BOARD OF EDUCATION
POLICY [BOE Policy # 4149, 4129, 5131.4.]
It is the policy of the Litchfield Board of Education that the emerging technologies be used only in a responsible and ethical manner as dictated by the current policy of the Litchfield Board of Education. These policies are viewable via the Board of Education's web site at: http://litchfieldschools.org/boe/policies/index.html
PERSONNEL – ALL EMPLOYEES #4149
#4249
CONCEPT AND ROLES IN PERSONNEL
ACTIVITIES
Technology
Employee Use of The District’s Computer Systems
Computers, computer networks, Internet access, and e-mail are effective and important technological resources in today's educational environment. The Board of Education has installed computers, a computer network, including Internet access and an e-mail system (referred to collectively as "the computer systems"), in order to enhance both the educational opportunities for our students and the business operations of the district.
These computer systems are business and educational tools. As such, they are made available to Board employees for business and education related uses. The Administration shall develop regulations setting forth procedures to be used by the Administration in an effort to ensure that such computer systems are used for appropriate business and education related purposes. Incidental personal use of the computer systems may be permitted solely for the purpose of e-mail transmissions and access to the Internet on a limited, occasional basis. Such incidental personal use of the computer systems, however, is subject to all rules, including monitoring of all such use, as the Superintendent may establish through regulation. Moreover, any such incidental personal use shall not interfere in any manner with work responsibilities.
Legal References:
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 31-48d
Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 53a-182; 53a-183; 53a-250
Electronic Communication Privacy Act, 28 U.S.C. §§ 2510 through 2520
Policy Adopted:
PERSONNEL – ALL EMPLOYEES #4149(a)
#4249(a)
Administrative
Regulation
CONCEPT AND ROLES IN PERSONNEL
Technology
Employee Use of The District’s Computer Systems
Introduction.
Computers, computer networks,
Internet access, and electronic mail (popularly known as "e-mail")
are effective and important technological resources in today's educational
environment. The Board of Education has
installed computers, a computer network, including Internet access and an
e-mail system, to enhance the educational and business operations of the
district. In this regulation, the
computers, computer network, Internet access and e-mail system are referred to
collectively as "the computer systems."
These computer systems are business and educational tools. As such, they are being made available to employees of the district for district-related educational and business purposes. All users of the computer systems must restrict themselves to appropriate district-related educational and business purposes. Incidental personal use of the computer systems may be permitted solely for the purpose of e-mail transmissions and access to the Internet on a limited, occasional basis. Such incidental personal use of the computer systems is subject to all rules, including monitoring of all such use, set out in these regulations. Moreover, any such incidental personal use shall not interfere in any manner with work responsibilities.
These computer systems are expensive to install, own and maintain. Unfortunately, these computer systems can be misused in a variety of ways, some of which are innocent and others deliberate. Therefore, in order to maximize the benefits of these technologies to the district, our employees and all our students, this regulation shall govern all use of these computer systems.
Monitoring
It is important for all users of these computer systems to understand that the Board of Education, as the owner of the computer systems, reserves the right to monitor the use of the computer systems to ensure that they are being used in accordance with these regulations. The Board of Education intends to monitor in a limited fashion, but will do so as needed to ensure that the systems are being used appropriately for district-related educational and business purposes and to maximize utilization of the systems for such business and educational purposes. The Superintendent reserves the right to eliminate personal use of the district’s computer systems by any or all employees at any time.
PERSONNEL – ALL EMPLOYEES #4149(b)
#4249(b)
Administrative Regulation
Why Monitor?
The computer systems are expensive for the Board to install, operate and maintain. For that reason alone it is necessary to prevent misuse of the computer systems. However, there are other equally important reasons why the Board intends to monitor the use of these computer systems, reasons that support its efforts to maintin a comfortable and pleasant work environment for all employees.
Monitoring may help deter improper and illegal use of these computer systems. Experience by other operators of such computer systems has shown that they can be used for such wrongful purposes as sexual harassment, intimidation of co-workers, threatening of co-workers, breaches of confidentiality, copyright infringement and the like.
Monitoring will also allow the Board to continually reassess the utility of the computer systems, and whenever appropriate, make such changes to the computer systems as it deems fit. Thus, the Board monitoring should serve to increase the value of the system to the district on an ongoing basis.
Privacy Issues.
Employees must understand that the Board has reserved the right to conduct monitoring of these computer systems and can do so despite the assignment to individual employees of passwords for system security. Any password systems implemented by the district are designed solely to provide system security from unauthorized users, not to provide privacy to the individual system user.
The system's security
aspects, message delete function and personal passwords can be bypassed
for monitoring purposes.
Therefore, employees must be aware that they should not have any expectation of personal privacy in the use of these computer systems. This provision applies to any and all uses of the district’s computer systems, including any incidental personal use permitted in accordance with these regulations.
Prohibited Uses.
Inappropriate use of district computer systems is expressly prohibited, including, but not limited to, the following:
Sending any form of solicitation not directly related to the business of the Board of Education;
Sending any form of slanderous, harassing, threatening, or intimidating message, at any time, to any person (such communications may also be a crime);
PERSONNEL – ALL EMPLOYEES #4149(c)
#4249(c)
Administrative Regulation
Gaining or seeking to gain unauthorized access to computer systems;
Downloading or modifying computer software of the district in violation of the district's licensure agreement(s) and/or without authorization from supervisory personnel;
Sending
any message that breaches the Board of Education's confidentiality
requirements, including the confidentiality rights of students;
Sending any copyrighted material over the system;
Sending messages for any purpose prohibited by law;
¨ Transmission or receipt of inappropriate e-mail communications or accessing inappropriate information on the Internet, including vulgar, lewd or obscene words or pictures;
¨ Using computer systems for any purposes, or in any manner, other than those permitted under these regulations.
In addition, if a particular behavior or activity is generally prohibited by law and/or Board of Education policy, use of these computer systems for the purpose of carrying out such activity and/or behavior is also prohibited.
Disciplinary Action.
Misuse of these computer systems will not be tolerated and will result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment. Because no two situations are identical, the Board reserves the right to determine the appropriate discipline for any particular set of circumstances.
Complaints of Problems or Misuse.
Anyone who is aware of problems with, or misuse of these computer systems, or has a question regarding the appropriate use of the computer systems, should report this to his or her supervisor or to the Superintendent of Schools.
Most importantly, the Board urges any employee who receives any harassing, threatening, intimidating or other improper message through the computer systems to report this immediately. It is the Board's policy that no employee should be required to tolerate such treatment, regardless of the identity of the sender of the message. Please report these events!
STUDENTS #5131.4(a)
Administrative Regulation
TECHNOLOGY
Student Use of the District’s Computer Systems and Internet Safety
Introduction
We are pleased to offer students access to the district's computers and computer networks, including access to electronic mail (e-mail) and the Internet (which will be referred to collectively as "computer systems".) Access to the school's computer systems will enable students to explore libraries, databases, and bulletin boards while exchanging messages with others. Such access is provided solely for education-related purposes. Use of the district's computer systems will be allowed only for students who act in a considerate and responsible manner in using such systems.
The Board of Education and the Administration believe in the educational value of such computer systems and recognize their potential to support our curriculum by expanding resources available for staff and student use. Our goal in providing this service is to promote educational excellence by facilitating resource sharing, innovation and communication.
These computer systems are expensive to purchase, install and maintain. As the property of the district these computer systems must be carefully handled and their integrity preserved for the benefit of all. Therefore, access to the computer systems is a privilege, and not a right. Students will be required to adhere to a set of policies and procedures, as set forth in detail below. Violations may lead to withdrawal of the access privilege and/or disciplinary measures in accordance with the Board’s student discipline policy.
Obscene – means any material or performance if, a) taken as a whole, it predominantly appeals to the prurient interest, b) it depicts or describes in a patently offensive way a prohibited sex act and c) taken as a whole, does not have serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value. For the purposes of this section, "prohibited sex act" means erotic fondling, nude performance, sexual excitement, sado-masochistic abuse, masturbation or sexual intercourse.
Child pornography –means any visual depiction, including any photograph, film, video, picture, or computer or computer-generated image or picture, whether made or produced by electronic, mechanical, or other means, of sexually explicit conduct, where -
(a) the production of such visual depiction involves the use of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct;
(b) such visual depiction is, or appears to be, of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct;
(c) such visual depiction has been created, adapted, or modified to appear that an identifiable minor is engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
STUDENTS #5131.4(b)
Administrative Regulation
Harmful to minors – any picture, image, graphic image file, or other visual depiction that:
(a) taken as a whole and with respect to minors, appeals to a prurient interest in nudity, sex, or excretion;
(b) depicts, describes or represents, in a patently offensive way with respect to what is suitable for minors, an actual or simulated sexual act or sexual contact, actual or simulated normal or perverted sexual acts, or a lewd exhibition of the genitals; and
(c) taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value as to minors.
Monitoring
Students are responsible for good behavior on school computer systems just as they are in a classroom or a school hallway. Communications on the computer systems are often public in nature and general school rules for behavior and communications apply. It is expected that users will comply with district standards and will act in a responsible and legal manner, at all times in accordance with district standards, as well as with state and federal laws.
It is important that students and parents understand that the district, as the owner of the computer systems, reserves the right to monitor and review the use of these computer systems. The district intends to monitor and review as needed to ensure that the systems are being used for district-related educational purposes.
As part of the monitoring and reviewing process, the district will retain the capacity to bypass any individual password of a student or other user. The system's security aspects, such as personal passwords and the message delete function for e-mail, can be bypassed for these purposes. The district's ability to monitor and review is not restricted or neutralized by these devices. The monitoring and reviewing process also includes oversight of Internet site access and of document downloading and printing.
Therefore, all users must be aware
that they should not have any expectation
of personal privacy in the use of these computer systems.
Student
Conduct
Students are permitted to use the district’s computer systems for legitimate educational purposes. Personal use of district computer systems is expressly prohibited. Conduct which constitutes inappropriate use includes, but is not limited to the following:
Sending any form of harassing, threatening, or intimidating message, at any time, to any person (such communications may also be a crime);
Gaining or seeking to gain unauthorized access to computer systems;
Damaging computers, computer files, computer systems or computer networks;
STUDENTS #5131.4(c)
Administrative Regulation
Downloading or modifying computer software of the district in violation of the district's licensure agreement(s) and/or without authorization from a teacher or administrator;
Using another person's password under any circumstances;
Trespassing in or tampering with any other person's folders, work or files;
Sending any message that breaches the district's confidentiality requirements, or the confidentiality of students;
Sending any copyrighted material over the system;
¨ Using computer systems for any personal purpose, or in a manner that interferes with the district’s educational programs;
¨ Accessing or attempting to access any material that is obscene, contains child pornography, or is harmful to minors, as defined above;
¨ Transmitting or receiving e-mail communications or accessing information on the Internet for non-educational purposes.
In addition, as noted above, if a particular behavior or activity is generally prohibited by law, by Board policy or by school rules or regulations, use of these computer systems for the purpose of carrying out such behavior or activity is also prohibited.
Misuse
of the computer systems, or violations of these policies, may result in loss of
access to such computer systems as well as other disciplinary action, including
suspension and/or expulsion, depending on the specific conduct.
Anyone who is aware of problems with, or misuse of these computer systems, or has a question regarding the proper use of these computer systems, should report this to his or her teacher or principal immediately. Most importantly, the Board and the Administration urge any student who receives any harassing, threatening, intimidating or other improper message through the computer system to report this immediately. It is the Board's policy that no student should be required to tolerate such treatment, regardless of the identity of the sender of the message. Please report these events!
The Administration will take measures: to assure the safety and security of students when using e-mail, chat rooms, and other forms of direct electronic communications; to prohibit unauthorized access, including “hacking” and other unlawful activities by minors online; to prohibit unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personally identifiable information regarding students; and to restrict students’ access to online materials harmful to minors, including obscene materials and child pornography.
STUDENTS #5131.4(d)
Administrative Regulation
Legal References:
Children’s Internet Protection Act (Public Law 106-554)
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-182b; 53a-183; 53a-250
Electronic Communication Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 2510 through 2520
No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (Pub. L. 107-110), to be codified at 20 U.S.C. § 6777
18 U.S.C. § 2256 (definition of child pornography)
Miller v. California, 413 U.S. 15 (1973) (definition of obscene)
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-193 (definition of obscene)
Implementation:
This
regulation is effective: