A revision to the Great Neck School District student privacy policy is being proposed which would allow secondary students to opt out from providing their names and information to military recruiters and institutions of higher learning.
Currently, only parents can opt students out, but if the new policy passes, children will have the final say.
“The change being made now is that students are allowed to opt themselves out,” said Great Neck School Superintendant Dr. Thomas Dolan at a school board meeting Monday.
Dolan said the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 compelled school districts to provide lists to military recruiters.
“In the past, because of federal legislation, if those names were requested, we did release them,” said Dolan.
The proposed policy might encourage more discussion on the issue between families, according to supporters of the policy.
“We just see this as a great teachable moment where a parent and child might have to sit and talk and decide,” said Dolan. “We hope there’s not too many disagreements but at the same time, we would love to see some discussion on the issue.”
According to the new policy, parents will still be notified if a child decides to opt out.
The proposed privacy policy will be brought back for a second reading at the next school board meeting March 14.
At Monday’s meeting, five students were honored for contributing to the quality of life at the Village School.
Stephen Amedo was named Rookie of the Year; Jordan Glassheim was named Quintessential Student; William Christopher Reed for Most Improved; Jeremy Weissman for Community Service; and Sara Gottlieb, who was not in attendance, was honored for Academic Achievement.
Village School Principal Stephen Goldberg handed out the awards.
Upon the recommendation from the New York School Board’s Association, an improper advocacy policy was approved by the district Tuesday which states that district school funds and resources may not be used to exhort voters to support a particular position.
“The new language underscores how important it is that the community be assured that taxpayer dollars are utilized solely for the education of our students and not to income the outcome of election in any way,” said Trustee Susan Miner-Healy.
Also at the meeting at the Cumberland Adult Center, a policy change was approved by the board which now requires parents to notify school principals in writing – not the school districts – regarding the presence of a possible life-threatening food allergies of students.
