Pullman Schools to pilot LineWise Chromebook monitoring system
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Summary
District technology staff proposed switching from Content Keeper to LineWise, a hybrid filtering and classroom-management system, and recommended a pilot this spring with teacher training and a parent engagement component.
Pullman Public Schools technology staff presented a proposal Feb. 12 to pilot LineWise, a hybrid web filtering and classroom-management system intended to replace or augment the district’s existing Content Keeper setup.
The proposal, presented by Tyler Kreke, recommended installing LineWise’s on‑premises appliance that synchronizes with a cloud component that follows school-owned Chromebooks. Kreke told the board the change would give teachers more granular control in class and allow parents to manage filters and screen time outside school hours.
Kreke described limitations with the district’s current approach, which uses the Content Keeper Chrome extension together with firewall-based filtering for non‑district devices. He said managing two systems increases administrative overhead and can produce inconsistent results across devices. "The filter is content aware," Kreke said, describing LineWise’s ability to analyze page content and blur questionable images rather than blocking an entire site.
Kreke outlined classroom-management features that would allow teachers to view student screens, push content to an entire class and send brief teacher‑to‑student messages without interrupting instruction. He also highlighted a parental dashboard that can extend filtering to personal devices and set curfews and site limits outside school hours.
On costs, Kreke said the district’s Content Keeper subscription runs about $13,000 per year and that switching to LineWise would raise total subscription costs modestly but could be offset by avoiding a planned, more expensive firewall refresh. He proposed a pilot rollout over spring break with elementary schools as a starting point and districtwide teacher training over the summer.
Board members asked about trial populations and coverage for personally owned devices. Kreke said devices that connect to the district network would be filtered by the on‑premise appliance, and parents can opt into the custodial license to extend controls on personal devices. Trustees encouraged a pilot that includes middle school classroom use and parent participants so the district can gather a broad set of feedback. The board did not take a vote; members asked for a pilot report and a formal follow‑up to evaluate outcomes.
