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Public Education Computer Technology Task Force

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MINUTES OF THE

PUBLIC EDUCATION COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY TASK FORCE

August 4, 1997 . 10:00 a.m. . Room 405 State Capitol



Members Present:
    Sen. Robert F. Montgomery, Chair
    Rep. Carl R. Saunders, Chair
    Sen. Robert M. Muhlestein
    Rep. Gary F. Cox
    Rep. Lowell A. Nelson
    Rep. Richard M. Siddoway
    Rep. Martin R. Stephens
    Rep. Michael R. Styler
    Mr. Steven H. Hess
    Mr. Richard E. Kendell

Members Absent:
    Sen. Scott N. Howell
    Mr. Marlowe K. Ashton

Staff Present:
    Benjamin N. Christensen,
        Research Analyst
    Dee S Larsen,
        Associate General Counsel
    Junie G. Anderson,

        Committee Secretary

Note:    A list of others present and handouts distributed are on file in the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel.

1.     Call to Order - Approval of July 1, 1997 minutes - Chair Saunders called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m.

    MOTION: Rep. Siddoway moved to approve the minutes of the July 1, 1997 meeting. The motion passed unanimously with Mr. Hess absent for the vote.

2.    Internet Access and use Policies in Public Schools - Chair Saunders spoke to the committee on the issue of Internet access in the public schools. He distributed a memorandum from Victor B. Cline, Ph D, titled, "Comments about porn & the Internet."

    Vicky Dahn, State Office of Education, Educational Instructional Services, said the Office of Education recommends filtering access to the Internet in public schools by the school districts. She also said that there should be monitoring by the teachers as well as filtering. She suggested that an acceptable use policy should be signed by the parents and students.

    Chair Montgomery indicated that it is important for all school districts to go through UtahLINK to receive proper filtering.

    Jerry Peterson, State Office of Education, said that districts should have the opportunity to choose the option of filtering; however, the Utah Education Network recommends that all schools filter access to the Internet. He distributed a chart that outlined Utah Education Network's major functions in cooperation with public and higher education titled, "Utah Education Network."

3.    Internet Access and Use Policies of School Districts - Richard Lemon, Davis School District, explained the process of Internet access in the Davis School District. He said that

Internet access is a vital part of education in the schools and that in three years of Internet access there had only been three reported violations of the acceptable use policy. He distributed a memorandum titled, "Directions for implementing the Electronic Information Resources Contract." He spoke in opposition of mandatory filtering by the Utah Education Network. He said the teachers request complete access and it would be impossible to separate the students' and teachers' access.

    David Walton, Alpine School District, spoke in favor of the Utah Education Network filtering services. He said the filtering service is a reinforcement of the acceptable use policy for students who may accidentally access an inappropriate site. He stated his concern that while the filtering system keeps students from accessing inappropriate sites, it identifies the sites for the student so that the material could be accessed from an unfiltered system. He said the key is to have teachers who closely monitor students while they are on the Internet.

    Kristen Sumsion, concerned parent from the Park City School District, spoke in favor of filtering by the Utah Education Network and UtahLINK. She suggested that an information booklet explaining the filtering system should be provided to each school district.

4.    Discussion of Potential Task Force Recommendations - Chair Montgomery made some suggestions pertaining to a resolution that an acceptable use policy should continue, that teachers' supervision in the classroom is important, and that it is strongly recommended that a filtering system be used, but that the choice remain with the individual school district.

     MOTION: Rep. Siddoway moved that the chairs instruct staff to draft a letter addressed to (1) all school districts, (2) the State Office of Education, and (3) the Utah Education Network, outlining the findings of this task force as discussed by the task force today, commending the school districts for the directions they have taken in protecting the children of the state, and to include a press release encouraging parents of the state to take appropriate action to ensure that their children are not accessing inappropriate material on the Internet. The motion passed unanimously.

    Chair Montgomery said that the report would also be given to the Information Technology Commission and the Education Interim Committee.

5.    Other Task Force Business - Chair Saunders said the business of the task force has been completed and there will be no other meetings of this task force.

6.    Adjourn -

    MOTION: Rep. Siddoway moved to adjourn the meeting at 11:23 a.m. The motion passed unanimously.

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