6475 - Acceptable Use of Technology
| Policy: Acceptable Use of Technology | Policy Number: 6475 |
| Date of Original Policy: 09/26/2016 | Date Revision Adopted: 02/03/2021 |
| Reviewed by Policy Committee: 01/13/2021 | Date of Next Review: 01/25/2024 |
| Replacement of Policy Number: 5574, 6470, 6480, 7314, and 8270 |
Summary
The Board of Education of the Jordan-Elbridge Central School District recognizes that through the District’s computer network, a variety of technology services can be made readily available to all school community members. While the District is able and willing to provide staff and students access to technology, users must agree that with the privilege of access comes the responsibility to act in a lawful, ethical manner.
District employees, students, Board of Education members and all individuals using district technology services shall adhere to the laws, policies and rules governing technology resources including but not limited to copyright laws, rights of software publishers, license agreements and rights of privacy created by federal and state laws. Unfortunately, the internet and e-mail may contain defamatory, inaccurate, abusive, racially offensive, adult orientated and/or illegal material and subsequently the Board of Education of the Jordan-Elbridge Central School District declares that the use of such materials is prohibited.
Any District employee, student, Board of Education member or any other user of the District’s technologies who engages in unacceptable use may be asked to forfeit his/her access. Legal action may be initiated against District employees, students, and board of education members who willfully, maliciously, or unlawfully damage or destroy District property or data.
Privacy Rights
All e-mail files, electronic data, and media posted, created, maintained and/or stored on the district’s hardware and/or network shall remain District property and as such is subject to District control and inspection. The Superintendent or his/her designee may access all such files and communications to ensure system integrity and to ensure that all District employees, students, board of education members and any other users are complying with these regulations. The District’s technology services are audited specific to compliance with acceptable use. District employees, students, board of education members and any other users should not have an expectation of privacy. All District policies governing conduct apply to all users of the District’s technology services.
Internet Content Filtering
A. The District, in accordance with the provision of the Children’s Internet Protection Act, requires that all building computers and mobile devices with internet access be equipped with filtering or blocking technology.
B. No filtering technology can guarantee that students or staff will be prevented from accessing all inappropriate locations. All students will be properly supervised while accessing the internet so as to further ensure appropriate usage.
B. No filtering technology can guarantee that students or staff will be prevented from accessing all inappropriate locations. All students will be properly supervised while accessing the internet so as to further ensure appropriate usage.
Violations of the District’s Acceptable Use Policy
The District employs auditing technologies to monitor all activity on the District’s hardware and network. The District will cooperate with legal authorities and/or third parties in the investigation of any suspected or alleged crime or civil wrong doing. Violations of the District’s acceptable use policy may result in the suspension or termination of a user’s access and/or disciplinary action. The following actions constitute a violation of the District’s acceptable use agreement:
- Online gaming (including gambling)
* The one exception to this prohibition is when an on-line game is part of a class activity assigned by a teacher and designed to meet an educational purpose.
-Theft or vandalism
* This prohibition includes but is not limited to the stealing or theft of software and/or hardware. This prohibition also includes unauthorized modification and/or destruction of software and/or hardware as well as any intentional misuse of the district’s technology equipment.
- Illegal Use
* Using District technology services to transmit any material that intentionally or unintentionally violates district policies and/or any applicable law is prohibited.
- Causing Harm to Minors
* Using the District’s technology services to harm or attempt to harm a minor in any way is prohibited.
- Accessing or Distributing Threatening and/or Obscene Materials
* Using the District’s technology services to transmit any material that threatens or encourages bodily harm, destruction of property, or disrupts the functions of the District’s business is prohibited. Accessing or distributing materials determined to be obscene, including but not limited to pornography, via the District’s technology services is prohibited. This includes sending any pornographic images and/or texts. Transmitting of pornographic or obscene images of minors is both a state and federal crime.
- Other Uses Not Permitted
* The posting of any information regarding the Jordan-Elbridge Central School District without proper authorization is prohibited.
- Harassment/Cyber-bullying
* Using the District’s technology services to intimidate, abuse, threaten or transmit said material is prohibited. Sexting, which includes sending, receiving or possession of sexually explicit messages, photographs, or images by electronic devises, is prohibited.
- Fraudulent Activity
* Using the District’s technology services to make fraudulent offers to sell, buy, or trade products and/or other services is prohibited.
- Forgery or Impersonation
* Adding, removing, or modifying network headers or identifying information in an effort to deceive or mislead is prohibited. Attempting to impersonate any person by using forged headers or other identifying information is prohibited.
- Hacking
* Hacking, including the use of the District’s technology services to access or attempt to access security measures of the District or another entity’s computer software, hardware, electronic communications system, or telecommunications system, regardless of whether or not the attempt results in the corruption of data or loss data, is prohibited. Hacking is a federal offense.
- Plagiarizing Copyrighted Materials or Trademark Infringement
* Using the District’s technology services to download, transmit or copy any material that infringes upon any copyright, trademark, patent or other proprietary rights of any third party is prohibited.
- Collection of Personal Data
* Using the District’s technology services to collect or attempt to collect personal information about third parties without their knowledge or consent is prohibited.
- Storage of Confidential Information
* The use of personal storage devices to copy and/or transport confidential information such as but not exclusive to student or employee biographical data, health data, or Individualized Education Plans is prohibited.
- Reselling or Using the District’s Technology Service for Commercial Purposes
* Reselling the District’s technology services or using the District’s technology services for commercial activities is prohibited. The District’s technology services are intended to support the education process and the execution of official school business only.
- Causing Network Disruptions or Engaging in Unfriendly Action
* Using the District’s technology services for any activity which adversely affects the ability of other people or systems to use the service is prohibited. Downloading or loading software applications on the network drive is considered an unfriendly action and as such is prohibited.
- Abuse of Printing Services
* The District’s printers should only be used to print minimal copies of instructional or official business materials. All other copy jobs should be sent to the BOCES Copy Center.
IndemnityThe District is not responsible for the theft, loss, or damage that may occur to any personal electronic device that is brought on school grounds, buses, or to any district-sponsored event or from connecting to the District’s guest wireless network.
Offsite Wireless Access
District-owned devices may be connected to an offsite wireless network provided that the site does not require installation of software, modify the preset firewall configuration and/or change any of the District’s network settings.
Frequent Backup
It is the employee’s responsibility to regularly backup files contained on a district laptop or District mobile device.
Use of District Laptop or Personal Computing Devices or Portable Computing Devices
The District may assign technology devices to an employee or student to support specific educational or official district business activities, programs and/or functions. These devices include but are not limited to district-owned laptops, iPads, Chromebooks and portable computing devices. The assigned device is the property of the District and is managed by District technology support personnel. All district-owned devices are assets and are audited for acceptable use.
District Owned Cell Phones
Any District purchase of cell phones or related equipment must reflect NYS contract pricing. Positions requiring district-owned cell phones shall be listed in administrative regulations and are subject to board of education approval on an annual basis. The Superintendent’s authorization or that of his/her designee is required prior to purchasing and/or assignment of cell phones. All district-owned cell phones are to remain the property of the District. The District’s Director of Technology shall evaluate the District’s cell phone plan specific to cost and necessity on an annual basis. District-owned cell phones shall be immediately turned over upon an employee’s termination and/or upon the District’s request. Employees who fail to return a district-owned cell phone and/or associated equipment will be billed for the cost of said items as well as the cost of any personal calls made subsequent to the termination of the employee or upon the District’s request to forfeit said equipment.
Reporting Theft, Damage or Loss
Theft or the suspected theft of a district-owned technology device must be reported to a District official immediately and an official police report must be filed. Any damage to a district-owned technology device must be reported to the District’s technology personnel immediately. As a condition of use, an employee accepts responsibility for any costs that can be attributed to negligence, intentional misuse, or the loss of a district-owned technology device.
Tampering With District Assets
The removal or alteration to any District identification label is prohibited. Modification, addition or deletion of user accounts is prohibited. Software or hardware excluding mice, keyboards, speakers, headphones and portable storage devices shall not be installed or removed from any District laptop or personal computing device. Only District technology support personnel may remove or install software or hardware on any District laptop or personal computing device. Modification to any District antivirus software and/or firewall system is prohibited. Only District technology support personnel are allowed to perform periodic upgrades and repairs.
Return of District-owned Technology Devices
Upon request, district-owned technology devices must be returned immediately. Private or personal information should not be stored on district-owned technology devices. District-owned technology devices must be turned in minimally 1 time per year for auditing purposes. The date and time for said return will be announced by the District’s technology department. All contents housed on district-owned devices may be accessed at any time as deemed necessary by the District’s administration.