DATE:
August 21, 2025
TO:
All School Administrators
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
McKinley Withers, Health and Wellness
SUBJECT:
BARK Content Monitoring and iBoss Search Monitoring
Now that school is back in session, here is a review of our district-wide content monitoring system which runs through a software/AI system called BARK. BARK monitors all students’ Google accounts across all JSD schools and levels. This is different from iBoss and Lanschool and does not detect student internet searches. Here is a summary of the notification protocols and procedures for this school year.
- BARK uses an AI to scan student Gmail messages, Google chats, Google documents, and Google slides, regardless of the device or IP address that is used. As long as the student is logged in to and using their Jordan District Google account, the content can be monitored.
- Notifications and alerts are categorized as non-severe, severe, and imminent.
- Alerts are monitored primarily by Angie Rasmussen, JSD Student Safety and Wellness Specialist. Some alerts will require additional investigation at that level to determine the context and to filter out false positives.
- Notifications are primarily sent via email from Angie Rasmussen. Urgent tips will be addressed through a phone call or text message. Email notifications often include administrators, counselors, and other mental health team members who are relevant to the situation–multiple team members are included to ensure follow-up for time-sensitive situations.
- Notifications that are not considered emergencies or urgent will not be sent after 3pm on a school day to ensure that intervention is reasonable and timely for school personnel.
- Content alerts are not monitored over the weekend or on days that students don’t attend, but emergency alerts will still be sent when immediate intervention is needed.
- We will continue to receive after-hours imminent alerts and will continue to work with administrators when immediate intervention is required.
In addition to BARK monitoring students’ Google accounts, students’ Google and YouTube searches will be monitored through iBoss. Flagged searches will be managed by Infosystems, Matt Alvernaz, and Angie Rasmussen. School administrators will be notified if the search content indicates harm to self or others or anything else that may raise concern.
Should you have any questions, please reach out to Angie Rasmussen (angie.rasmussen@jordandistrict.org, ext. 88197) or McKinley Withers (mckinley.withers@jordandistrict.org, ext. 88245).
