They waived the first reading and decided to make it official.

Trustees of the Manteca Unified School District approved the changes to the policy on student use of Internet and / or e-mail at last Tuesday’s meeting.

“It’s been updated to meet federal compliance,” Superintendent Jason Messer said.

This was the policy initially passed on Nov. 14, 2000. But due to the Universal Service Administrative Company and the Children’s Internet Protection Act regulations, the district found it necessary to make changes, stating, “We will be providing education to minors about appropriate online behavior, including interacting with other individuals on social networking sites and chat rooms,” district officials said.

MUSD will also provide education to minors on cyber bullying awareness and response under the changes.

Other changes as worded included:

• Students must sign an Internet use and consent form.

• MUSD will attempt to provide prudent and available barriers to provide protection against access by adults and minors to visual depictions that are obscene, child pornography, or harmful to minors while accessing the internet.

• The principal or designee shall oversee the maintenance of each school’s technological resources and many established guidelines and limits on their use.

• Students shall not transmit, access, post, submit, publish, or display harmful and inappropriate matter.

• Unless otherwise instructed by school personnel, students shall not disclose, use, or disseminate personal identification information about themselves or others when using email, chat rooms, or other forms of direct electronic communication.

• Students shall not use the systems to encourage the use of drugs, alcohol, or tobacco, nor shall they promote unethical practices or any activity prohibited by law, board policy or administrative regulations.

• Students shall not use the system to threaten, intimidate, harass, or ridicule other students or staff.

The board unanimously agreed to make the policy updates but with some minor corrections.

“We need to be consistent on how we word the changes,” Trustee Don Scholl said.