Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Internet Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Preston County Schools adopts internet-safety policy; students say state module is basic
Summary
The Preston County Board of Education approved Preston County Schools policy 3-32-1 (internet safety) on second and final read. Students called the state-provided SWAT module rudimentary for older students and reported technical issues; the district will provide parent review and an opt-out option.
The Preston County Board of Education on March 9 approved Preston County Schools policy 3-32-1, the district’s internet-safety policy, on a second and final read.
Superintendent Mr. Martin said the policy aligns with state legislation requiring schools to provide cyber-safety instruction and described a two-sided notification letter and an opt-out form that will be distributed to families of students in grades 3–12. He told the board administration will work with principals on a rollout schedule and publish resources and links through district communications.
Student board members and other participants raised concerns about the state-provided SWAT instructional module that the district plans to use. One student board member said the content felt “rudimentary” for high-school students and suggested adding supplemental material: “It’s mostly like don’t meet people in real life that you haven’t seen before … I definitely think maybe something slightly more mature for the high schoolers would fare better.” Other students reported technical bugs in the interactive module that, when encountered, changed avatars and user perspective mid‑lesson.
Administrators said the program was provided through the state board of education and that the district has limited ability to replace it but will ask teachers and counselors to add classroom discussion and follow-up. The district also said it will make demonstration accounts available for parents who want to review instructional materials before their children participate and that the opt-out form need only be returned if families wish to withhold their child from the program.
Board members voted to approve the policy after discussing logistics for implementation and parent notification. The superintendent said the district will aim to send family communications before spring break and begin instruction after the break, subject to scheduling and staff planning.
The policy’s adoption sets the district’s formal approach to internet safety, including parent review pathways and an opt-out mechanism; the district will monitor feedback and may supplement state materials with teacher-led discussion and higher-level content for older students.
