Plano ISD Revises Electronic Communications Regulations

March 21, 2006

Press Release/For Immediate Release

Contacts: Karla Oliver and Nancy Long,
Plano ISD Communications, 469-752-8147

Plano, Texas - Yesterday (March 20, 2006), through the press, the Plano Independent School District was made aware, for the first time, of another lawsuit filed against the District and its educators by Liberty Legal Institute. Unfortunately, no one associated with Liberty Legal ever contacted the administration before starting this unnecessary litigation.

Had they contacted the District rather than filing a lawsuit, the District would have shared its willingness to review and revise policy regulations as reasonable as we have done in the past.

With notification of this pending litigation, Superintendent Dr. Doug Otto conducted a review of the existing regulations and immediately implemented a revision. This revision is allowed by Policy CQ Local, which states the superintendent may revise guidelines/regulations regarding the acceptable use of electronic communication and data management.

Dr. Otto’s revision allows the posting of non-curricular student groups to campus web sites. Previously, CQ Local regulations tried to distinguish between curricular and non-curricular groups. After careful consideration, it has been determined this distinction, for the purposes of web posting, is unnecessary.

“Information about this revision of regulation has been communicated to all campus leadership and is effective immediately. We hope this reasonable approach ends this litigation,” said Superintendent Dr. Doug Otto.