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Littleton Public Schools Regulation |
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Policy Code GBEE-R Policy Name Staff Use of District Technology April 8, 2004 June 18, 2009 |
The intent of these regulations is to provide administrators, teachers, staff, and other users under the supervision of an employee with procedures for utilizing the District’s computers, networks, and Internet services. The regulations may be supplemented by more specific administrative procedures governing day-to-day management and operation of the computers, network, and the Internet.
These regulations provide examples of prohibited uses for illustrative purposes, but do not attempt to state all required or prohibited activities by users. Individuals who have questions regarding whether a particular activity or use is acceptable should seek approval from their supervisor.
Failure to comply with Board Policy GBEE (Staff Use of District Technology), these regulations, and/or other established administrative procedures governing computer, network, and Internet use is unethical and may constitute a criminal or civil violation. Violations of GBEE or GBEE-R may result in a revocation of access privileges, disciplinary action, and/or appropriate legal action. Illegal uses of the District’s computers will also result in referral to law enforcement authorities.
The level of access that administrators, teachers, staff, and other users under the supervision of an employee have to District computers, networks, and Internet services is based upon an individual’s specific job requirements and needs.
Administrator, teacher, staff, and other users under the supervision of an employee access to the District’s computers, networks, and Internet services is provided for administrative, educational, communication, and research purposes consistent with the District’s educational mission, curriculum, and instructional goals. General rules and expectations for professional behavior and communication apply to use of the District’s computers, networks, and Internet services.
Administrators, teachers, staff, and other users under the supervision of an employee are to utilize the District’s computers, networks, and Internet services for school-related purposes and performance of job duties. The confidentiality of any information stored in or created, received or sent over the e-mail system, or through Internet access cannot be guaranteed. The Internet should not be used for sending highly confidential information without encryption. Anything sent through the Internet passes through a number of different computer systems, all with different levels of security. The confidentiality of messages may be compromised at any point along the way. As such, care should be taken when e-mails are sent that contain personal information about District employees, students, and/or parents/guardians. E-mails that contain information on students must heed the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and e-mails that contain information on employees must heed the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Incidental personal use of District computers, networks, and Internet services is permitted as long as such use does not interfere with the employee’s job duties and performance, with the system operations, or other system users. “Incidental personal use” is defined as, and limited to, use by an individual for occasional personal communications. Unless the prior approval of the employee’s supervisor has been obtained, users may not use District technology systems for nonschool related purposes—personal profit, or private financial gain, including, but not limited to, commercial, advertising, stock transactions, or solicitation purposes.
Individuals are reminded that such personal use must comply with this policy and all other applicable policies, regulations, and administrative procedures.
Administrators, teachers, staff, and other users under the supervision of an employee are responsible for their actions and activities involving District computers, networks, and Internet services and for their computer files, passwords, and accounts. Unacceptable uses that are expressly prohibited include, but are not limited to, the following:
Users shall not:
1. Access, transmit, or retransmit any material in violation of any U.S. or state law, including, but not limited to, copyrighted material and material protected by trade secret.
2. Access, transmit, publish, or retransmit material regarding students, parents/guardians, or District staff that is protected by confidentiality laws. If material is not legally protected, but is of a confidential or sensitive nature, great care shall be taken to ensure that only those with a “need to know” are allowed access to the material. Staff members shall handle all employee and student records in accordance with policies GBL (Personnel Records), JRA/JRC (Student Records/Release of Information on Students), EGAEA (Electronic Mail and Internet Services), and applicable statutes, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
3. Access, transmit, publish, or retransmit material which is threatening, promotes violence, or advocates destruction of property, including, but not limited to, information concerning the manufacture of destructive devices such as explosives, fireworks, smoke bombs, incendiary devices, or the like.
4. Access, transmit, publish, or retransmit any information containing pornographic, obscene, or other sexually oriented material. (Pornographic means pictures or writings that are intended to stimulate erotic feelings by the description or portrayal of sexual activity or the nude human form.)
5. Access, transmit, publish, or retransmit material which advocates or promotes violence or hatred against particular individuals or groups of individuals or advocates or promotes the superiority of one racial, ethnic, or religious group over another.
6. Use District computing resources for any commercial activities, such as advertising or selling goods or services, unless it is for legitimate District business.
7. Except for educational or District business purposes, create, transmit, publish, or download any materials that support or oppose the nomination for election of a candidate for public office or the passage of a levy or bond issue.
8. Solicit political contributions using District computing resources from any person or entity.
9. Use inappropriate or profane language or access, transmit, publish, or retransmit material likely to be offensive to others in the school community, including sexually harassing material.
10. Use or possess copies of malicious programs or hacking/cracking type programs on any computer systems connected to the District network that could be used to assist in the commission of computer vandalism without written consent of the director of the Technology Department or their designated alternate respresentative(s).
11. Use or possess unauthorized or bootleg software. (Bootleg software means any software that has been downloaded or is otherwise in the user’s possession without the appropriate registration of the software, including the payment of any fees owing to the owner of the software.)
12. Impersonate another user or transmit or retransmit material anonymously.
13. Transmit or retransmit communication that represents personal views as those of the District or that could be misinterpreted as such.
14. Attempt to establish Internet or other external connections that could allow unauthorized persons to gain access to the Littleton Public Schools’ system, information, and/or Internet services.
15. Use another individual’s external account without written permission from that individual or modify files, passwords, or data belonging to other users in the District.
16. Destroy, modify, or abuse District-owned technology or disrupt the operation of any network within the District or any network connected to the Internet, including the use, attempted use, or possession of computer viruses.
17. Attempt to circumvent the Internet filter to gain access to unauthorized or filtered sites without override approval.
18. Fail to stop and/or inform the building principal or supervisor of any violation of the provisions contained herein.
19.
Assign
online activities to students that cannot be completed at the school location
due to firewall and filter security measures and settings.
The District retains control, custody, and supervision of all computers, networks, and Internet services owned or leased by the District. The District reserves the right to monitor all computer and Internet activity by employees and other system users. The District reserves the right to access and disclose, as necessary, all messages sent over its e-mail system, without regard to content. As such, you should not use e-mail to transmit messages you would not want read by a third party. Users have no expectation of privacy in their use of school computers, including e-mail messages and stored files. Use of District technology is a privilege, not a right.
Administrators, teachers, staff, and other users under the supervision of an employee who utilize school computers for instructional purposes with students have a duty of care to supervise such use. Teachers and staff members are expected to be familiar with the District’s policies and regulations concerning student computer and Internet use and to enforce them (Policy JS, Student Use of the Internet). When, in the course of their duties, employees become aware of student violations, they shall stop the activity and/or inform the building principal or supervisor.
Administrators, teachers, staff members, and other system users under the supervision of an employee shall be responsible for any losses, costs, or damages incurred by the District related to violations of Policy GBEE and/or these regulations, or arising out of, or relating to, any personal use.
The District assumes no responsibility for any unauthorized charges made by users, including, but not limited to, credit card charges, subscriptions, or for any illegal use of its computers such as copyright violations.
The District assumes no liability for any loss arising out of, or relating to, any personal use. The employee assumes all responsibility for any loss.
Each individual authorized to access the District’s e-mail and Internet services is required to sign an acknowledgement form (GBEE-E) stating that they have read Policy GBEE and Policy EGAEA and their respective regulations (GBEE-R and EGAEA-R). The acknowledgement form will be retained in the employee’s personnel file and will remain in effect for the duration of employment/service with the Littleton Public Schools.
Any violation of Policies GBEE (Staff Use of District Technology), EGAEA (Electronic Mail and Internet Services), and their respective regulations (GBEE-R and EGAEA-R) is unethical and may constitute a criminal or civil violation. Violations may constitute cause for revocation of access privileges, suspension of access to e-mail and/or the Internet, other disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from employment and/or appropriate legal action, may be taken. Specific measures will be determined on a case-by-case basis.