Schools to examine sexting

Proposed change to family life course goes before board

By Preston Knight - pknight@nvdaily.com

WOODSTOCK -- Student behavior is dictating a change in Shenandoah County Public Schools' family life curriculum.

The School Board received information last week on a proposed change to add lessons about sexting as part of the course, beginning in sixth grade. The matter will come before the panel for action in August.

Incidents of sexting, which is the transmission of sexually explicit material through cell phones or other technology, were reported in both middle and high schools this past year, and introducing it to the family life curriculum is a way for the division to take the initiative, Superintendent Keith Rowland said. He said a police officer already has spoken to both age groups about the fact that sexting is a felony.

"But kids will be kids," Rowland said. "It's not something you had to deal with four years ago. It became an issue when cameras became a part of phones."

In the proposed curriculum, students in grades four through 10 will learn behaviors associated with personal responsibility, such as recognizing the underlying foundations of self-respect, including respecting one's body and personal boundaries, and ways to resist peer pressure, a staff memo states. Students in grades six through 10 will be taught specific information about sexting, including the various ramifications and prevention.

"Through teaching personal responsibility and consequences for negative behavior, the incidences of sexting should reduce," the memo states.

The family life education community involvement team proposed adding sexting to the curriculum. In a memo to Rowland and the board, it states that information on self-awareness and self-respect have been taught for years, but is highlighted again to show the integral role it plays in laying the framework to address the specifics of sexting.

The memo states that 25 percent of preteens and teens are involved in sexting, and the behavior is becoming increasingly common among middle school pupils. The reasons include relationships, thinking parents won't know about it, harassment, jokes and dares.

The ramifications, though, are serious. The proposed curriculum details the possible legal woes, including sex offender registration, and how images may wind up in the possession of sexual predators.

In other matters, the board:

• Heard from Rowland that the qualified school construction bonds, interest free and worth up to $7.7 million as part of the 2009 American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, have seen sold. Work to increase the school system's energy efficiency will begin with lights on the southern campus sometime in August.

• Received final information on the early retirement incentive program, which saved the county $2.54 million in personnel costs in 2010-11. There are 43 unfilled positions, including 12 created by attrition, that led to those savings.