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Rowan County board adopts traceable communication platforms as KDE guidance awaited
Summary
The Rowan County Board of Education approved Google Workspace, Microsoft School email, Edgenuity and ParentSquare as its approved traceable communication platforms while awaiting guidance from the Kentucky Department of Education about Senate Bill 181 compliance.
The Rowan County Board of Education voted July 14 to approve a set of traceable communication platforms — Google Workspace, Microsoft School email, Edgenuity and ParentSquare — the district will recommend for staff-to-student communications as the district awaits specific KDE guidance on compliance with Senate Bill 181.
District staff said the requirement to have “traceable” communications in place stems from recent state legislation and that the Kentucky School Boards Association has said platform choice is a district decision. The board’s attorney reviewed the options and staff said they will consult the board attorney and KDE materials before sending broad communications to parents and employees.
Superintendent Mr. Roe cautioned that the implementation raises concerns for teachers. “This is really scary for teachers,” he said, describing language in the bill that he said could place reporting obligations on the superintendent and potentially affect teacher certification if required processes are not followed. Mr. Roe said KDE is preparing a fact sheet for districts and that the board attorney has reviewed the proposed platforms.
Parent and volunteer users who spoke at the meeting praised ParentSquare’s usability and said it felt similar to other messaging apps parents have used. A volunteer coach said he had already set up ParentSquare with participants and described it as “very simple and easy.”
The board approved the motion to designate the listed platforms as the district’s traceable communication options. Board members and staff emphasized they would not send a district-wide parent or staff communication about the change until KDE releases clearer guidance and the board attorney confirms legal details.
Why it matters: The platforms are intended to ensure districts comply with state requirements for traceable staff-student communications; implementation affects how teachers, volunteers and parents will exchange information and how potential complaints are handled.
What’s next: District staff will continue consulting the board attorney and KDE materials and will share finalized guidance with teachers and families once legal clarifications are available.
