Schools Move to Shore Up Cyberbullying Code

The Syosset Central School District will vote next month on strengthening the anti-cyberbullying policy in its Code of Conduct.

The move was presented by Director of Educational Services Rachel Bono during Thursday night's school board meeting at South Woods Middle School. The district's current policy covers Internet use, but the new policy would cover messages sent by any electronic devices. 

Bono said that there were no incidents within the district that prompted this change, and that it's merely a reaction to current events. The dangers of young people using text messages made national headlines earlier this year, when 15-year-old Wayne Treacy was charged with attempted murder after beating 15-year-old Josie Ratley following a nasty texting exchange in Florida. 

The vote will take place Aug. 16 at South Woods Middle School at 8 p.m. Copies of proposed changes to the Code of Conduct are available for inspection in the principal's office of all district schools beginning Friday.