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Board briefed on new acceptable‑use changes and ParentProTech lessons to meet Georgia law
Summary
District staff explained revisions to the Internet Acceptable Use policy to comply with state law (Senate Bill 351) and described rollout of ParentProTech digital‑citizenship lessons for grades 6–12 as required by statute; board members were notified the revised policy must be approved by Oct. 1 and uploaded to the state by Oct. 15.
Barrow County staff briefed the board Aug. 26 on updates to the district’s acceptable‑use policy and on a state‑provided ParentProTech curriculum that addresses digital citizenship requirements in Georgia law.
Mister Saint Clair presented proposed revisions to policy IFBG, the district’s Internet Acceptable Use Policy, noting the changes respond to technology developments and to state legislation passed in 2024. He told the board that Senate Bill 351 requires districts to adopt certain acceptable‑use elements by Oct. 1 and to submit the policy to the Georgia Department of Education by Oct. 15. The superintendent recommended removing the policy from the table and approving the revisions at the Sept. 2 meeting so the district can meet the state deadlines.
Caitlin Maynard, a technology integration specialist, described the district’s partnership with the Georgia Department of Education and ParentProTech to deliver lessons that address seven standards outlined in the law. The district will focus initially on three lessons for grades 6–12: social media influences (friendships and body image), netiquette (online conduct) and trust issues (safeguarding online). Teachers can create ParentProTech accounts and staff are preparing communications so parents can sign up to access the same materials.
Maynard said the ParentProTech resources include videos, articles and parent materials; the district will provide guidance for teachers to assign the lessons. Mister Saint Clair said the public review period for the policy produced one supportive public comment. The board did not vote on the policy at the Aug. 26 meeting; staff emphasized the Oct. 1 approval and Oct. 15 submission deadlines and asked the board to consider the policy at the Sept. 2 meeting.
