Kelley Baker kbaker@hslegalfirm.com
Karen Haase
Steve Williams
Bobby Truhe
khaase@hslegalfirm.com @KarenHaase
swilliams@hslegalfirm.com
btruhe@hslegalfirm.com @btruhe
MANDATORY CONCUSSION AND INTERNET SAFETY POLICES ACT EARLY AND AVOID A HEADACHE
The Federal Communication Commission issued an agency order last August which requires all schools which receive E-Rate funding or services through the ERate Program to provide additional education and training on appropriate use for students, including cyberbullying. It will be important to involve your tech coordinator in the process of revising your internet safety and training policies. Along with the required policy under the FCC order, Nebraska’s Unicameral passed LB 260 last session which requires updated concussion policies providing access to training and steps which each district must take when a student athlete may have a concussion. Your activities director will play a role in implementing this new policy provision. Please note, both of these changes will require policy revisions. Many of you will undoubtedly be bombarded by vendors and state and national organizations touting their policies. The important point here, as always, will be for you to confer with your district’s legal counsel to implement a policy which meets the legal requirements and remains user friendly. Having a policy tailored to your district’s individual circumstances is as important as any other consideration. Recommendation. Because we are coming up on the end of the school year for those employees with 10-month contracts, it is important that you begin the process of updating these particular policies as soon as possible. This will allow you to confer with your appropriate staff members, such as tech coordinators, AD’s, and coaches, whose input will be valuable in this context. We have attached a copy of the FCC’s August Order for your additional information. As always, if you have questions or concerns about this or other legal issues, feel free to contact Kelley, Karen, Steve or Bobby. I:\3\7613\E-mail Updates\118 - Concussion and Internet Safety Policies.docx