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Parents press Chico Unified on Chromebook filtering and Parental Secrecy Policy at public comment
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Summary
Multiple public commenters raised concerns about a district internet filter (Securly) after a parent said her child received an explicit image via a school-issued Chromebook, and several speakers urged the board to remove or revisit the Parental Secrecy Policy amid pending litigation.
Several parents used public comment at the Chico Unified School Board meeting on March 1 to demand district action on two distinct concerns: student internet safety and the district's Parental Secrecy Policy.
Elaine Ward told trustees that one of her children received an unsolicited explicit image through a school-issued Chromebook that was sent via school email by a peer. Ward said she intercepted the image before her child viewed it and questioned why the district's filtering product, Securly, did not block the content. Citing the Children's Internet Protection Act, she asked how the district will add protections and educate students about healthy internet use. Ward said she had been told an update to Securly would be implemented soon but said the problem persisted in her case.
Aurora Regino, who said she has a lawsuit pending in the Ninth Circuit against the district over the Parental Secrecy Policy, urged the board to revisit and remove the policy that she described as allowing schools to socially transition students without telling parents. Regino said a recent Supreme Court ruling (she referenced the "Maribel" decision) supported parental rights and asked trustees to place the policy on a future agenda and revote. Rob Berry and another parent reiterated objections to the policy and urged the district to change course.
Board members acknowledged the comments; district staff were cited in the public record as having been contacted about the Securly issue and as promising to investigate. The board did not take immediate policy action during the meeting.
The public comment period demonstrates continued community attention on student privacy and safety and on district policies relating to family notification; speakers asked trustees for clearer protections and for a public agenda item to reconsider the Parental Secrecy Policy.
