch, break and class transition time,” Foster said. “Because, that is the real world; they are used to that and to try to change that culture when they walk into a school is against encouraging responsibility. That is what we are trying to do: encourage responsibility among students. If they can use (cell phones) properly and responsibly, then that is teaching them how to act in real life.”

As for improvements, a few weeks ago, the school received a check of $66 from Sen. Marc Keahey, D-Grove Hill, which Foster said she has placed in the school’s technology fund. The fund is used to purchase computers, cameras to use for iHigh — an online campus-video portal — and other technology purchases. Keahey chose to donate his automatic pay increase to schools he randomly selected.

“It was appreciated that he gave his cost-of-living check back to the schools; he didn’t have to do that,” Foster said.