Internet Policy

POLICY ON COMPUTER USE AND INTERNET ACCESS

The Board of Education recognizes that the computer has become an important tool used, in one form or another, throughout American society for business, educational, household and entertainment purposes. The Board further recognizes that the ability to link and network computers is a significant aspect of their functionality, and that the Internet which can be accessed through such linkages- is an increasingly significant source of information, while direct electronic communications such as e-mail and chat rooms are now a standard form of interpersonal communication.

The Board therefore, as part of the District's educational programs:

Makes computers available to staff and students
Provides access to and training in the use of the Internet

Like any tool, the computer can be misused. Misuse of a District computer can interfere with or damage the hardware and software components of the computer itself, the District's networked system, or remote sites accessible through the Internet. Additionally, not all sites and recourses on the Internet are appropriate for access and use by the students or under the auspices of a public school system. The Board therefore restricts the use of District computer resources, including Internet access and the use of direct electronic communications, to protect the District's computer system and its security, and to limit Internet access and electronic communications to what is appropriate and necessary as part of the District's educational programs.

It is the policy of the Board:

To make available the best computer resources possible within the constraints of the District's financial resources and personnel and plant capacities
To make access to the Internet and electronic communications available through the District computer system, subject to appropriate limitations
To take such measures, including monitoring of the use of District computer resources and investigation and review of all files maintained on District computers, as are necessary to ensure that District Computer Resources are being used appropriately, in accordance with District policy and regulations
To monitor on-line activity of minors using District computer recourses, in order to limit such activity to what is appropriate and necessary as part of the District's educational programs
To operate a technology protection measure, with respect to every District computer with Internet access, which protects against access, through such computer, to visual depictions that are obscene, child pornography, and/or harmful to minors
To prohibit unauthorized disclosure, use or dissemination of personally identifiable information concerning students through the use of District resources.

The Board directs the Superintendent to adopt administrative regulations containing procedures and rules for access to and use of District computer resources, including Internet access and direct electronic communications, in order to:

Limit their use to what is appropriate and necessary as part of the educational program and other operations of the District;
Preclude access through District computer recourses to inappropriate materials
Prevent unauthorized access to District computer recourses or to Internet recourses through the District computer system;
Prevent the use of District computer recourses for unauthorized disclosure, use or dissemination of User's personal information.
Such administrative regulations shall include procedures to inform students and staff concerning
The proper use of District computer recourses including the ethical and responsible use of computers
The consequences for non-compliance with this Policy and those regulations.

As used in the this policy, the terms "technology protection measure", "obscene", "child pornography", and "harmful to minors" shall be defined as they are defined in the Children's Internet Protection Act, 47.