Extra precautions taken by Hempfield Area after disruptions in online learning

Teachers at the Hempfield Area School District are taking extra precautions after several lessons conducted via Google Meet were disrupted by private callers.

According to Superintendent Tammy Wolicki, three instances were reported at the middle school level in which classes were disrupted by private callers using “extremely inappropriate” language. Wolicki noted the disruptions were likely done by students of the class who re-entered the meeting using a cell phone.

To stop further incidents, teachers are changing Google settings to only permit identified participants.

“These events are taken seriously and handled immediately,” Wolicki said to parents. “Although the students may view these calls as merely pranks, they are disruptive to the learning environment, inappropriate and unacceptable. We apologize for the inconvenience of these actions and assure you that we are taking the necessary steps to address the situation.”

She noted school officials are unable to identify who was involved in the incidents — two of which occurred prior to the holiday break and one after — but added, “We can assure that it will not happen again.” State police are not investigating the incidents.

School boards and municipalities across the region have been dealing with similar occurrences since meetings have largely moved online due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Leechburg Area School District in May was one of the first in the region to experience a “Zoom-bombing,” or when someone interrupts a video meeting. A Leechburg board meeting ended abruptly after a person shared a pornographic image. At the time, Leechburg police said they were investigating.

A similar incident occurred during an Allegheny Valley school board meeting in July, in which someone entered the public meeting on Zoom and displayed pornography, used inappropriate language and racial slurs, district officials said. A school police officer investigated the incident.

By August yet another occurrence was reported during the O’Hara council’s virtual meeting when at least two Zoom bombers voiced vulgarities during the first 20 minutes of the meeting, officials said. It was not clear if an investigation of the incident took place.