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Board hears tech‑services briefing after parent complaints about Chromebooks and online filtering
Summary
A parent raised concerns about elementary students’ access to internet content and district filtering; the district’s technology director detailed layered protections (firewall, ClearPass, CrowdStrike), Securly filter services, and plans to pilot Securly Classroom next year. Board members asked for clearer parent communications.
A Fond du Lac parent used public comment time to press the district about elementary students’ access to online content and the school‑issued Chromebooks; later in the meeting the district’s technology director described multiple security and classroom management tools the district uses and said staff will increase outreach to help families use available controls.
“Why does my kid need to tell me it’s fishing season off of his Chromebook?” said parent Austin Klowicki, who told the board he was asking that the district provide parents a copy of blocked URLs and improve communication about internet controls on school devices. Klowicki also raised concerns about student supervision and the district’s management of bullying incidents at Evans Elementary.
Paul Hermas, director of technology services and assessment, answered the parent remarks with a 30‑minute briefing on district protections. He described a layered approach: a next‑generation firewall (FortiGate) that he likened to airport security, device‑ and user‑level controls with ClearPass, and endpoint monitoring via CrowdStrike. He said the district also uses Securly for web filtering and student monitoring, including Securly Aware (which alerts staff to student searches that indicate self‑harm) and Securely Home (which allows parents to receive activity reports, whitelist/blacklist sites on district devices at home, and pause internet access on take‑home Chromebooks).
Hermas said the district requires Chromebooks to log students into ClassLink; on school‑issued devices, students in grades 6–12 take devices home and remain logged in under their district account so district filters and monitoring still apply. He said elementary devices are assigned on carts and do not go home. Hermas also announced the district plans to pilot Securly Classroom next year, a teacher tool that allows teachers to view and manage student browser activity during class sessions, pause devices, push instructions, or close distracting tabs.
Board members pressed for clearer communications and supports for families. Several asked the technology department to produce plain‑language materials (English and Spanish) explaining parental features such as daily/weekly internet activity reports and the ability to pause access, and to provide how‑to support for parents who are not tech‑savvy.
The board did not take formal action; district staff said the security systems are already in place and added that cybersecurity insurance and ongoing network upgrades remain priorities.
