Policy: 2022P
Section: 2000 - Instruction

 

Procedure Electronic Resources and Internet Safety

 

K-20 Network Acceptable Use Guidelines/Internet Safety Requirements
These procedures are written to support the Electronic Resources Policy of the board of directors and to promote positive and effective digital citizenship among students and staff. Digital citizenship represents more than technology literacy. Successful, technologically-fluent digital citizens live safely and civilly in an increasingly digital world. They recognize that information posted on the Internet is public and permanent and can have a long-term impact on an individual’s life and career. Expectations for student and staff behavior online are no different from face-to-face interactions.

 

Use of Personal Electronic Devices
In accordance with all district policies and procedures, students and staff may use personal electronic devices (e.g. laptops, mobile devices and e-readers) to further the educational and research mission of the district. School staff will retain the final authority in deciding when and how students may use personal electronic devices on school grounds and during the school day.

 

Network
The district network includes wired and wireless devices and peripheral equipment, files and storage, e-mail and Internet content (blogs, websites, collaboration software, social networking sites, wikis, etc.). The district reserves the right to prioritize the use of, and access to, the network.

All use of the network must support education and research and be consistent with the mission of the district.

Acceptable network use by district students and staff include:

1. Creation of files, digital projects, videos, web pages and podcasts using network resources in support of education and research;
2. Participation in blogs, wikis, bulletin boards, social networking sites and groups and the creation of content for podcasts, e-mail and webpages that support education and research;
3. With parental permission, the online publication of original educational material, curriculum related materials and student work. Sources outside the classroom or school must be cited appropriately;
4. Staff use of the network for incidental personal use in accordance with all district policies and procedures; or
5. Connection of personal electronic devices (wired or wireless) including portable devices with network capabilities to the district network after checking with the School District’s Director of Technology to confirm that the device is equipped with up-to-date virus software, compatible network card and is configured properly. Connection of any personal electronic device is subject to all procedures in this document.

 

Unacceptable network use by district students and staff includes but is not limited to:

1. Personal gain, commercial solicitation and compensation of any kind;
2. Actions that result in liability or cost incurred by the district;
3. Downloading, installing and use of games, audio files, video files, games or other applications (including shareware or freeware) without permission or approval from the Director of Technology;
4. Support for or opposition to ballot measures, candidates and any other political activity;
5. Hacking, cracking, vandalizing, the introduction of viruses, worms, Trojan horses, time bombs and changes to hardware, software and monitoring tools;
6. Unauthorized access to other district computers, networks and information systems;
7. Cyberbullying, hate mail, defamation, harassment of any kind, discriminatory jokes and remarks;
8. Information posted, sent or stored online that could endanger others (e.g., bomb construction, drug manufacturing);
9. Accessing, uploading, downloading, storage and distribution of obscene, pornographic or sexually explicit material; or
10. Attaching unauthorized devices to the district network. Any such device will be confiscated and additional disciplinary action may be taken.

 

The district will not be responsible for any damages suffered by any user, including but not limited to, loss of data resulting from delays, non-deliveries, mis-deliveries or service interruptions caused by his/her own negligence or any other errors or omissions. The district will not be responsible for unauthorized financial obligations resulting from the use of, or access to, the district’s computer network or the Internet.

 

Internet Safety
Personal Information and Inappropriate Content:

1. Students and staff should not reveal personal information, including a home address and phone number on web sites, blogs, podcasts, videos, social networking sites, wikis, e-mail or as content on any other electronic medium;
2. Students and staff should not reveal personal information about another individual on any electronic medium without first obtaining permission;
3. No student pictures or names can be published on any public class, school or district website unless the appropriate permission has been obtained according to district policy; and
4. If students encounter dangerous or inappropriate information or messages, they should notify the appropriate school authority.

 

Filtering and Monitoring
Filtering software is used to block or filter access to visual depictions that are obscene and all child pornography in accordance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA). Other objectionable material could be filtered. The determination of what constitutes “other objectionable” material is a local decision.

1. Filtering software is not 100 percent effective. While filters make it more difficult for objectionable material to be received or accessed, filters are not a solution in themselves. Every user must take responsibility for his/her use of the network and Internet and avoid objectionable sites;
2. Any attempts to defeat or bypass the district’s Internet filter or conceal Internet activity are prohibited (e.g., proxies, https, special ports, modifications to district browser settings and any other techniques designed to evade filtering or enable the publication of inappropriate content);
3. E-mail inconsistent with the educational and research mission of the district will be considered SPAM and blocked from entering district e-mail boxes;
4. The district will provide appropriate adult supervision of Internet use. The first line of defense in controlling access by minors to inappropriate material on the Internet is deliberate and consistent monitoring of student access to district devices;
5. Staff members who supervise students, control electronic equipment or have occasion to observe student use of said equipment online, must make a reasonable effort to monitor the use of this equipment to assure that student use conforms to the mission and goals of the district; and
6. Staff must make a reasonable effort to become familiar with the Internet and to monitor, instruct and assist effectively.
7. The district will provide a procedure for students and staff members to anonymously request access to internet websites blocked by the district's filtering software. The procedure will indicate a timeframe for a designated school official to respond to the request. The requirements of the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) will be considered in evaluation of the request. The district will provide an appeal process for requests that are denied.

 

Internet Safety Instruction
All students will be educated about appropriate online behavior, including interacting with other individuals on social networking websites and in chat rooms, and cyberbullying awareness and response:

1. Age appropriate materials will be made available for use across grade levels; and
2. Training on online safety issues and materials implementation will be made available for administration, staff and families.

 

Copyright
Downloading, copying, duplicating and distributing software, music, sound files, movies, images or other copyrighted materials without the specific written permission of the copyright owner is generally prohibited. However, the duplication and distribution of materials for educational purposes is permitted when such duplication and distribution falls within the Fair Use Doctrine of the United States Copyright Law (Title 17, USC) and content is cited appropriately.

 

 

Ownership of Work
All work completed by employees as part of their employment will be considered property of the district. The District will own any and all rights to such work including any and all derivative works, unless there is a written agreement to the contrary.

All work completed by students as part of the regular instructional program is owned by the student as soon as it is created, unless such work is created while the student is acting as an employee of the school system or unless such work has been paid for under a written agreement with the school system. If under an agreement with the district, the work will be considered the property of the District. Staff members must obtain a student’s permission prior to distributing his/her work to parties outside the school.

 

Network Security and Privacy

 

Network Security
Passwords are the first level of security for a user account. System logins and accounts are to be used only by the authorized owner of the account for authorized district purposes. Students and staff are responsible for all activity on their account and must not share their account password.

The following procedures are designed to safeguard network user accounts:

1. Change passwords according to district policy;
2. Do not use another user’s account;
3. Do not insert passwords into e-mail or other communications;
4. If you write down your user account password, keep it in a secure location;
5. Do not store passwords in a file without encryption;
6. Do not use the “remember password” feature of Internet browsers; and
7. Lock the screen or log off if leaving the computer.

 

Student Data is Confidential
District staff must maintain the confidentiality of student data in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

 

No Expectation of Privacy
The district provides the network system, e-mail and Internet access as a tool for education and research in support of the district’s mission. The district reserves the right to monitor, inspect, copy, review and store without prior notice information about the content and usage of:

1. The network;
2. User files and disk space utilization;
3. User applications and bandwidth utilization;
4. User document files, folders and electronic communications;
5. E-mail;
6. Internet access; and
7. Any and all information transmitted or received in connection with network and e-mail use.

 

No student or staff user should have any expectation of privacy when using the district’s network. The district reserves the right to disclose any electronic messages to law enforcement officials or third parties as appropriate. All documents are subject to the public records disclosure laws of the State of Washington.

 

Litigation

In the event of litigation, all computer users are on notice that federal and state civil rules of procedure may allow discovery of all computer hardware and software. This includes but is not limited to computers, laptops, home computers, printers, cell phones, and other electronic equipment that is used to conduct school business.

 

Modification or Repair of Personally owned Technology Devices or Electronic Property

Kiona-Benton City School District employees are not authorized to perform any repair, configuration or maintenance on personally owned technology resources, that are brought to school property or present during school sponsored activities including both software and hardware resources. Schools and departments are prohibited from designating, sponsoring or assigning students to perform any kind of maintenance, repair, configuration or installation services to support personally owned technology devices that are brought to school property or present during school sponsored activities.

 

Additional Requirements for Students/Staff/Visitors Requesting a Waiver for Personal Electronic Property

Students, staff and visitors requesting to operate their personal electronic property within the district must obtain written approval and abide by the following additional requirements:

• Any computer that is connected to the district’s digital network via wired or wireless control must have approved and functioning anti-virus software running with up-to-date virus definitions.

• A Waiver for Personal Electronic Property form must be signed (denoting approval) by the Director of Technology prior to operating any personal electronic property in Kiona-Benton City School District schools or offices.

• Any visitor/student/staff that operates any personal electronic property must also sign and acknowledge this AUP.

 

Additional Guidelines for Students

Student users must adhere to the following additional guidelines:

• Students will follow teacher instructions regarding the use of the Kiona-Benton City School District digital network.

• Written consent will be required from parent(s) or guardian(s) before any identifying student’s photograph, work or video footage is published on the Internet or transmitted outside the district.

• Students must observe and adhere to all regulations on any digital device or cell phone used  stated in the student handbook.

 

Archive and Backup
Backup is made of all district e-mail correspondence for purposes of public disclosure and disaster recovery. Barring power outage or intermittent technical issues, staff and student files are backed up on district servers regularly. Refer to the district retention policy for specific records retention requirements.

 

Disciplinary Action
All users of the district’s electronic resources are required to comply with the district’s policy and procedures (and agree to abide by the provisions set forth in the district's user agreement). Violation of any of the conditions of use explained in the (district’s user agreement), Electronic Resources policy or in these procedures could be cause for disciplinary action, including suspension or expulsion from school and suspension or revocation of network and computer access privileges.

  

Adoption Date:

Kiona-Benton City School District
Classification:
Revised Dates: 06.25.12; 04.25.16