The board is committed to making available to students and employees’ access to a wide range of electronic learning facilities, technology (potentially including, but not limited to, computers, tablets, and handheld devices), equipment and software, network systems, and the internet. The goal in providing this technology and access is to support the educational objectives and mission of the school district and to promote resource sharing, innovation, problem solving, and communication.
The school district’s technology, network and/or internet connection are not a public access service or a public forum. The school district has the right to place reasonable restrictions on the material accessed and/or posted through the use of its technology, network and/or internet connection, including the use of personal technology brought into the school district by students and staff and the ability of students and staff to access the school district’s network systems and internet access using personal technology.
The school district’s technology, network systems, and internet access shall be available to all students and staff within the school district. However, access is a privilege, not a right. Each student and employee must have a signed acceptable use agreement on file prior to having access to and using the school district’s technology, network, and the internet. The amount of time and type of access available for each student and employee may be limited by the school district’s technology and the demands for the use of the school district’s technology.
Individual student accounts and electronic mail addresses may be issued to students. Even if students have not been given access to and/or use of the school district’s technology, network, and the internet, they may still be exposed to information from the school district’s technology, network, and/or the internet in guided curricular activities at the discretion of their teachers. If a student already has an electronic mail address, the student will not be permitted to use the address to send and receive mail at school.
Students and employees shall only engage in appropriate, ethical, and legal utilization of the school district’s technology, network systems, and internet access. Student and employee use of the school district’s technology, network, and internet access shall also comply with all school district policies and regulations. Employees and students will be instructed on the appropriate use of the internet. Parents/guardians will be required to sign a permission form to allow their students to access the internet. Students will sign a form acknowledging they have read and understand the Internet Acceptable Use policy and regulations, that they will comply with the policy and regulations and understand the consequences for violation of the policy or regulations.
Students, parents/guardians, and employees may be asked from time to time to sign a new consent and/or acceptable use agreement to reflect changes and/or developments in the law or technology. When students, parents/guardians, and employees are presented with new consent and/or acceptable use agreements to sign, these agreements must be signed for students and/or staff to continue to have access to and use of the school district’s technology, network systems, and the internet.
Inappropriate use and/or access will result in the restriction and/or termination of the privilege of access to and use of the school district’s technology, network, and internet access and may result in further discipline for students up to and including expulsion and/or other legal action and may result in further discipline for employees up to and including termination of employment and/or other legal action. The school district’s administration will determine what constitutes inappropriate use and its decision will be final.
The school district may close a user account at any time as required and administrators, faculty, and staff may request the technology coordinator to deny, revoke, or suspend user accounts. Any user identified as a security risk or having a history of problems with technology and/or network systems may be denied access to the school district’s technology, network systems, and the internet. Students and employees will be instructed by the school district’s technology coordinator or other appropriate personnel on the appropriate use of the school district’s technology, network, and the internet.
The internet can provide a vast collection of educational resources for students and employees. It is a global network which makes it impossible to control all available information. Because information appears, disappears and changes constantly, it is not possible to predict or control what students may locate. The school district makes no guarantees as to the accuracy of information received on the internet. Some students might encounter information that may not be of educational value.
The school district will, within the curriculum currently being offered, include age-appropriate content related to children’s use of the internet. This may include anti-bullying and harassment considerations, social networking considerations, and other considerations involving internet usage.
The school district has the right, but not the duty, to monitor any and all aspects of its technology, network systems and internet access including, but not limited to, monitoring sites students and staff visit on the internet and reviewing e-mail. The administration and the technology coordinator shall have both the authority and right to examine all technology and internet activity including any logs, data, e-mail, storage, and/or other technology related records of any user. The use of e-mail is limited to school district and educational purposes only. Students and staff waive any right to privacy in anything they create, store, send, disseminate or receive on the school district’s technology and network systems, including the internet.
No warranties, expressed or implied, are made by the school district for the technology and internet access being provided. Although the school district has taken measures to implement and maintain protection against the presence of viruses, spyware, and malware on the school district’s technology, network systems, and internet access, the school district cannot and does not warranty or represent that the school district’s technology, network systems or internet access will be secure and free of viruses, spyware or malware at all times. The school district, including its officers and employees, will not be responsible for any damages including, but not limited to, the loss of data, delays, non-deliveries, misdeliveries or service interruptions caused by negligence or omission. Individual users are solely responsible for making backup copies of their data. The school district is not responsible for the accuracy of information users access on the internet and is not responsible for any unauthorized charges students or employees may incur as a result of their use of the school district’s technology, network systems, and/or internet access. Any risk and/or damages resulting from information obtained from the school district’s technology, network systems, and/or internet access is assumed by and is the responsibility of the user.
The interpretation, application, and modification of this policy are within the sole discretion of the school district. Any questions or issues regarding this policy should be directed to the superintendent, any building principal or the technology coordinator.
The board will review and update this policy as necessary. The district will maintain this policy at least five (5) years after the termination of funding pursuant to the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) or E-rate.
Approved: September 18, 2000
Reviewed October 8, 2018
Revised October 8, 2018
