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School fight video triggers electronics crackdown

08:31 AM CDT on Wednesday, May 30, 2007

By RUDY KOSKI
KVUE News

A video clip of a Stony Point High School student being attacked has found its way to a popular Internet Web site. The YouTube video is triggering a crackdown and talk of new policy.

Current policy bans the use of electronic communication devices during the school day. Round Rock ISD school board members will get a briefing on possible options during a meeting in late June. The fight at Stony Point happened May 3. The video clip runs a little more than 20 seconds -- too long for school officials.

“We were very concerned that perhaps this fight had happened and administrators and teachers were not aware of it, but with this incident, administrators were there, broke up the fight right away and appropriate discipline followed,” said JoyLynn Occhiuzzi, district spokesperson.

But no one knew it was posted on a Web site until school board member, Vivian Sullivan, was tipped off. She and parents like Patrice Williams are concerned that this kind of violent video is being done in schools.

“Children need to find there is a responsibility for their actions, not only should they be punished for fighting but they should also be punished for using that location without consent,” said Williams, who is also a preschool teacher.

Williams says she feels this way because of a recent YouTube announcement. The Web site’s most popular video creators will receive payments. It’s doubtful those who posted the Stony Point fight will make any money, but it could have been motivation.

“Right now the school district is looking at if there is any discipline measures they can take if those videos show up on YouTube, MySpace and right now our lawyers are discussing those options to see if those even exist,” said Occhiuzzi.

What school officials do know is these video sites can be a tool for them -- a way to spot and catch troublemakers. While researching the fight, two other Stony Point videos were found. One clip is of a water fight on campus. Young male teenagers are seen chasing girls and tossing water on them. It looks like a wet T-shirt party. School officials say it may appear to be innocent fun, but it also appears to be inappropriate.

The same reaction was given for another video. It was made on what is portrayed as a Round Rock ISD school bus. On the video students are heard shouting, signing and pounding on the interior walls of the bus. Officials wonder if any damage was done to the vehicle. Faces can be seen clearly on each video. An effort is now underway to identify all those involved. Disciplinary action may soon follow.

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