CODE: 6142.3
SECTION: INSTRUCTION
TECHNOLOGY USAGE
The West Milford Board of Education recognizes the possibility of misuse of technology due to the availability of inappropriate material. Therefore, the Superintendent of Schools will establish acceptable use standards for technology access within the school district. Those who use district facilities in a manner which violates these standards will be subject to disciplinary action.
A. Purpose
1. The West Milford Board of Education is providing employees and students with access to the District’s technology resources, which include Internet access.
2. The purpose of the District’s technology system is to assist in the preparation of students for success in life and work in the 21st century by providing them with electronic access to a wide range of information and the ability to communicate with people throughout the world. Additionally, the technology will be used to increase intra-District communication, enhance productivity, and assist District employees in upgrading their skills through greater exchange of information with their peers. The District technology system will also assist the District in sharing information with the local community, including parents, social service agencies, government agencies, and businesses.
3. Users may not use the District technology for commercial purposes, defined as offering or providing goods or services or purchasing goods or services for personal use. District policies will be followed for District purchase of goods or services through the District technology system.
4. Users may not use the District technology system for electioneering and/or political lobbying. District employees and students may use the system to communicate with their elected representatives and to express their opinion on political issues as long as these communications are school related.
B. District Responsibilities
1. The Supervisor of Technology will serve as the coordinator to oversee the District technology system and will work with other regional or state organizations as necessary.
2. The building principal will serve as the building-level coordinator for the District technology system, will approve building-level activities, ensure that teachers receive proper training in the use of the system and the requirements of this policy, establish a system to ensure adequate supervision of students using the network, maintain executed user agreements, and be responsible for interpreting this Technology Usage Policy at the building level.
3. The Supervisor of Technology will establish a process for setting-up user accounts, set quotas for disk usage on the network, establish a retention schedule, establish a District virus protection process, and any other activities necessary to maintain the integrity of the network and network resources.
C. Technical Services and Access to the to the Technology System
1. E-mail will be provided for employees. Employees will also be able to subscribe to mail lists to engage in group discussions related to educational subjects.
2. The District will acquire software designed to block access to certain sites not meeting district standards.
3. The District’s Technology Usage Policy will govern all use of the District technology system. Student use of the system will also be governed by the District, School, and departmental disciplinary codes. Employee use will also be governed by District policies and collective bargaining agreements.
4. All District employees and students will have access to the Internet through the District’s networked computers once a User Agreement has been signed and approved. Parents may specifically request that their child or children not be provided such access by notifying the District in writing.
5. Individual E-mail Accounts will not be provided for students.
6. District employees will be provided with an individual e-mail account but will not have dial-up access to the system off campus.
7. Guest users may receive an individual account with administrative approval if there is a specific District-related purpose requiring such access to the technology system. Use of the system by a guest user must be specifically limited to the District-related purpose. An agreement will be required and parental signature will be required if the guest is a minor.
D. Parental Notification and Responsibility
1. The District will notify the parents/guardians about the District’s technology system and the policies governing its use. Parents/guardians must sign an agreement to allow their child or children to have an individual account. This agreement will remain in effect unless or until the parents/guardians rescind that permission in writing. Parents/guardians may request alternative activities for their child or children if they rescind their permission. Additionally, these agreements will be renewed when students move on to the next school building.
2. Parents/guardians have the right at any time to investigate the contents of their child’s files. Parents/guardians have the right to request the termination of their child’s individual account at any time.
3. The District’s Technology Usage Policy contains restrictions on accessing inappropriate material. There is a wide range of material available on the Internet, some of which may not conform with the particular values of the families of the students. It is not possible for the District to monitor and enforce a wide range of social values in student use of the Internet. Further, the District recognizes that parents/guardians bear primary responsibility for transmitting their particular set of family values to their children. The District will require parents/guardians to specify to their children what material is and is not acceptable for their children to access through the District technology system. Parents/guardians will be held responsible for their children’s actions.
4. The District will provide students and parents/guardians with guidelines for student safety while using the Internet on an annual basis.
E. District Limitation of Liability
1. The District makes no warranties of any kind, either express or implied, that the functions or the services provided by or through the District technology system will be error-free or without defect. The District will not be responsible for any damage users may suffer, including but not limited to, loss of data or interruptions of service. The District is not responsible for the accuracy or quality of the information obtained through or stored on the system. The District will not be responsible for financial obligations arising through the unauthorized use of the system.
F. Due Process
1. The District will cooperate fully with local, state, or federal officials in any investigation concerning to or relating to any illegal activities conducted through the District technology system.
2. In the event there is an allegation that a student has violated the District’s Technology Usage Policy, the student and parent or guardian will be provided with a written notice of the alleged violation and an opportunity to be heard in the manner set forth in the disciplinary code of each building and the district.
3. The principal or designee will tailor disciplinary actions to meet specific concerns related to the violation and to assist the student in gaining the self-discipline necessary to behave appropriately on an electronic network. If the alleged violation also involves a violation of other provisions of the disciplinary code, the violation will be handled in accord with the applicable provision of the disciplinary code.
4. Employee violations of the District’s Technology Usage Policy will be handled in accordance with District policy and collective bargaining agreements.
5. Any District administrator may terminate the account privileges of a guest user by providing notice to the user. Guest accounts not active for more than 30 days may be terminated along with the user’s files without notice to the user.
G. Search and Seizure
1. System users have a limited privacy expectation related to the contents of their personal files on the District system.
2. Routine maintenance and monitoring of the system may lead to discovery that the user has or is violating the District’s Technology Usage Policy, the discipline code, or the law.
3. An investigation will be conducted if there is reasonable suspicion that a user has violated the law or disciplinary code. The nature of the investigation will be reasonable and in the context of the alleged violation.
4. District employees should be aware that their personal files may be discoverable under state public records laws.
H. Copyright and Plagiarism
1. Copyright laws will govern the use of material accessed through the District Technology system. Because the extent of copyright protection of certain works found on the Internet is unclear, employees will make a standard practice of requesting permission from the holder of the work if their use of the material has the potential of being considered an infringement. Teachers will instruct students to respect copyright laws and to request permission when appropriate.
2. District practices related to plagiarism will govern use of material accessed through the District Technology system. Teachers will instruct students in appropriate research and citation practices.
3. Students and parents or guardians will assume responsibility for following copyright laws.
I. Academic Freedom, Selection of Material, Student Rights to Free Speech
1. Board policies on Academic Freedom and Free Speech will govern the use of the Internet.
2. When using the Internet for class activities, teachers will select material that is appropriate for the age of the students and that is relevant to the course objectives. Teachers will preview the materials and sites they require or recommend to students to determine the appropriateness of the material contained on or accessed through the site. Teachers will provide guidelines and lists of resources to assist their students in channeling their research activities effectively and properly. Teachers will assist their students in developing the skills to ascertain the truthfulness of information, distinguish fact from opinion, and engage in discussions about controversial issues while demonstrating tolerance and respect for those who hold divergent views.
J. Web Sites
1. District Web Site: The District will establish a Web site and will develop Web pages that will present information about the District. The Supervisor of Technology, or his/her appointee, will be designated the Webmaster, responsible for maintaining the District Web site.
2. School or Class Web Pages: Schools and classes may establish Web pages that present information about the school or class activities. The building principal will designate an individual to be responsible for managing the school Web site. Teachers will be responsible for maintaining their class site.
3. Student Web Pages: With the approval of the building principal, students may establish Web pages. The principal will develop a process and criteria for the establishment and posting of material, including pointers to other sites, on these pages. Material presented in the student Web site must be related to the student’s educational and career preparation activities. Student Web pages must include the following notice: "This is a student Web page. Opinions expressed on this page shall not be attributed to the District."
4. Extracurricular Organization Web Pages: With the approval of the building principal, extracurricular organizations may establish Web pages. The principal will establish a process and criteria for the establishment and posting of material, including pointers to other sites, on these pages with written approval of the principal, including signing of an Technology User Agreement. Material presented on the organization’s Web page must relate specifically to its activities and will include only student-produced material. Organization Web pages must include the following notice: "This is a student extracurricular organization Web page. Opinions expressed on this page shall not be attributed to the District."
K. The following uses of the District Technology System are considered unacceptable. This list provides examples but is not necessarily all inclusive.
1. Personal Safety (Restrictions are for students only)
a. Users will not post personal contact information about themselves or other people. Personal contact information includes address, telephone number, school address, work address, etc.
b. Users will not agree to meet with someone they have come in contact with online.
c. Users will promptly disclose to their teacher or other school employee any message they receive that is inappropriate or makes them feel uncomfortable.
2. Illegal Activities
a. Users will not attempt to gain unauthorized access to the District technology system or to any other computer system through the District system, or go beyond their authorized access. This includes attempting to log in through another person’s account or access another person’s files. These actions are illegal, even if only for the purposes of "browsing".
b. Users will not make deliberate attempts to disrupt the computer system performance or destroy data by spreading computer viruses or by any other means. These actions are illegal.
c. Users will not use the District technology system to engage in any other illegal act or access information that condones or promotes an illegal activity.
3. System Security
a. Users are responsible for the use of their individual account and should take all reasonable precautions to prevent others from being able to use their account. Under no conditions should a user provide their password to another person.
b. Users will immediately notify the system administrator if they have identified a possible security problem. Users will not go looking for security problems, because this may be construed as an illegal attempt to gain access.
c. Users will avoid the inadvertent spread of computer viruses following the District virus protection procedures. Software may not be downloaded to the network by unauthorized persons.
4. Inappropriate Language
a. Users will not use obscene, profane, lewd, vulgar, rude, inflammatory, threatening, or disrespectful language.
b. Restrictions against Inappropriate Language apply to public messages, private messages, and material posted on Web pages.
c. Users will not post information that , if acted upon, could cause damage or a danger of disruption.
d. Users will not engage in personal attacks, including prejudicial or discriminatory attacks.
e. Users will not harass another person. Harassment is persistently acting in a manner that distresses or annoys another person. If a user is told by a person to stop sending them messages, they must stop immediately.
5. Respect for Privacy
a. Users will not re-post a message that was sent to them privately without permission of the person who sent them the message.
b. Users will not post private information about another person.
6. Respecting Resource Limits.
a. Users will use the system only for educational and professional or career development activities.
b. Users may not download files that are not considered essential as related to the instructional activity being pursued.
c. Users may not load software of any kind on any district computer terminal. All software to be used on the District technology system or stand alone computers must be reviewed by appropriate staff and approved by the board of education prior to installation. All board approved software requests must be submitted to the system administrator for approval to be loaded on any network or stand alone computer. Approved software will be installed by appropriate technical staff.
d. Users will not post chain letters or engage in "spamming", sending an annoying or unnecessary message to a large number of people.
e. Users will check their e-mail frequently, delete unwanted messages promptly, and stay within their e-mail quota.
f. Users will subscribe only to high quality discussion group mail lists that are relevant to their education or professional/career development.
7. Plagiarism and Copyright Infringement
a. Users will not plagiarize works that they find on the Internet. Plagiarism is taking the ideas or writings of others and presenting them as if they were original to the user.
b. Users will respect the rights of copyright owners. Copyright infringement occurs when an individual inappropriately reproduces a work that is protected by a copyright. If a work contains language that specifies acceptable use of that work, the user should follow the expressed requirements. If the user is unsure whether or not they can use a work, they should request permission from the copyright owner.
8. Inappropriate Access to Material
a. Users will not use the District technology system to access material that is profane or obscene, that advocates illegal acts, or that advocates violence or discrimination towards other people.
b. If a user inadvertently accesses such information, they should immediately disclose the inadvertent access in a manner specified by their school. This will protect users against an allegation that they have intentionally violated the Technology Usage Policy.
L. General Guidelines - Technology Use
1. The computer network account belongs to the District and is on loan to the person to whom it was issued and only that person is authorized to use it for only appropriate educational purposes.
2. Users are forbidden to log in as another user.
3. Users are not permitted to place their own floppy disks into any District computer disk drive without first obtaining explicit permission from a teacher. The teacher must be informed of all files that will be transferred from the floppy to the network. Any user who places files on the system without permission will be subject to disciplinary procedures. If a virus or any damaging files are placed on the system, the user responsible will pay for repairs at the rate set by the school’s computer vendor.
4. Deliberate attempts to damage the hardware, software or information residing on the school network or on any computer system attached through the Internet or any stand-alone computer, will not be tolerated.
5. Attempts to violate the integrity of the network, of private accounts, files or programs and activities that interfere with the ability of students/staff members to use the district's technology resources will be subject to disciplinary action.
District Technology System Discipline Procedures
1. Inappropriate use of equipment/network/technology resources may include, but is not limited to, those offenses which are mischievous in nature, but do not physically damage the equipment or network. For example: logging on as another student, changing settings such as screen savers and backgrounds, printing out or displaying offensive messages, playing computer games, etc.
2. Physical damage to software, hardware or peripherals may include, but is not limited to, the following: defacing equipment, taking equipment or disks, removing or changing cable connections, attaching any unauthorized device to any computer or peripheral device, acquiring unauthorized system rights, i.e., giving someone supervisory status or rights; interfering with teacher/student material on the network, etc.
Students must be aware that disconnecting a cable in some computer labs or tampering with software may cause part of the entire network to go down. This may take considerable time and resources to correct.
3. If a student damages school property, a discipline referral to the appropriate principal/vice-principal with mandatory parent contact and reimbursement for parts and labor will be made. Students will be billed at the vendor repair rate even if in-house personnel repair the problem or replace the equipment. Payment must be made before the student is allowed to use any computer or technology related device. Student may be denied access to the network for the remainder of the year.
Consequences for Inappropriate use of Equipment/Network/Technology Resources, Misuse of the Internet and Violation of the Floppy Disk Policy.
1. Students:
First Offense: Discipline referral to the appropriate building principal/vice-principal with parent/guardian contact and student is locked out of the network for one week. He or she must report to the principal or designee and fill out a request to be reinstated.
Second Offense: Discipline referral to the appropriate principal/vice- principal with parent/guardian contact and student is locked out of network for two weeks. He or she must report to principal or designee and fill out a request to be reinstated.
Third Offense: Discipline referral to the appropriate principal/vice- principal with mandatory parent conference. The computer network lockout will be in effect until the parent conference has taken place or until two weeks has passed, whichever is greater.
All Offenses: If the offense is such that it could jeopardize teacher grades, tests, materials, or other students’ work - the student may be locked out of the West Milford Computer Network for the remainder of the year and placed on a stand-alone computer to fulfill course requirements. Students and parents or guardians will also be responsible for financial costs to remedy misuse and may be subject to further disciplinary action as provided by law.
2. Staff:
All Offenses: Consequences for misuse of district technology shall be addressed through appropriate procedures established in Board policy, procedure and negotiated agreements.
First Reading: December 12, 2000
Adopted: December 19, 2000