Pascagoula-Gautier board holds first reading of internet use policy IJ

At its Oct. 13, 2025 meeting, the PASCAGOULA-GAUTIER SCHOOL DISTRICT Board of Trustees conducted a first reading of board policy IJ, the district’s policy on internet and electronic information resources; the board took no formal action.

The policy reading described the internet as "an effective, efficient classroom tool to promote student learning" and said students may use the district system for distance learning, to consult experts and to locate educational resources. A board member reading the policy said that staff and library media specialists "have a professional responsibility to work together to help students develop the intellectual skills needed to discriminate among information sources."

The policy text recited at the meeting lays out responsibilities and limits: students are to respect others' privacy, use accounts ethically and may be subject to suspension or revocation of system access for violations. The reading also notes staff violations could result in disciplinary action up to and including dismissal. The policy text shown to trustees cites the Mississippi public school accountability standard 18.

Board members were told this was a first reading and that no vote would be taken at this meeting. The district did not schedule or announce a date for a second reading or vote during the portion of the meeting recorded.

Trustees did not debate substantive changes during the reading; the meeting record shows the policy was presented for review and will return for further consideration under the district’s regular policy-adoption procedures.