The Amy Hestir Student Protection Act, named after a woman who was sexually harassed by a teacher while she was in 7th grade, is to be phased into all Rockwood Schools by the beginning of January 2012.

“The law goes into effect on Aug. 28 and, our district has until January to come up with a plan or a policy about how we’re going to handle [the law]” Principal John Shaughnessy said.

However, on Friday, Aug. 26,  a Missouri judge blocked the law restricting Internet communications between  teachers and students from taking effect on Aug, 28. He was responding to a lawsuit filed by the Missouri State Teacher’s Association, which claims the law violates teachers’ freedom of speech.

According to one portion of the very lengthy law,  “Teachers cannot establish, maintain, or use a work-related website unless it is available to school administrators and the child’s legal guardian.”

In other words, teachers cannot communicate through texting or Facebook.  They can still communicate through the Rockwood email system, but any other email programs are prohibited.

Because texting is also prohibited by the law, and some athletes are concerned that because contact with sports coaches will be limited, they will not be as informed as they have been in the past.

Junior Ali Steele plays basketball and in the past, her coach has texted the athletes with updates on practice and games.

“Texting is the easiest way to [communicate with coaches] and if we can’t do that now it’s going to make it really hard to figure out where we’re supposed to be after school.  It’s going to be inconvenient,” Steele said.

To this, Shaughnessy said, “The way the law was written leaves a lot of room for different interpretations and that could have a negative effect on the way [texting] is positively used with coaches.”

However, the district will not release an official policy until the beginning of January 2012, so Shaughnessy said Lafayette is mainly focusing on awareness of the law until then.