Photo via screenshot Brandon Newell, a former Gowanda Central School District employee, asked the Board of Education for more strict guidelines regarding use of social media for District employees. Newell was terminated earlier this year because of an incident away from school grounds.

GOWANDA — Brandon Newell was terminated from his position as Junior Varsity Boys Basketball Coach earlier this year because of an incident that occurred off school grounds. At a recent Gowanda Board of Education meeting, he asked the Board to hold other employees to a high standard with their behavior away from school, as well.

Newell addressed the Board regarding a policy on use of social media for District employees. Newell stated that he reviewed the policy as listed in the employee handbook several times, and called it “very vague.” He asked for more specific guidelines to be given as part of the policy and clarification on who enforces it.

“A lot of kids do pay attention to Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat … and it does affect kids’ everyday school days when they pay attention to someone posting something … that’s not school appropriate, especially if those kids are able to see a public profile,” Newell said.

Later noting that he is a District parent, Newell said, “Don’t put crazy things up there that families would not allow their kids to put up.”

Newell also asked for a stricter policy for administrators within the District. “I feel like as an administrator … they should be looked at a much higher (standard),” Newell said. “… You are a role model and you are in a public position. You are in the public eye 24/7, it doesn’t matter where you are.”

Two minutes into Newell addressing the Board, a timer was displayed on the screen behind him, counting down from two minutes. Newell turned around to notice the timer when only eight seconds remained. He then concluded his address to the Board as the timer expired.

“I’m not saying that we need to get real into people’s personal lives, but there is a level of respect, common courtesy, and being appropriate for the children that we have here,” Newell said.

After addressing the Board, Newell returned to his seat in the audience — where he has sat regularly since his termination — for the remainder of the meeting.