A new law set to take effect later this month drastically alters communication between students and school district employees.
Senate Bill 181 requires all electronic communication between a student and an employee of the school district to take place within a traceable communication system approved by the school district. This also includes volunteers within the school district, such as volunteer coaches.
Superintendent Michael Ford provided WJRS News with some more details following last night’s school board meeting. At the meeting, the board approved the purchase of a platform called Parent Square. That app, which will be used by students, parents, and school employees, will come at a cost of around $19,000 to the school district.
The school district email system will also be an approved form of communication.
There are exceptions to the law that allow for electronic communication to take place between a district employee and student if there is a family relationship, but the law notably doesn’t include step-parents in that exception.
Parents can also sign a waiver allowing for electronic communication between their student and a certain school employee.
Ford said there was good intent behind the law, but the implications are far-reaching. The law will impact school district employees who serve in churches that work with youth, as well as district employees who hire students for jobs such as lawn care and baby sitting, among other scenarios.
The law goes into effect on Friday, June 27. There is a belief the law will be revised when the legislature reconvenes in January. Notably, the bill passed through the Kentucky legislature by a unanimous vote earlier this year.
