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GCISD Gaming
COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
May 9th, 2022
GCISD is partnering with Belong Gaming Arenas at Grapevine Mills to "provide ... [a] dedicated practice ... space."
“If we can ... bridge the gap between the way our kids live and the way they learn, then we succeed in ...[reaching] our kids and building for the future” (Kyle Berger , Chief Technology Officer, GCISD).
chromebook wallpaper update
District Response
Thank you to the GCISD Technology Department for protecting our kids AND giving them student voice! Great idea!
Student Device Basics
Parents Need to Be Involved
- The image on the left shows the personalization page for a 3rd grader's Chromebook. The child is able to select default wallpaper from LGBTQ artists.
- Most parents are not okay with their 8-9 year old having a backdrop with people kissing or petting each other.
- Additionally, not every parent has had sexuality discussions with their children. Backdrops like this force that discussion.
All Students Receive Technology
- GCISD has a goal of a 1:1 ratio for electronic devices for all students. This means all students, regardless of their economic background, will have access to technology.
- K-2 get iPads, and starting in 3rd grade, children receive a Chromebook. In 9th grade, they receive a Dell Laptop.
Thousands of Technology Devices
- GCISD has a lot of technology devices to look after, and it's unlikely they'll be able to catch all of the age inappropriate content on all devices.
- When you find something you think is age inappropriate, you need to let the technology department know so they can help you.
Thousands of Vendors
- GCISD has thousands of vendors, and all of them must comply with district policy and community values.
- If a vendor does not do that PRIOR TO entering into service with the district, then the district administration will look for a reasonable accommodation for parents until the vendor can adjust or be replaced.
Contacts for Campus-Level Help
- Every school in the district has one or more technology officers assigned to it.
- Students can directly access their own technology help desk as needed.
Contacts for District-Wide Help
- Parents can familiarize themselves with the Technology Department Staff by accessing this directory.
- For campus-specific requests, just search through the directory for your campus or call the campus itself.
- For district-wide requests, the Chief Technology Officer is Kyle Berger (kyle.berger@gcisd.net | 816-251-5516).
Selected Chromebook Wallpaper Gallery
The Lavender Lounge
The Lavender Lounge was a public access TV show in San Francisco that aired from 1991-1995. The show was nicknamed "The Queer American Bandstand." Notice the intimate lesbian sketch on the bottom. Notice the nail polish designs on her fingers.
What is the message this image is intended to convey to an 8-9 year old?
Gay Tango
Everyone loves the tango.
That said, why would an 8-9 year old need a gay couple dancing the tango as a backdrop on a school Chromebook?
We think that children would choose this image to make fun of gay people -- not to respect them.
Sexual Orientation
Pushing the idea that all oppression is related, this image depicts colors of the flags of various sexual orientations (including non-binary, gender queer, and others) held by a black hand.
Lesbian Night Sky
Do most parents want to have a discussion about lesbians with their 8 year old children?
What questions will this image raise in the mind of a child?
Lesbian Poolside
Lesbian Poolside
Playing up the minority angle, this image includes a bi-racial lesbian couple.
Do most parents want to have a discussion about lesbian relationships with their 8-9 year old?
Student DATA & Privacy
FERPA
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education.
PPRA
The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232h, 34 CFR Part 98) affords parents of students certain rights regarding, among other things, participation in surveys, the collection and use of information for marketing purposes, and certain physical exams.
COPPA
Children's Online Privacy Protection (COPPA) imposes certain requirements on operators of websites or online services directed to children under 13 years of age, and on operators of other websites or online services that have actual knowledge that they are collecting personal information online from a child under 13 years of age.
CIPA
The Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) was enacted by Congress in 2000 to address concerns about children's access to obscene or harmful content over the Internet. CIPA imposes certain requirements on schools or libraries that receive discounts for Internet access or internal connections through the E-rate program.
Schools and libraries subject to CIPA may not receive the discounts offered by the E-rate program unless they certify that they have an Internet safety policy that includes technology protection measures. The protection measures must block or filter Internet access to pictures that are: (a) obscene; (b) child pornography; or (c) harmful to minors (for computers that are accessed by minors).