Lydia,

We grappled with same Internet policing dilemma, and come up the following procedure for specific sites and for categories of sites:

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Process for Deciding What Internet Content Gets Blocked

Requesting that a Specific Site Be Unblocked 
     If a staff member or student wants an Internet site to be unblocked, he or she makes a request to the technology support person or librarian, preferably via e-mail. The tech person unblocks the site as soon as possible, unless he or she has reservations about the site due to content or purpose.
     If the tech person has reservations about unblocking the site due to content or purpose, the tech person relates his or her concerns to the librarian, and the librarian makes a decision as to whether the site should be unblocked. If the librarian has reservations about unblocking the site, the matter is referred to the principal.  The staff member or teacher may appeal a decision to a principal.

Requesting that a Specific Site Be Blocked 
     If a staff member or student wants an Internet site to be blocked, he or she makes a request to the tech support person or librarian.  The librarian and tech support person confer to make a decision.  If they do not reach consensus, the matter will be referred to a group consisting of the child protection team, the librarian, the tech support person and a student representative. The team will make a decision.  If the team does not reach consensus, the principal or his or her designee makes the decision

Categories of Sites
	If a school wants to block a category of web sites in addition to the default category of pornography, for example, drug and alcohol promotion sites, the local child protection team, in consultation with the librarian, the technology support person and a student representative, makes a recommendation to the principal who then passes on his or her decision to the technology support person.
	The principal may mandate an immediate blocking of categories if he or she deems an immediate threat to student, staff or network health. The network administrator may block an Internet resource that is deemed to be a threat to the security of the network.  The blocking then is referred to the local child protection team, in consultation with the librarian, the technology support person and a student representative for discussion and recommendation as soon as possible.

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I've also attached it as a Word doc.



Steve Jarrett
District Technology Coordinator
Chittenden East Supervisory Union
(802) 899 - 4690  X502
(fax) (802)899-2904

>>> [log in to unmask] 2/2/2006 8:19:03 AM >>>
Good Morning!

Content filtering issues are beginning to arise here at the Academy due to
requests by staff members to either block or unblock specific sites.  Our
practice has been to open sites that a teacher feels are relevant and
appropriate for their students and subject area.  

I am, however, beginning to feel uncomfortable sitting by myself as judge
and jury.  So, my questions are:  Is filtering a policy (mentioned somewhere
in an official document) or practice in your school?  In either case, who is
the omnipotent gatekeeper?  Who draws the line and where is the line between
protection of students versus censorship?

Finally, if anyone has anything semi-official looking in documentation, can
you please share.

Thank you.

Sincerely

Benevolent goddess or despised despot--depending on who you are and what you
want!

Lydia M. Foisy
Information Services' Director
Bellows Free Academy, St. Albans
[log in to unmask] 
802-527-6554