The board is committed to making available to students and staff members access to a wide range of electronic learning facilities, equipment, and software, including computers, computer-like equipment (such as tablets), computer 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 District’s computers, computer-like equipment, computer network and/or internet connection is not a public access service or a public forum. The District has the right to place reasonable restrictions on the material accessed and/or posted through the use of its computers, computer-like equipment, computer network, and/or internet connection.
Access to the District’s computers, computer-like equipment, computer network, and internet shall be available to all students and staff within the District. However, access is a privilege, not a right. Each student and staff member must have a signed acceptable use agreement on file prior to having access to and using the District’s computers, computer-like equipment, computer network and the internet. The amount of time and type of access available for each student and staff member may be limited by the District’s technology and the demands for the use of the District’s technology. Even if students have not been given access to and/or use of the District’s computers, computer-like equipment, computer network and the internet, they may still be exposed to information from the District’s computers, computer-like equipment, computer network and/or the internet in guided curricular activities at the discretion of their teachers. Non-District owned devices will not be given access to the computer network unless approved by building administration.
Every computer and/or computer-like equipment in the District having internet access shall not be operated unless internet access from the computer is subject to a technology protection measure (i.e. filtering software). The technology protection measure employed by the District shall be designed and operated with the intent to ensure that students are not accessing inappropriate sites that have visual depictions that include obscenity, child pornography or are otherwise harmful to minors. The technology protection measure may only be disabled for an adult’s use if such use is for bona fide research or other lawful purposes.
The technology coordinator 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 computer systems may be denied access to the District’s computers, the District’s computer-like equipment, the District’s computer network systems and the internet. Students and staff members will be instructed by the District’s technology coordinator or other appropriate personnel on the appropriate use of the District’s computers, computer-like equipment computer network and the internet.
The use of the District’s computers, computer-like equipment, computer network, and internet access shall be for educational purposes only. Students and staff members shall only engage in appropriate, ethical, and legal utilization of the District’s computers, computer network systems, and internet access. Student and staff member use of the District’s computers, computer-like equipment, computer network, and internet access shall also comply with all District policies and regulations. The following rules provide guidance to students and staff for the appropriate use of the District’s computers, computer-like equipment, computer network, and internet access. Inappropriate use and/or access will result in the restriction and/or termination of the privilege of access to and use of the District’s computers, computer-like equipment, computer 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 staff members up to and including termination of employment and/or other legal action. The District’s administration will determine what constitutes inappropriate use and their decision will be final. Inappropriate use of the District’s computers, computer-like equipment, computer network, and internet access includes, but is not limited to a violation of the following rules:
The 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.
Although reasonable efforts will be made to make sure students will be under supervision while on the network, it is not possible to constantly monitor individual students and what they are accessing on the network. Some students may encounter information that may not be of educational value and/or may be inappropriate. If a student encounters such information, the student should terminate access to the information immediately and notify supervisory personnel or other appropriate personnel of what occurred.
Students will be able to access the District’s computers, computer-like equipment and computer network systems, including use of the internet, through their teachers and/or other appropriate supervisors. Individual electronic mail addresses (will/will not) be issued to students. Students will not be allowed to use e-mail except under very specific, limited educational circumstances. If a student has an electronic mail address that has been set up outside of school, the student will not be permitted to access that e-mail account or use that address to send and receive mail at school.
Parents will be required to sign a permission form to allow their students to access the District’s computers, computer-like equipment, computer network systems and the internet. Students and staff members will sign a form acknowledging they have read and understand the District’s policies and regulations regarding appropriate use of the District’s computers, computer-like equipment, computer network systems and the internet; that they will comply with the policies and regulations; and understand the consequences for violation of the policy or regulations. Prior to publishing any student work and/or pictures on the internet, the District will obtain written permission from the student’s parents to do so.
The District has the right, but not the duty, to monitor any and all aspects of its computers, computer-like equipment, computer 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 computer and computer-like equipment and internet activity including any logs, data, e-mail, computer disks and/or other computer related records of any user of the system. The use of e-mail is limited to District and educational purposes only. Students and staff waive any right to privacy in anything they create, store, send, disseminate or receive on the District’s computers, computer-like equipment and computer network systems, including the internet.
No warranties, expressed or implied, are made by the District for the computer technology and internet access being provided. Although the District has taken measures to implement and maintain protection against the presence of computer viruses, spyware, and malware on the District’s computers, computer network systems, and internet access, the District cannot and does not warranty or represent that the District’s computers, computer-like equipment, computer network systems or internet access will be secure and free of computer viruses, spyware or malware at all times. The 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 District is not responsible for the accuracy of information that users access on the internet and is not responsible for any unauthorized charges students or staff members may incur as a result of their use of the District’s computers, computer-like equipment, computer network systems, and/or internet access. Any risk and/or damages resulting from information obtained from the District’s computers, computer-like equipment, computer network systems, and/or internet access is assumed by and is the responsibility of the user.
Students, parents, and staff members 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, and staff members 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 District’s computers, computer-like equipment, computer network systems, and the internet.
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.
Legal References: 17 U.S.C. @ 101 et. Al.
281 I.A.C. 12.3 (12).
281 I.A.C. 12.3 (8)
Iowa Code @280.22
Approved 08/17/2009 Reviewed_04/17/2017_ Revised_07/18/2013_