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To: philip trigiani who wrote (1510)	12/24/1998 5:32:00 PM
From: philip trigiani	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1681

BEROFF'S School Internet Policy Adopted; PR Newswire (Press Release) 20-DEC-98 District 27 School Board Member Aims to Protect Kids NEW YORK, Dec. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- The District 27 School Board, representing 35,000 elementary and middle school children in Southeast Queens, recently adopted a new Internet Policy proposed by School Board Member Art Beroff. The resolution, which passed by an overwhelming vote of the Board, is designed to protect kids in the District's schools from the flood of pornographic material available on the Internet. Beroff, a longtime community activist and Member of the Board since 1996, proposed the formal policy after conducting a survey of the School District's Internet connections. Beroff's investigation revealed that while roughly two-thirds of the District's Internet connections went through the Central School Board's filtered server, over one-third of the District's Internet connections were direct and unfiltered. (A filtered server utilizes software that prevents the computer user from accessing objectionable material.) Under Beroff's resolution, all computers in District 27 with a direct connection to the Internet will be required to have software that filters out pornographic material. Before the end of the year, the District's computer maintenance staff will take the appropriate steps to identify these direct connection computers and install the necessary software. "I am pleased that the District 27 School Board has adopted my proposed Internet safety initiative," said Beroff. "Too many of the school Internet connections in my survey were direct and unfiltered. With the installation of new filter software, students in the District will not be able to gain access to the filth that exists in cyberspace." Local parents, teachers and education administrators praised the passage of the new policy. Beroff points out that numerous software companies who are working with child protection organizations such as CyberAngels Internet Safety Organization and Safeguarding Our Children -- United Mothers (SOC-UM) in combining efforts to develop more sophisticated software to protect children against the true dangers facing children. "Not only do pornographic sites pose a threat," Beroff stated, "but there are also over 5,000 web sites that promote, encourage, exhibit or defend pedophilia as a valid lifestyle. We must be aware of these types of dangers so that we plan appropriately to block access from our School District computers." Beroff also notes that the current Internet policy of the Central School Board makes no provisions for blocking objectionable, unsolicited e-mails. Beroff commented, "Without the proper filtering software, our kids also face being inundated with randomly targeted e-mail by cyber smut peddlers." In recent months, Beroff has carefully studied the issue of guarding kids from pornographic material coming through school computers via the Internet. As part of that process, he met with United States Senator John Kyl (R-Arizona) who serves as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Technology, Terrorism and Government Information. Beroff and Kyl discussed a variety of education issues, including the many Internet Legislation Proposals pending before Congress. Beroff, a strong proponent of technology in schools, stressed to Kyl the need to wire all classrooms in the country for the Internet, while at the same time using innovative methods to block out access to pornographic material. "As we approach the new millennium," Beroff commented, "our kids will be faced with new challenges and opportunities. Unless we properly prepare them with computer and technological education, they won't be able to compete in the workforce." "I have always been a strong proponent of kids having proper computer training and Internet access," Beroff continued. "However, I have also recognized that we must act quickly to protect our kids from the vast array of pornographic and inappropriate material on the Internet. This new policy is an important first step in that process." Beroff is the District 27 Board Member who recently spearheaded the strengthening of the Megan's Law Policy in District 27. His resolution, which was adopted by the Board, helped to protect area children from sexual predators by making parents and school officials more aware of any registered offenders that reside in our communities. Note: A copy of Beroff's resolution is attached to this release. School District #27 -- Resolution #5, 1998-99 Proposed by School Board Member Art Beroff WHEREAS: Consistent with the Chancellor's and the District's goal of expanding the use of technology in classroom instruction, use of the Internet for educational purposes is increasing in District 27 schools and WHEREAS: The Central Board of Education has adopted an Internet usage policy that defines what is and what is not an appropriate use of the Internet by students and staff in NYC Schools and states that use of the Internet through Board of Education connections or equipment is solely for educational purposes, therefore be it RESOLVED: That it is the policy of Community School Board 27 that effective immediately, all Internet connections in District 27 schools be filtered in order to block access to inappropriate material. This will ensure that the Internet resource is used appropriately by students and staff in District 27 schools and complies with the Internet usage policy established by the Central Board of Education, and be it further RESOLVED: That District 27 schools must use a filtering software package that blocks access to inappropriate material or use a Central Board of Education connection which is already filtered. Explanation: Mandating filtered Internet connections in District 27 schools will prevent misuse of the Internet resource, ensure that student use of the Internet is protected and provide a mechanism for compliance with the policy established by the Central Board of Education. SOURCE Art Beroff