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Board sets Internet acceptable‑use update for public feedback, adds social‑media restrictions
Summary
The board reviewed an updated Internet acceptable‑use policy tied to Senate Bill 351 that adds social‑media restrictions on district networks and devices, allows limited exemptions and is set for 30 days of public comment and an April vote.
The Forsyth County Board of Education reviewed proposed revisions to its Internet Acceptable Use Policy (IFBG) on March 17 and set the policy out for 30 days of public comment ahead of an April vote.
Presenter Mike Evans said the revisions implement language arising from Senate Bill 351 and require districts to restrict student access to social media on district networks and devices. “The requirement that the state has for every district is adding specific language saying that as a school board, we will restrict access to social media for students if they're on the district network or district devices,” Evans said. He noted the policy also includes specified exemptions that may be allowed by school personnel and a parental request process to permit or prohibit a child’s access.
Evans said the district’s existing technical controls — a category‑based firewall and content filtering that can be applied by grade level or to staff — already block many services, and that identification and blocking of VPNs is an ongoing effort. “With the adoption of AI within some of these aspects within the firewalls…I know those are some features that the firewall companies are looking at incorporating,” he said.
The board agreed to solicit public feedback for 30 days and return the policy for a vote in April.
What comes next: The policy will be posted for public comment during the 30‑day period; the board will consider public feedback before voting in April.
