School District Pays to Keep Porn off Computers

The Internet filter used by the Gilroy Unified School District is set to expire at the end of this month and the school board is considering its options for keeping kids off inappropriate sites on school grounds.

Since 2008, the district has used a filter from 8e6 Technologies. The district's IT department has informed staff that support for the product is diminishing and with increased connectivity coming at all schools in the district, the system either needs to be updated or replaced.

Schools must comply with the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA), which was signed into law in 2000 and is meant to protect children from harmful content online in federal buildings.

To keep up with CIPA, and make sure students aren't able to access pornography and other inappropriate websites in Gilroy schools, the district must take action at the April 11 school board meeting.

IT Supervisor Leo Oliver is going to present the board with its options on this matter, including the possibility of signing a three-year contract with a company that has already offered its filter to the district for $45,240. The district also has the option of soliciting offers from other companies. 

If the current subscription offer is picked up, the annual cost to keep kids off inappropriate sites will be $942.50 per school, with 16 schools in the district.

Is that a fair price for the result? Should the district find a better rate? Tell us in the comments!