The Board of Education will provide access to various computerized information resources through the District’s computer system (“DCS” hereafter) consisting of software, hardware, computer networks and electronic communications systems. This may include access to electronic mail, “on-line services” and the “Internet.” It may include the opportunity for some staff/students to have independent access to the DCS from their home or other remote locations. All use of the DCS, including independent use off school premises, shall be subject to this policy and accompanying regulations. Further, all such use must be in support of education and/or research and consistent with the goals and purposes of the school district.
Access to Inappropriate Content/Material and Use of Personal Technology or Electronic Devices
The policy is intended to establish general guidelines for acceptable student use of the DCS and also to give students and parents/guardians notice that student use of the DCS will provide student access to external computer networks not controlled by the School District. The district cannot screen or review all of the available content or materials on these external computer networks. Thus some of the available content or materials on these external networks may be deemed unsuitable for student use or access by
parents/guardians.
Despite the existence of District policy, regulations and guidelines, it is virtually impossible to completely prevent access to content or material that may be considered inappropriate for students. Students may have the ability to access such content or material from their home, other locations offs school premises and/or with a student’s own personal technology or electronic device on school grounds or at school events. Parents and guardians must be willing to establish boundaries and standards for the appropriate and acceptable use of technology and communicate these boundaries and standards to their children. The appropriate/acceptable use standards outlined in this policy apply to student use of technology via the DCS or any other electronic media or communications, including by means of a student’s own personal technology or electronic device on school grounds or at school events.
Personal Devices
Students may use personal devices to access the District Network. These devices include, but are not limited to, laptop computers, smart phones, tablet computers, iPads, netbooks, and mp3 players. All activities conducted on the District Network using a personal device, including messages, emails, communications, information and Internet access, are subject to monitoring, inspection, copying, review, access and storing by the district. There is no expectation of privacy, regardless of whether a personal or district-issued device is used to access the District Network. The district will not be liable for any damages, expenses or costs associated with the student’s use of the personal device to access the District Network or in the event a student’s personal device is lost or damaged.
Standards of Acceptable Use
Generally, the same standards of acceptable student conduct which apply to any school activity shall apply to use of the DCS. This policy does not attempt to articulate all required and/or acceptable uses of the DCS; nor is it the intention of this policy to define all inappropriate usage. Administrative regulations will further define general guidelines of appropriate student conduct and use as well as proscribed behavior.
Prohibited Conduct: The District reserves the right to limit and/or terminate Internet access, District Network access or other technology use privileges in the event it determines that a user has violated any district policy or regulation or any state or federal law. The following have been deemed inappropriate uses of technology by the district:
- Cyberbullying: Refer to Policy #7552 and Policy #3410 (Code of Conduct).
If it is determined that students used or accessed the District Network, including Internet access to engage in cyberbullying, the user will be subject to discipline consistent with the Code of Conduct (#3410).It should also be noted that “cyberbullying is a misdemeanor punishable by a $1,000 fine and /or up to one year in jail. - Accessing, uploading, downloading or distributing pornographic, obscene or sexually explicit material.
- Using the District Network for illegal activity, including copyright infringement, or for uses that violate the district’s Code of Conduct or other policies.
- Vandalizing the account or data of another user.
- Gaining unauthorized access to another account, confidential records or District Network operations, including using another person’s account name with or without permission.
- Sharing personal user ID or password.
- Using any method or means to bypass the Internet filtering system.
- Disrupting or damaging equipment, software or the operations of the District Network, including creating or installing a computer virus or other damaging program.
- Using district technology for personal or financial gain.
- Installing or using personal software on an individual computer or the District Network.
- Downloading software without permission
- E-mail broadcasting or “spamming”
- Misrepresenting yourself by using a false/fictitious identity in any electronic communication.
- Posing any material or information that may result in a disruption of normal school operations, including transmitting offensive or harassing messages, insults or attacking others or using obscene language.
This is not intended to be comprehensive, but to illustrate the expectations set for the by the District.
District students shall also adhere to the laws, policies and rules governing computers including, but not limited to, copyright laws, rights of software publishers, license agreements, and student right of privacy created by federal and state law.
Staff/students who engage in unacceptable use may lose access to the DCS in accordance with applicable due process procedures, and may be subject to further discipline under the District’s school conduct and discipline policy and the District Code of Conduct. The District reserves the right to pursue legal action against a staff/student who willfully, maliciously or unlawfully damages or destroys property of the District. Further, the District may bring suit in civil court against the parents/guardians of any student or staff member who willfully, maliciously or unlawfully damages or destroys District property pursuant to General Obligations Law Section 3-112.
Staff/student data files and other electronic storage areas will be treated like school lockers. This means that such areas shall be considered to be School District property subject to control and inspection. The District Network Administrator may access all such files and communications without
prior notice to ensure system integrity and that users are complying with the requirements of this policy and accompanying regulations. Staff/Students should NOT expect that information stored on the DCS will be private.
Notification/Authorization
The District’s Acceptable Use Policy and Regulations will be disseminated to staff, parents and students in order to provide notice of the school’s requirements, expectations, and staff and students’ obligations when accessing the DCS. It will be available on the district website.
The District provides opt-out forms with respect to use of the District Network. These forms will serve as written notification of a parent or guardian’s wish to withhold Internet access or other technology privileges for their student(s) and can be completed at any time during the school year. Privileges to access the District Network and Internet may only be restored through written notification from a parent or guardian.
Regulations will be established as necessary to implement the terms of this policy.
NOTE: Refer also to Policies #3121 — Use of Social Media Policy
#8271 — Internet Safety/Internet Content Filtering Policy
# 3410 — Code of Conduct
# 7552 — Bullying in the Schools