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Midstate school district will require coaches to use app to reach student athletes

  • Rachel McDevitt/StateImpact Pennsylvania

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(Harrisburg) — A midstate school district is changing the way its coaches can talk electronically with student athletes.

The move comes after an area newspaper made a Right-to-Know request for texts and emails between coaches and students.

The Daily Item’s review of coaches’ communication with students throughout the Susquehanna Valley found all were following each district’s policies.

Coaches at Shikellamy School District in Northumberland County were using a free version of an app called Remind to talk to athletes.

But the district had no way of tracking those messages.

Shikellamy recently bought an enhanced version of the Remind app that Superintendent Jason Bendle said will create of record of all messages.

He said that will give the district more oversight.

“If we got a complaint that, you know, this was said or that was said, I can simply look at that now,” Bendle said. “I think it goes to protect all parties involved and I think it’s just best practice.”

The app  will cost the district just under $9,000 a year for three years.

District coaches are now required to use Remind to communicate with students and their parents.

Messages have to be sent to the entire team, not individuals.

 

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