October 26, 2021 at 1:00 PM - Board of Education Special Called Meeting on Internet Safety and Technology

Discussion (Visible on Public Minutes):  Mrs. Dawn Robinson led us in a moment of silence and pledge of allegiance.  She welcomed our two guests who will be speaking later in the meeting: Kelly Thompson and Angi Pasqualis.

Discussion (Visible on Public Minutes):  Before the meeting started, Dr. Dyer reads a joint letter from CHS and the Cleveland Police Department.  The statement reads:  

JOINT STATEMENT FROM CPD AND CCS

On Monday, October 25, 2021, we were made aware of a social media post that included a threat to Cleveland High School.  Cleveland High School administration, district officials, and the Cleveland Police Department worked together to investigate the threat.  At this time, the threat has been labeled unfounded.  Law enforcement officials were on campus to assist with any needs.  The safety of our students and staff is our top priority.  We will continue to monitor this situation.  Any information regarding this or other threats should be reported to the Cleveland Police Department at 423.476.1121.

Discussion (Visible on Public Minutes):  Dr. Dyer presents a brief summary of the BLADE project's history.  Technology and CCS, BLADE project committees started in 2017 to discuss finance and funding, professional development, content and instructional practices, measuring success, engaging the community , and deployment planning.  We had community members, board members, staff, etc. on these committees.  We created the BLADE project: Mission, Vision, and Goals.  These are stated on our website currently.  As a reminder, the goals we are currently working under: create a staff development program to allow teachers ample opportunities to learn and practice blended learning principles.  Encourage the practice of blended learning and PBL to facilitate collaboration, communication, critical thinking, creativity and personalized learning.  Ensure the community and business sector of Cleveland are informed about the benefits of shifting toward a blended learning environment.  Assess the technology infrastructure of our schools to ensure it can accommodate the growth of our program.  Ensure the technology department has the staffing necessary to maintain the network and devices.  Provide each student with equitable access to technological tools, resources, online assessments, and instruction.  Ensure the principles of digital citizenship are shared and enforced by our employees, our students, and our families.

Discussion (Visible on Public Minutes):  Dr. Cody Raper states we have laws that we operate under.  The Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) was enacted by Congress in 2000 to address concerns about children access to obscene or harmful content over the internet.  CIPA imposes certain requirements on schools or libraries that receive discounts for Internet access or internal connections through the E-rate program. CCS is required to adopt and implement an Internet safety policy addressing: Access by minors to inappropriate matter on the Internet; the safety and security of minors when using electronic mail, chat rooms and other forms of direct electronic communications; Unauthorized access, including so-called "hacking" and other unlawful activities by minors online; Unauthorized disclosure, use and dissemination of personal information regarding minors.  We have to have measures restricting minors' access to materials harmful to them, which is called the CIPA compliant filter.  The Big Picture overview: Network-Based Filtering and Blocking: GoGuardian DNS and Google Safe Search. Device-Based Filtering: GoGuardian Admin, GoGuardian Teacher, GoGuardian Beacon, and GoGuardian Parent.  We keep our students safe first by web filtering: GoGuardian DNS, then On-Demand Teacher Filtering: GoGuardian Teacher, Smart Alerts and Blocking: GoGuardian Admin, and Suicide and Violence Alerts: GoGuardian Beacon.
GoGuardian DNA: Filters any device connected to our network.  It uses traditional DNS-based filtering with auto-populated category-based lists maintained by GoGuardian with custom blocking allowed by the institution by domain.  Maintains CIPA compliance, which is required by federal regulations for receiving federal funding for internet services.  It works in tandem with advanced features we deploy for on-device filtering using other GoGuardian products.  Forces Google SafeSearch on all Google searches and image searches.
GoGuardian Admin: Filters student devices on or off campus based on our filtering policies established for on-campus students.  It allows for strict filtering based on individual needs.  It allows for dynamic filtering based on the content of the page.  This sends alerts to the student and automatically blocks pages.
GoGuardian Teacher: Allows the teacher to control websites the students visit within his or her class.  It enables the teacher to view reports and a timeline of activity of browsing within the class.  Provides functionality to close tabs and control how many tabs can be open to help limit distractions.  Allows teachers to view computer screens-works in tandem with Apple Classroom in grades 6-12 to allow teachers to see the student computer screens.
GoGuardian Beacon:  Uses similar technology as the "Smart Alerts" to analyze pages and see when students may be planning to commit violence or hurt themselves.  An alert is sent to the parent and the student receives a message on-screen with support information to reach out for help.  Human agent phones a designated call list of the school to get support for the student.  The administrator has access to a dashboard to see the alert within context and can take action from there as needed.  CMS and CHS principals gave quotes praising GoGuardian and their alerts to keep our students safe.
GoGuardian Parent App:  Allows parents to see what websites the student has visited during school or after school.  Give parents control over what websites students can visit after school is out.  Provides a way to pause/disable web browsing from within the app.  Available on the App store and Google Play Store.
Parent Blocking:  If a parent blocks a site in GoGuardian, does it remain blocked during school hours?  No, parent blocks only apply during after-school hours or when away from campus.  Having 35 different blocking plans in the classroom would significantly limit the teacher's ability to leverage any digital resource.  Blocking is very complex, and parents who request the "Curated Experiences Group" often express frustration.  Teachers have tools to monitor student website usage, block student website usage, and see screens during any class session.
Dr. Raper shows a blocking example: To completely block Facebook requires 810 subdomains on 13 different domains.  Blocking Google.com breaks almost everything.  Blocking docs.google.com breaks Canvas and Google Classroom.  Blocking amazonaws.com breaks many applications.
Blocking Categories: Academic Dishonesty, Archives, Controlled, Substances, Games-Gambling, Malicious Sites, Pornography, Sexual, and Social-Chat Rooms. CCS customizes these blocking lists with 125 manual modifications.
Is there a website available for all technology information and support for parents?  This was available in multiple places across our website.  Information has been consolidated to clv.city/technology.  This website will be expanded with time to include information regarding technology within Cleveland City Schools and helpful videos/tutorials for parents, students, and staff.
The Board asks if we are blocking the ability to download apps?  Chromebooks do allow blanket blocking, but Apple does not.  You can not download anything on a device that the gatekeeper does not approve.  We periodically do a sweep of all apps on the devices to see if we need to block any apps that should not be on the students' devices.  
District Internet Safety Week: February 7-11, 2022: Coincides With Safer Internet Day (February 8, 2022) - saferinternetday.org.  In-person informational meetings for parents, activities at school for students, and resources/materials sent to parents.  
 

Discussion (Visible on Public Minutes):  Summary Information: CCS Devices Given to Staff: 1,050 and CCS Devices Given to Students: 6,200 = Total Devices: 7,250.  Devices Connected to the CCS Network on any given day: Wired- 6,500 (unique) + Wireless- 6,000 (unique) = 12,500.  Number of Devices that attempt to connect to the wireless: 12,000 (Monthly, Unique) and 58,850 (Total Profiled).
Data from September 1-September 30: Total website requests: 31,499,848, Total Website Blocked: 1,964,499, Total Websites Allowed: 29,535,349.  807 Smart Alerts sent to administrators for review.  480 beacon alerts sent to counselors for review. 7 emergency alerts with administrators called.  3,820 class sessions utilized GoGuardian Teacher to apply teacher blocking plan.  186 students in the "curated experiences" Group (~3%).
Budget information: Recurring- General fund budget (FY 2021-22)-Personnel $419,662, Operations $298,794.  BLADE Project: FY2020-2021 through FY 2023-24 Apple Lease Teacher MacBooks - $99,030/Year.  FY 2020-21 through FY 2023-23 Apple Lease CMS students' MacBook $349,638/year.  Sales Tax Capital Projects: 10% of estimated revenue; shared with CTE: FY2021-2022 - $119,134.  FY2022-2021 - $122,605.
One-Time Funds- State Funds (FY 2020-21), Remote Technology Grant $310,740-CMS MacBooks and Chromebooks Grades 3-5.  Internet Connectivity Grant to purchase Kajeets $7,500. Federal Funds (FY 2020-21), CARES Act ESSER 1.0 - chromebooks grades 3-5 $371,346.  ESSER 2.0: Go Guardian Beacon - $56,637.  Chromebooks Grades K-2 - $520,550.  CHS Student MacBooks Grades 9-12 $1,964,929.  iPads for ESL Department $68,723.  Local Grants (FY 2021-22), Community Foundation - for Wi-Fi in school parking lots $8,575.  BCPEF to purchase Kajeets $10,715.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. In what ways are we using technology to reduce manual processes? First focus is on classroom teaching and learning .  Learning Management System (LMS), LMS Grade Sync, Digital Benchmarking, Digital Gradebooks, Delivery of information to parents.  Technology processes within schools are largely driven by the building principal and levels of technology utilization varies.  Examples of recent district initiatives: digitizing and streamlining absence forms, travel absence forms, etc.  New phone system with modern features (e.g., softphone, voicemail to mail, etc.) Increased utilization of virtual meetings when feasible to reduce leadership/instructional personnel absence from buildings.
2. Have we done any user acceptance testing to ensure our systems are meeting expectations? Regular meetings with principals, BLADE Facilitators have regular meetings with instructional staff and talk about experiences and needs.  BrightBytes Survey in 2019.  Still, updated information should be sought. 

Discussion (Visible on Public Minutes):  Kelly Thompson lives on Quail Hollow road which is in the CCCE school district.  She is here today to address internet safety, specifically dealing with social media.  She is a wife, has 6 kids, went to Lee University, spent time as a teacher, and 3 other kids have been in the Cleveland school system.  She is here to offer insight and find solutions to help our students get a great education.  Some of my problems with the BLADE project is the social media access that students get.  She did sign and read the paper work when her student received their paperwork at the beginning of the year, but she did not see any communication where her student would receive social media access.  Her student opened social media accounts without her knowing. The daughter is adopted so they have to keep her student safe from potentially harmful relatives contacting her.  She does not take this issue lightly and implores that the school does not either.  She feels it is the parents' choice whether or not their student can open a social media account.  She has spoken with many people within the district and, per her research, most people agree that parents do not want their students to have social media available on their school-issued devices.  

Mrs. Robinson states we do take this seriously and she thanks Mrs. Thompson for her time and efforts today.  

Angie Pasqualis, lives on Overbrook Circle, zoned for CCCE.  She has 3 school aged students.  She states there are parents who will be involved and will check on what their students are doing on their school-issued devices.  But, not all parents are as involved in their students' lives, so as a school system, she thinks we need to be vigilant about protecting our students.  She feels we need to take it seriously that our students can access things that their brains are not ready to process.  She wants to encourage CCS to block as many websites as possible to protect our students.

Mrs. Robinson thanks Ms. Pasqualis for her time and effort today.

 

Discussion (Visible on Public Minutes):  Acceptable Use Policy was updated in April 2021.  It is governed by Board Policy 4.406 Use of the Internet.  A copy of the Board policies and all relevant administrative procedures are being provided and are available at clv.city/technology.  The acceptable use policy was fully revised in April 2021 and became an "Acceptable and Responsible Use Policy" in line with trends in education.

The Board asks if a parent sees something inappropriate, how can they alert the school system?  Dr. Raper states that in the past, you would contact the teacher.  Dr. Dyer states we could create a Google doc to create a new alert for these alerts.  

The Board asks about social media and our devices.  What is blocked and is YouTube considered a social media site?  CCS blocks Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok currently.  YouTube is not blocked currently.  Dr. Dyer states he does not see educational value in the social media sites on our students' computers during the school day.  Dr. Dyer does see value in our teachers having access to social media sites on their devices.  



The Board asks if you can make a blocking plan for students vs. teachers?  Dr. Raper states it is possible, but there will be some challenges.  Dr. Raper states that one consideration is, if you cancel social media, it is where we catch a lot of GoGuardian Beacon alerts.

Dr. Dyer recommends to block social media for the students' school issued laptops, but not block social media on the employees' devices.

Discussion (Visible on Public Minutes):  Mrs. Robinson adjourned by general consent.