Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Student Communications topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Nelson County adopts ParentSquare as district ‘traceable communication’ system under SB181
Summary
The Board approved ParentSquare as Nelson County Schools' traceable communication system required by Senate Bill 181 and discussed implementation steps, interim allowances for travel/camp events and family opt-out procedures.
The Nelson County Board of Education voted June 10 to designate ParentSquare as the district’s traceable communication system to comply with Senate Bill 181. Staff described the product as a single, monitorable platform for staff-to-student electronic messages and districtwide family communications.
Melissa Case and other staff said ParentSquare will allow coaches, volunteers and teachers to send messages to students through a system that can be audited and viewed by parents. Case said the platform also supports calendars, permission slips and district communications and that the Kentucky Center for Safe Schools approved using Safe Schools grant funds to purchase the system.
Staff told the board the law restricts direct electronic communication from staff to students unless routed through an approved traceable system; that restriction will disallow private direct messages on platforms such as Facebook, TikTok or private texting for that purpose. Case said the district plans to follow state timelines and will provide a process for parental opt-out where families explicitly consent to direct communications outside the traceable system; staff said opt-outs will be visible in the system.
Because the new rule takes effect June 27, district leaders said they have arranged temporary, limited permissions to allow specific events such as FFA camp during the transition period. Staff also discussed onboarding options — QR-code signups, videos and in-person help at back-to-school events — and said principals and district technology staff have met with ParentSquare representatives and are supportive.
After discussion, a motion to approve ParentSquare as the Nelson County Schools traceable communication system passed on a voice vote.
