LAKEVIEW SCHOOLS District addresses online harassment

Lakeview pupils can take courses at a virtual learning academy next year.
By ERIC GROSSO
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
CORTLAND -- The Lakeview Board of Education took another step toward handling new technology as district officials gave a "cyber-technology" report detailing plans to combat cyber-bullying and misuse of school computers.
Superintendent Robert Wilson said at Monday's school board meeting that both the middle and high schools have been seeing an increase in online taunting and harassing incidents on sites such as Myspace.com. District officials are looking to decrease the incidents with the changes.
"We're going to start with individual conferences with certain students at both schools," Wilson said.
Officials did not reveal any individual cases that prompted the actions.
A conference at the middle school and another at the high school dealing with the topic will take place during this school year, Wilson added, but the dates have not been set.
Wilson also said he is preparing a letter that will be sent to parents in the next few months.
"You see your son's or daughter's name thrown out there [on the Internet], it can be a very difficult situation," said Board President Larry Swiger. "We're going to be proactive in dealing with it."
Swiger said the district's policy should be fully updated within a few months, which will help officials deal with online bullying and harassment.
Suggests workshop
Board member Donna Zuga suggested a community workshop for parents so they can learn to better track their child's online activity.
"As a parent, I know where they're not supposed to be, but I need the knowledge to know where they've been," Zuga added.
She said the workshop could help parents who aren't as computer-savvy as their children.
Virtual learning
The district also is looking at the positive online offerings. Last month, the board passed a resolution to participate in the Jefferson County Educational Service Center Virtual Learning Academy during the 2006-07 school year.
The academy allows students to take online courses from either home or the school. Lakeview school officials said the program will be offered for students in grades nine through 12.
The academy will allow students to take courses outside of the classroom while still being enrolled as Lakeview High School students, making them eligible for extracurricular activities.
The enrollment status also makes them eligible for a high school diploma using the program, Wilson said.
The move is aimed at increasing enrollment from nontraditional students or students who would like to enroll in a course not offered at the high school.
School officials made the move to virtual learning after the community wanted the district to find interesting ways to attract new students.