“Electronic communications” from a Hennessey school employee to a student “should be through the District’s computer and telephone systems,” and include the student’s parent or guardian.

The Hennessey Public Schools Board of Education adopted a policy to that effect Monday night in compliance with a new state law that went into effect July 1.

Staff will be reminded of the new policy which does not allow direct contact with students by electronic communication, said Superintendent Jason Sternberger.

The new law also requires all schools to provide training for school personnel and “the “Oklahoma State School Boards Association said they may get us more information on this later,” Sternberger added.

What and Who Prompted New Law?

“Inappropriate digital communications (pictures or texts of a sexual nature) shared between educators and students,” prompted state Rep. Sherrie Conley, R-Newcastle, to sponsor House Bill 3958.

“These have long-term devastating effects for young people and can ruin the lives of educators when they are wrongly accused,” Conley is quoted as saying. “It’s our desire that teachers and coaches be able to share homework assignments or team communications freely with their students, but including a parent or guardian protects the students and the educators from any potential impropriety. This also keeps parents fully engaged in their child’s education.”

At the Meeting

Attending this week’s meeting were board members Patrick Griffin, president; Luke Lough, clerk; Dakota Semrad, and Amy Charmasson. Absent was Dr. James Matthew Matousek, vice president.

In addition to Sternberger, also at the board table was Timberly Jech, offi ce manager and minutes clerk. Staff in the audience were Early Childhood Center Principal Stacey Mack and Technology Director Todd Cameron.

Hennessey’s Policy Includes

• School employees may not list current students (other than immediate family) as “friends” or “followers” on social networking sites. This includes Facebook.

• Staff shall have no expectation of privacy when using district technology, the district network and/or public social media venues;

• School employees will not give out their private cell phone or home phone numbers to students without prior written approval of the principal; Electronic communications that are inappropriate and therefore prohibited include, but are not limited to: 1. Items with sexual content; 2. Items exhibiting or advocating use of drugs, alcohol or other illegal activities; 3. Items that pertain to students, including confidential information; 4. Any content that signifi cantly affects the employee’s ability to perform his/her job or disrupts the educational environment.

5. Any content that would violate district policies and procedures.

• Examples of inappropriate behavior shall be covered and discussed, including behavior to avoid and the need for staff to use common sense in avoiding inappropriate behavior.

School Will Filter Communication

“Sites can all be filtered through the school, timestamped and recorded,” said Cameron from the audience.

“We have that covered,” he said.

The school will use these “platforms” - ParentSquare, Google Suite, IXL, Study Island, Lightspeed, and Hudl - to record digital communi- cations.

Superintendent’s Facility Reports

“We are completely in (the new) bus barn, Sternberger said. “A gas line isn’t in yet at the parking lot on the northwest corner of the baseball field,” he said. “We’re in pretty good shape on parking and a little bit ahead of schedule.”

He said workers had to pump water into the ditches in front of the early childhood and elementary schools so they could finish some of the parking work.

In addition to the first day of school (Thursday, Aug. 15) Sternberger reminded board members that they will need that parking sooner for several August athletic events.

School Handbook Changes

Recommended changes to the handbooks from the middle and high school principals were approved, but not without comments.

Griffin noted that additional recognition for the high school listed “Two Students of the Month,” instead of “Boy and Girl Students of the Month.”

Someone said that was intended and Griffin said, “But that’s not what it says.”

It was also noted that middle school changes are: “Wearing pajamas to school is not permitted and no AI (artificial intelligence)” except used as a learning tool or study aid and must have permission from a teacher or an administrator.

Also, “other school work may be checked by AI content detectors and/or plagiarism recognition software.”

Handbooks will be given to students and will be on the school’s site.