The Superintendent will ensure all computer network implementation is in line with the Board's acceptable use policy on technology, below. And the District's educational goals. Use of the computer network(s) as a part of any class or school assignment will be consistent with the curriculum adopted by the District. The District's general rules for behavior and communications will apply when scholars, staff, or Board members use any computer equipment.
Personal Accounts
The Superintendent will ensure all scholars, staff, and Board members are provided with personal accounts, access to the District computer network and the internet, including electronic mail and file server space for developing and publishing material on the World Wide Web or other networked computer media. Such access will be provided in furtherance of the District's educational mission, to enhance scholar knowledge and familiarity with technology, and to facilitate communication, innovation, and sharing of resources. To ensure the integrity of the educational process and to guard the reputation of the District, scholar and staff expression in public electronic media provided by the District may be subject to review, comment, editing, and/or removal by the Superintendent.
Personal accounts and all use of District computer resources are considered a privilege, not a right, and are subject to the District's rules and policies. Electronic communications and stored material may be monitored or read by school officials. Electronic mail in personal accounts will not generally be inspected without the consent of the sender or a recipient, except as required to investigate complaints, which allege a violation of the District's rules and policies or the law.
Scholar electronic mail and electronic storage space which does not contain material made public by the scholar, is subject to the District's policy and rules regarding scholar records. A fee may be charged by the District to defray the cost of personal accounts. However, if use of personal accounts is required for a core curricular class, no fees may be charged to a scholar for the duration of that class.
Privacy
The District may collect and store Personally Identifiable Information (PII). In the event PII is collected, it will be secured in accordance with Board Policy 5180- Unauthorized Release of Information and 8940- Scholar Records.
System Integrity
The Superintendent will designate person(s) trained in computer technology ("system administrators") at the building and/or District level to implement the District's rules and regulations and to provide computer support for scholars, staff, and Board members. The Superintendent will employ hardware and software security to ensure the integrity of the system and to prevent unauthorized access to District and school records.
Network Use
The Superintendent will develop rules and procedures for computer and network use, and will ensure that rules are published for scholars, parent(s)/ guardian(s), staff, and Board members.
The District's computer and network use rules will be consistent with the following requirements:
- Users may not use District equipment to perform or solicit the performance of any activity prohibited by law.
- Users may not use the system to transmit or publish information that violates or infringes upon the rights of any other person, or that is abusive, obscene, or sexually offensive.
- District computer equipment will not be used for commercial purposes by any user or for advertisement or solicitation without prior written approval from the Superintendent.
- Except with prior authorization from a system administrator or the owner of the record in question, users may not access or attempt to access the records or files of other users, or of the District, nor delete, alter, or otherwise interfere with the integrity of computer-based information or resources.
- Users may not use the electronic mail facility to send unsolicited, bulk, chain, harassing, anonymous, or other messages which are an annoyance to the recipient or which may cause a degradation of system performance.
- Users may not use the network facility to access or bring into the school environment material that is inconsistent with the educational goals of the District, including but not limited to material which is defamatory, abusive, obscene, profane, sexually explicit, threatening, racially offensive, illegal, or which aids or advocates illegal activity other than non-violent civil disobedience.
District Website
The Superintendent will ensure that any and all websites representing the District will be carried and posted only on the District's web servers and will be designed and published in accordance with rules promulgated by the Superintendent.
Limiting Access
The Superintendent and system administrators may make use of technology which attempts to block access to networked computers, data, or services that provide content which, in the opinion of the Superintendent, is not consistent with the educational aims of the District.
Complaints about content of networked information or access to blocked sites shall be handled in accord with the District's policy and procedures for complaints about library and instructional materials.
Use of Computers in a School District Library
The Board, pursuant to state statute, requires when a District library offers use of the internet, a computer, computer program, computer network, or computer system to the public, access to minors will be restricted in the following manner: The District will utilize a system or method that is designed to prevent a minor from viewing obscene matter or sexually explicit matter that is harmful to minors. To accomplish this, a library may use passwords and/or filters that restrict Internet access for those less than 18 years of age.
The Superintendent will develop rules concerning library Internet access in compliance with state law.
Acceptable Use
The Superintendent will ensure scholar use of the electronic technological system, including the use of chat rooms, electronic mail, and other forms of direct electronic communications, is monitored. The technology protection measure may be disabled for adults for instructional, research, or other lawful purposes.
New Programs
The Superintendent will ensure new technologies or new applications of technology within the District are implemented only after careful and thorough planning. If needed, whenever funds are allocated for the purchase of new technological hardware or software, an appropriate portion of those funds will be designated for the training of staff and the development of necessary supplementary materials and documentation.
Data Management
The Superintendent will provide for the orderly acquisition of data base software, information processing equipment, networks, and support materials to best use computer technology in support of District administrative functions. A scholar database will be maintained which contains scholar administrative and instructional information.
The Superintendent will establish procedures which ensure the security, safety, and confidentiality of District or Personally Identifiable Information (PII) data. Access to District or PII data in any form, including use of the database by scholars, staff, and volunteers, shall be limited in accord with the Board policies on District and scholar records. District databases will be implemented in such a way as to facilitate access to subsets or aggregates of nonconfidential data.
Education and Instruction
The Superintendent will ensure that all staff, scholars, and Board members are informed and instructed on the ethical uses of data and computer technology.
