Privacy concerns erased?

Ed board panel takes steps in distance learning policy

NORWALK — A Board of Education committee eliminated language that raised privacy concerns in the final draft of a distance learning policy that will now be reviewed by the full school panel.

During a virtual meeting Tuesday night, the Policy Committee unanimously recommended moving the policy for the full Board of Education to consider next week. The policy is specific to the COVID-19 crisis and a general distance learning policy will be crafted in the future.

Attorney Tom Mooney, of of Shipman & Goodwin, reviewed the policy and recommended several adjustments. Most notably was removing language that referenced the state Department of Children and Families.

The policy originally noted the school district employees’ obligation to report instances of perceived

abuse or neglect of students to DCF.

Mooney noted there were concerns the “policy would have a chilling effect on parental engagement in remote learning.”

Mooney recommended for the district to not include the provision, but to address it with the faculty, according to Frank Costanzo, chief of school operations.

“Tom made it a point to say that we needed to balance this carefully so as not to frighten parents (about) letting the instruction into their homes,” Costanzo said.

“If we come across as overbearing on this, he thought that we might actually lose parent engagement,” he said.

Board member Diane Carpio said the language could raise concerns for undocumented parents.

“I think that we should take it out,” she said. “The wording could scare families … especially those that are not legally here.”

“Immigrants, if they see that wording of DCF on there, they may say ‘No way. We don’t want to do this.’”

Board members also discussed how students need to be reminded about appropriate behavior during teleconferences, in particular, not sharing personal information about others or publishing screenshots.

Mooney recommended, however, students should be carefully told about the behavior and their future participation in the teleconferences should not be threatened.

The policy’s language was changed to indicate some action could be taken to address the behavior.

Board member Erica DePalma raised the question of whether the policy, in relation to students with Individualized Education Plans and 504 plans for those with disabilities, adequately addressed necessary tools being provided in remote learning.

“A child’s IEP is not written for digital learning,” she said, explaining that while some students may not have required certain accommodations in a traditional learning environment, they need them to participate in a remote setting.

“We can’t make promises in policies based upon the unknown,” Costanzo said, noting that the proposed wording confirms that the board is required to fulfill its obligations in accordance with 504s and IEP plans that were designed prior to the crisis.

“So this is a good board position to take a stand on and it aligns with statutes,” he said.

Yvette Goorevich, chief of specialized learning and support services, said the district is actively trying to provide needed accommodations for these students, regardless of whether its noted in the policy.

Heidi Keyes, committee chairwoman, said it was a strong final draft, but predicted there will be questions and comments from the full board.

“I think we spent a really good amount of time on this and I think it was needed,” she said of the draft.