Fremont RE-1 looks to stop sexting threat
Criminal charges may not have been filed in Caon City, but school officials say sexting is still a problem.
From efforts by the state to efforts made by parents, it was all discussed at a public meeting Friday afternoon at the Fremont RE-1 district headquarters.
“Anybody participating should have had consequences,” said Michele Barnes, who’s daughter attends Caon City High School.
She and others don’t believe the 106 students allegedly involved should be classified as sex offenders, but she did want to see some consequences.
“Taking a class to be educated on it, I think that’s something we should do. Giving them sex offender charges? No,” Barnes said.
While classes on phone safety were never mentioned at the meeting, other options were discussed. They ranged from public service announcements developed by the Colorado Film Commission to conversations that administrators say need to happen between parents and students.
“It’s our responsibility as a parent to educate our child,” Barnes said.
Everyone at the meeting emphasized that sexting isn’t just a Canon City problem.
Chaffee County authorities said Thursday they’re looking into reports of sexting at a Buena Vista middle school and high school. There’s no confirmation of a connection between the two cases.
There’s also a push for new legislation.
“I don’t want to be knee jerk, I want to be deliberate moving forward,” said State Senator Kevin Grantham.
He wants to bring up legislation to address laws on sexting in next year’s session.
“All the district attorneys, defense council, folks like that that know the ins and outs of the law, they can help us understand the consequences of changing this letter of the law,” he said.
Parents who came to the meeting say their influence is vital.
“If we’re not involved in our kids lives, things will go by us and we won’t know,” Barnes said.
Grantham wouldn’t go as far as to outline specifics of any legislation he would push to draft, but did say it was a topic he wanted to move forward to discuss.
