***Board Guidelines*** PLEASE READ FIRST

[Wantagh Parent]

Welcome to the new members that joined this week.

Please note this is a community-based discussion board. The goal is positive discussions for the good of our kids and tax dollars. All are welcome.

Please remember since we're here to help each other that we 'speak' to another on this board like we would conduct ourselves in person. It's been a trying time this week so let's be careful to respect each other and adhere to the message board guidelines as we welcome new members.

Since this is a relatively new message board, please take the time to read the following sections in the 'Come Introduce Yourself' folder. I've posted some of it here.
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Board Rules
wantaghsd.proboards66.com/index.cgi?board=introduce&action=display&thread=36

This board is here for healthy, respectful discussion. Everyone should feel welcome.

It is important to note that while fact-based discussions are encouraged, this site is not responsible for posts made by individual members, nor does this site check for accuracy of claims made by individual members.

To that regard, multiple postings of the same message will be deleted. Discussion is good, spamming is not.

Please read the guidelines and how to use this board before participating.

Thank you for understanding.

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Guidelines & How to Use this Board
wantaghsd.proboards66.com/index.cgi?board=introduce&action=display&thread=13

The purpose of this board is positive dialog about the highest quality education for our kids with fiscal responsibility.

Please remember the internet is public space therefore everyone should be cautious about privacy, particularly our kids' privacy. Members should choose whatever username they feel comfortable disclosing. However, any posts with a child's name or a child's personally identifiable info in it will be immediately removed.

It is important to note that while the intention of this board is fact-based discussions, this site is not responsible for posts made by individual members, nor does this site check for accuracy of claims made by individual members.

The how to's follow.
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Thanks for reading.

[Wantagh Parent]

Below is standard netiquette that most forums expect of their members and will be part of our guidelines and rules here. Please remember this site is manned by parent volunteers for the sole purpose of providing a forum for respectful and productive community discussion and exchanging information. All are welcome. However, please be mindful of this netiquette when posting.


Be Positive as much as possible

We know it is difficult to be positive all the time especially when you are having problems or complaints. You can still post to threads in positive manner. These responses will help others later who may have the same problem or question. Try not to turn the board into a negative depressing place.


Be civil and respectful

Remember your face doesn't show. Words alone cannot convey sentiment, but without benefit of inflection or facial expression, they can be misconstrued. Use descriptive wording, emoticons or .gifs to ensure your meaning is clear. By the same token, don't jump to conclusions about another person's intent in posting an unclear comment. When in doubt, ask for clarification.

Say online exactly what you would say in person. In other words, if you wouldn't say it to the person's face in front of your Grandmother, you shouldn't type it into a forum.

Be respectful. Internet etiquette is similar to standard etiquette in this area. Appreciate that your opinion is one of many. You can disagree with another person without being disrespectful or rude online.

It’s okay to disagree. To attack someone personally is always frowned upon and could possibly get your forum account suspended. If you resort to name calling and personal attacks don't be surprised if your account is terminated.

In person at social situations, you may say or do something out of character or perhaps lash out or hurt someone's feelings, but that incident can be quickly forgotten or only remembered by those who see it.

In an online forum, that type of an incident is there forever, and anyone can see it, or worse, stumble upon it weeks or months later and dredge it up again. Ask yourself before posting whether what you are about to say is something you will want read a month from now. If it's not, don't type it, no matter how tempting it may be at the time. Remember, everything you put out on the internet can come back to haunt you.


Avoid Trolling

A troll is someone who posts topics on message boards with the sole purpose of instigating argument or debate. It is definitely an etiquette no-no and will earn you the disrespect of everyone on the forum and you could easily wind up with a suspended account.


Ignore Trolls

Netiquette guidelines are very specific where they're concerned. If you engage in conversation, it'll raise your blood pressure and empower the Troll. You can't win a flame war, and you can't sway a Troll's opinion. Often, they don't even care about the subject; they live for the conflict and nothing more. Trolls are common and not worthy of your time. Ignore their posts—no matter how inflammatory—and eventually they'll get bored and move on.


Let sleeping dogs lie

It's tempting to revisit controversial decisions you disagree with, but it's rarely productive to do so, since it almost always results in the same heated, lengthy, and time/energy draining discussions leading to the same conclusion that was reached in the last round.
Therefore, for issues already raised, discussed, and decided upon, reopen the discussion only if you have significant new information that would reasonably prompt reconsideration of the original decision.


Post in the Proper Forum or Thread

Internet forum posting etiquette says to place your post in the appropriate forum/board. It doesn't matter if one board is more active than another, you should always use the appropriate board/forum or thread for your content.


Avoid Hijacking a Thread

Hijacking involves posting a new idea or topic on someone else's thread. Sometimes, if the topic is related, it is okay, but try to post new threads if you need to start a different discussion. People who are interested in your topic can go to your thread and you won't offend anyone else this way.


Stay on Topic

It’s important when you are responding to topics you stay on topic. If you slant a discussion on another topic your post maybe ignored. It’s important for discussion purposes you stay on topic as best as you can. If you have another topic that needs to be addressed start a new topic.


Don't bump your own threads

It is unfair to bump your own threads when there is no new information, as you will bump other people’s threads off the page.


Help as Much as You Are Helped

If you come into the forums to ask questions, post a thread, and then disappear and never respond to anyone else's threads, questions or comments, chances are the forum members will be less likely or willing to help you in the future. You don't have to personally thank everyone who responds, but you can definitely respond with thanks to all who answered and make an effort to help others if you can answer their questions too.


Never Use ALL CAPS

It is very hard to read, and it amounts to yelling on the Internet.



Take Personal Issues Off the Forums.


Internet forums and message boards are for public discussions which bear relevance to more than a few people. If you have a personal issue with someone else, take it off the forum and use the Private mail system we have here.



Respect the Moderator

If and when a moderator tells you not to do something, whether you agree with them or not, don't do it! Forum posting etiquette says you are coming into someone else's forum, you play by someone else's rules. If you don't like it, you're welcome to find another forum with different rules. Remember, the moderator usually has the power to suspend your posting privileges or ban you from the forum.

[Wantagh Parent]

In keeping with the open, respectful tone of this message board, the following guideline has been added:

Editing and Deleting Posts

Content, as opposed to spelling and grammar, is important to fostering the open communication on this board. If however, you would like to edit your posts by correcting typos and grammatical errors, that is fine by us.

In terms of editing or deleting, mistakes do happen. Everyone makes them. However, editing that significantly alters content of original posts, and chronic content editing and/or deleting posts is not suggested.

Please feel free to use the quote feature when responding to posts.

Thank you for participating.

[Wantagh Parent]

Multiple Accounts/Usernames

Each member is allowed one. You are allotted only one username per individual. Individuals who are found to have multiple accounts/unsernames will have all involved accounts deleted immediately and without warning.

[Wantagh Parent]

Multiple Users on a Single Account/Username

Each account is for the use of one member. Accounts confirmed or suspected to be shared by multiple users may be deleted immediately without warning.