The Marengo County Board of Education will conduct two public hearings concerning Internet usage at its schools as the system’s policies continue to chase advancements in technology.

The county school board is looking to amend its nearly decade-old policies governing Internet Safety/Internet Acceptable Use Practices for the Use of Technology for Employees and Internet Safety/Internet Acceptable Use Practices for the Use of Technology for Students.

Donna Caplinger Etheridge said the new polices were designed to strengthen and modernize existing polices.

“A lot has changed in the last 10 years,” she said with regards to the Internet. “The new policies just get a little more specific and address some items that have changed since the original polices were adopted.”

Among the items addressed are the purpose in which students and employees should use the Internet and specific popular websites such as Facebook.

Public hearings will be conducted on Friday, Jan. 6 at 9 a.m. and Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 4 p.m. at the Marengo County Board of Education in Linden.