HIT: Internet Use Policies/Discipline Codes

[Ron Sorensen <sorensen@SEDALIA.K12.MO.US>]

LM Netters,

It seems that quite a few schools and schools districts incorporate their
internet use policy into their discipline code, student handbook
or registration.  Some said they had separate internet use policies that had
to be signed. Keeping track of these policies and who signed them was a
bookkeeping headache.  Some honest folks admitted that even though they had
internet use policies that often times no one really knew if the student and
parents had signed them.  Others used ID cards that were stamped if they had
been approved for internet use.  One person said that their attorneys told
them that having a separate internet use policy could open a "can of worms"
they really did not want to open.

The general conclusion I believe is that every one would be better off if
the internet use policy was incorporated into regular policy instead of
being something separate.  Bookkeeping would be less and quite possibly one
might be better off legally.  No attorneys responded directly, so you know
how much that last bit of advice is worth.

Thanks for all your input.





Ron Sorensen, Library Media Specialist (alias Captain Video)
Smith-Cotton High School
312 E. Broadway
Sedalia, MO 65301
sorensen@sedalia.k12.mo.us
Phone (816)826-1115  Fax (816)827-0220
"The cost of not forgiving is simply too high"
Check out the following web site:   http://www.nak.org