The Scott County Board of Education approved a service agreement with ClassDojo and moved forward with a traceable communication system the state now requires. The board passed both items during its meeting after discussion about legal requirements and staff concerns.
A board member said the mandate "is outdated and ridiculous" and criticized the timing of the state requirement, arguing it places an added compliance burden on educators. "I think it's outrageous that states are just now waking up to the concept that our students might be communicating with someone who is an adult?" the speaker said. The board member asked to go on record opposing the timing and scope of the requirement while acknowledging the district must comply.
An educator or community member recounted a case involving a Spanish-only student whose mother was harmed; because of a language barrier the child struggled to reach law enforcement and instead contacted a school employee via the mother's phone. The speaker said the help the student received "was because the student communicated to a trusted member of our school family," and argued staff should not feel they are "doing something dirty when they're just trying to help."
Superintendent Billy Parker and central office staff said they had worked to ensure the district's proposal meets state requirements. The board acknowledged the requirement is exhaustive and that staff have expressed worry about potential disciplinary or licensure consequences in emergency communications.
Both motions — the ClassDojo service agreement and the traceable communication system recommendation — passed during the meeting. The board's discussion distinguished between complying with state law and ongoing concerns from staff and board members about practical consequences and timing.