Lakeland presents annual internet-safety measures, outlines filtering, monitoring and data protections

Dr. Wanda Terrell, Lakeland School System chief of technology, delivered the district's annual internet-safety presentation required by state law and described the layered technologies and policies the district uses to limit students' access to harmful online content and protect student data.

The presentation outlined a "walled garden" approach that limits what can enter and leave the district's digital environment and creates groups with differing access by grade, school or classroom. "This presentation is required by state law," a board member said when introducing the item, and Terrell described how the district implements that legal requirement.

Nut graf: The district told the board it balances instructional needs with cybersecurity by combining filtering and monitoring products, staff training, data-privacy agreements and incident response measures. Terrell said the system both restricts some student functions and gives teachers and parents tools to supervise learning while preserving needed access for high-school and dual-enrollment…