Computers, electronic devices and other technology are powerful and valuable education and research tools and, as such, are an important part of the instructional program. In addition, the school district depends upon technology as an integral part of administering and managing the schools’ resources, including the compilation of data and recordkeeping for personnel, students, finances, supplies and materials. This policy outlines the board’s expectations in regard to these different aspects of the school district’s computer resources. Employees must conduct themselves in a manner that does not disrupt from or disrupt the educational process and failure to do so will result in discipline, up to and including, discharge.
General Provisions
The superintendent is responsible for designating a Director of Technology who will oversee the use of school district technology resources. The Director of Technology will prepare in-service programs for the training and development of school district staff in technology skills, appropriate use of district technology and for the incorporation of technology use in subject areas.
The superintendent, working with appropriate staff, shall establish regulations governing the use and security of the school district’s technology resources. The school district will make every reasonable effort to maintain the security of the district networks and devices. All users of the school district’s technology resources, including students, staff and volunteers, shall comply with this policy and regulation, as well as others impacting the use of school equipment and facilities. Failure to comply may result in disciplinary action, up to and including discharge, as well as suspension and/or revocation of technology access privileges.
Usage of the school district’s technology resources is a privilege, not a right, and that use entails responsibility. District-owned technology and district maintained social media and e-mail accounts are the property of the school district. Therefore, users of the school district’s network must not expect, nor does the school district guarantee, privacy for e-mail or use of the school district’s network including web sites visited. The school district reserves the right to access and view any material stored on school district equipment or any material used in conjunction with the school district’s network.
The superintendent, working with the appropriate staff, shall establish procedures governing management of technology records in order to exercise appropriate control over technology records, including financial, personnel and student information. The procedures will address at a minimum:
• passwords,
• system administration,
• separation of duties,
• remote access,
• data back-up (including archiving of e-mail),
• record retention, and
• disaster recovery plans.
Social Networking or Other External Web Sites
For purposes of this policy any web site, other than the school district web site or school-school district sanctioned web sites, are considered external web sites. Employees shall not post confidential or proprietary information, including photographic images, about the school district, its employees, students, agents or others on any external web site without consent of the superintendent. The employee shall adhere to all applicable privacy and confidentiality policies adopted by the school district when on external web sites. Employees shall not use the school district logos, images, iconography, etc. on external web sites. Employees shall not use school district time or property on external sites that are not in direct relation to the employee’s job. Employees, students and volunteers need to realize that the internet is not a closed system and anything posted on an external site may be viewed by others, all over the world. Employees, students and volunteers who don’t want school administrators to know their personal information, should refrain from exposing it on the internet. Employees should not connect with students via external web sites without consent of the school administration. Employees, who would like to start a social media site for school district sanctioned activities, should contact the school administration.
It is the responsibility of the superintendent or superintendent’s designee to develop administrative regulations implementing this policy.
Date Board Adopted: 6/20/2011
Date Board Updated/Reviewed: 2/21/2022
Legal Reference: Iowa Code § 279.8.
281 I.A.C. 13.35, .26
General
The following rules and regulations govern the use of the school district's network systems, employee access to the internet, and management of digital records:
• Employees will be issued a school district e-mail account. Passwords must be changed periodically.
• Each individual in whose name an access account is issued is responsible at all times for its proper use.
• Employees are expected to review their e-mail regularly throughout the day, and shall reply promptly to inquiries with information that the employee can reasonably be expected to provide.
• Communications with parents and/or students must be made on a school district computer or other mode of district technology, unless in the case of an emergency.
• Employees may access the internet for education-related and/or work-related activities.
• Employees shall refrain from using technology resources for personal use, including access to social networking sites.
• Use of the school district technology and school e-mail address is a public record. Employees cannot have an expectation of privacy in the use of the school district’s computers.
• Use of technology resources in ways that violate the acceptable use and conduct regulation, outlined below, will be subject to discipline, up to and including discharge.
• Use of the school district’s network is a privilege, not a right. Inappropriate use may result in the suspension or revocation of that privilege.
• Off-site access to the school district network will be determined by the superintendent in conjunction with appropriate personnel.
• All network users are expected to abide by the generally accepted rules of network etiquette. This includes being polite and using only appropriate language. Abusive language, vulgarities and swear words are all inappropriate.
• Network users identifying a security problem on the school district's network must notify appropriate staff. Any network user identified as a security risk or having a history of violations of school district computer use guidelines may be denied access to the school district's network.
• Employees are representatives of the district at all times and must model appropriate character, both on and off the worksite. This applies to material posted with personal devices and on personal websites and/or social media accounts. Posted messages or pictures which diminish the professionalism or discredit the capacity to maintain respect of students and parents may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination if the content posted is found to be disruptive to the educational environment and adversely impacts the employee’s ability to effectively serve as a role model or perform his/her job duties for the district. The type of material that would affect an employee’s ability to serve as an appropriate role model includes, but is not limited to, text or depictions involving hate speech, nudity, obscenity, vulgarity or sexually explicit content. Employee communications with students should be limited as appropriate. If there is any uncertainty, employees should consult their building administrator.
Prohibited Activity and Uses
The following is a list of prohibited activity for all employees concerning use of the school district's network. Any violation of these prohibitions may result in discipline, up to and including discharge, or other appropriate penalty, including suspension or revocation of a user's access to the network.
• Using the network for commercial activity, including advertising, or personal gain.
• Infringing on any copyrights or other intellectual property rights, including copying, installing, receiving, transmitting or making available any copyrighted software on the school district computer network. See Policy 605.7, Use of Information Resources for more information.
• Using the network to receive, transmit or make available to others obscene, offensive, or sexually explicit material
• Using the network to receive, transmit or make available to others messages that are racist, sexist, and abusive or harassing to others.
• Use of another’s account or password.
• Attempting to read, delete, copy or modify the electronic mail (e-mail) of other system users.
• Forging or attempting to forge e-mail messages.
• Engaging in vandalism. Vandalism is defined as any malicious attempt to harm or destroy school district equipment or materials, data of another user of the school district’s network or of any of the entities or other networks that are connected to the Internet. This includes, but is not limited to, creating and/or placing a virus on the network.
• Using the network to send anonymous messages or files.
• Revealing the personal address, telephone number or other personal information of oneself or another person.
• Intentionally disrupting network traffic or crashing the network and connected systems.
• Installing personal software or using personal technology on the school district’s technology and/or network without the permission of school administration.
• Using the network in a fashion inconsistent with directions from teachers and other staff and generally accepted network etiquette.
Other Technology Issues
Employees with personal cell phones should avoid using their phones for school district business. Employees should contact students and their parents through school district's technology or phone system unless in the case of an emergency or with prior consent of school administration. Employees should not release their cell phone number, personal e-mail address, etc. to students or their parents. Employees, who are coaches or sponsors of activities, may create a text list of students and parents in order to communicate more effectively as long as the texts go to all students and a member of school administration is included in the text address list.
Nothing in this policy shall prohibit employees from exercising their right to speak on matters of public concern. This policy is not intended to interfere with or restrain employees’ rights to engage in protected concerted activity under the Public Employment Relations Act, and will not be applied to such protected activity.
Date Board Adopted: 6/20/2011
Date Board Updated/Reviewed: 2/21/2022