The Rockdale ISD is ready to tackle “inappropriate use of social media,” along with alcohol and drug abuse.
Trustees also elected Troy Zinn as new school board president during a regular monthly meeting in the Central Administration Building.
CONCERNS—Pam Kaufmann, assistant superintendent, reported on activities of the Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) and said the group, which has a majority of members from outside the education community, is preparing a plan to address concerns raised by surveys it undertook during the 2017-2018 term.
She said the committee was concerned not only about drugs and alcohol but also is targeting “inappropriate use of social media.”
Kaufmann noted a wide discrepancy in perception between responses of parents and the 600-plus students in grades 5-12 who answered the surveys.
“A majority of the parents believed their children spent less than two hours a day online (all devices) while a majority of the students picked two to six hours.”
Kaufmann said she thought “even that six hours might be a little low.”
She said SHAC realizes the challenge of any program attempting to deal with social media.
“First step will be defining, and identifying what inappropriate use of social consists of,” Kaufmann said. “We could be looking right at something and not be aware of what’s going on.”
Kaufmann said the plan, when it is developed, will rely on many resources and SHAC has reached out to former Rockdale Police Lt. J. D. Newlin, now employed by the Texas Attorney General’s Office, for assistance.
“We are going to be developing this plan this school year and we will be back to present it to the board,” Kaufmann said.
The survey also revealed statistics on how early in life students are exposed to alcohol and drugs, which will also be a part of the plan.
Some students said they were 10 or younger when they had their first drink of alcohol and 11-14 when they first used drugs.
Kaufmann said the report was compiled by Allen Sanders, RISD Community Relations Director.
NEW PRESIDENT—
Lehmkuhl, school board president, opened the meeting by saying she would not serve another term in that office and nominated Zinn, who had been serving as vice-president. There were no other nominees and he was elected unanimously.
Lehmkuhl was then elected vice-president and board secretary Wenda Dyer was re-elected, both in unanimous votes.
In other action Monday, trustees:
• Heard Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Genella Korenek report premiums on Texas Association of School Board property/liability/auto insurance will increase to $85,904 this year, a hike of about seven percent. Korenek said last year’s increase was also about seven percent.
• Increased meal prices to the minimum amount required under federal standards, the first increase since 2014-15.
• Held a workshop on the 2018-19 budget.
• Accepted the resignations of: Brandon Houston and Gloria Thomas, high school; Christina Coker, elementary; Megan Vance, intermediate.
• Hired: Hector Vargas, technology; Elisha Betchan, Intermediate; Annette Terry, elementary.
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