FILE:  EFA

Cf:  GAMIA, IFBGA, II

EMPLOYEE TECHNOLOGY AND INTERNET ACCEPTABLE USE

The purpose of this policy is to set forth the procedures, rules, guidelines and code of conduct for the use and monitoring of the St. Martin Parish School Board's computer equipment, network, and Internet access via the School District network.

The St. Martin Parish School Board offers employees access to the School District’s technology network, which includes computer equipment, the School District’s network, the Internet, email, and other forms of electronic communication.  This access is provided to assist employees in carrying out the educational business of St. Martin Parish Schools, conducting research, taking advantage of other repositories of information and communicating, as well as, exchanging ideas with other Internet users around the world.  The School Board believes the benefits of access to the Internet in the form of information resources and opportunities for collaboration exceed the disadvantages.  However, employees shall be expected to observe the rules, guidelines and responsibilities outlined below:

• Use of such technology is a necessary element of St. Martin Parish School District’s Mission, but is furnished to employees as a privilege, not a right.
  
  

• Information posted on the Internet is public and permanent.  E-mail and other communications transmitted via the district’s network are not private and may be reviewed by district technology personnel to ensure that all guidelines are being followed.
  
  

• Users shall refrain from activities that annoy others or disrupt the educational experiences of their peers. 
  
  

• Teachers shall ensure students are provided age and grade appropriate instruction regarding St. Martin Parish School Board Children Internet Protection Act (CIPA) policies and Internet/digital safety.  Such instruction shall include appropriate online behavior, including interacting with other individuals on social networking websites and chat areas, and cyberbullying awareness and response, emerging technologies which may endanger children, as well as areas of concern as authorized in state and federal law. Instruction shall be incorporated within lesson plans.  Students shall be informed by staff of their rights and responsibilities as users of the School District network prior to gaining access to that network, either as an individual or as a member of a class or group.
  
  

• As per the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) revisions of section 54.20(c)(1)(i) of CIPA, teacher/employee and/or staff  shall monitor, not rely solely on the district's filtering and monitoring system, all student technology and Internet use to ensure student compliance with the School District Student Acceptable Use policy, students access to age appropriate, educational material and assure inappropriate material is not being accessed by minor's online and technology use.
  
  

• Teachers/employee and/or staff shall report any inappropriate access or harmful material by minors and additional access restrictions as appropriate when observed during monitoring to school administration and district technology department.
  
  

• School administration, teachers, employees, and staff are to ensure the presence of a teacher and/or other appropriate District personnel when students are accessing the Internet and/or technology including, but not limited to, the supervision of minors when using any form of electronic communication.  The use of electronic communication venues is determined by appropriate building administrators and School District procedure/ policy.  Some forms of direct electronic communications may be filtered and/or blocked as deemed necessary to ensure the safety of such students.
  
  

• All electronic communication to a student must be related to educational services.  Such communication shall be reported by the employee on the Employee/Student Communications form.
  
  

• All passwords, system logins and accounts are to be used only by the authorized user of the account, for authorized district purposes, and in accordance with the job duties outlined by the School Board.
  
  

• Employees are responsible for “backing up” files and reasonable care of equipment assigned to them.
  
  

• Failure to comply with this policy may result in loss of access privileges and/or appropriate disciplinary action.  Teachers and staff shall participate in annual training on Internet/digital safety, St. Martin Parish School Board standards, student data privacy and policies, and acceptable use of Internet services and technology usage.  Safety on the Internet training will include, but not limited to, appropriate behavior while online, on social networking websites and in chat areas, cyberbullying awareness and response and compliance with the E-Rate requirements of the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA).
  
  

• Employees shall be responsible for complying with all student data privacy, confidentiality and sharing laws and district policies.

MOBILE DEVICES

The term mobile device, for the purpose of this policy refers to, but shall not be limited to, handheld devices provided by the St. Martin Parish School Board and those allowed in the school system and on SMPSB's network for educational purposes.  Some examples are: iPads, iPods, Tablets, Chromebooks, etc.  Said mobile devices must be used in accordance with St. Martin Parish School Board's Acceptable Use policy, procedures, and all applicable laws.  Use of these mobile devices, as well as access to the network, the Internet, and email are a privilege, not a right.  These devices shall be allowed and intended to support learning and increased access to technology.

Expectations

• The mobile device users shall follow the St. Martin Parish School Board Technology and Internet Acceptable Use policy.
  
  

• As per district procedures, all St. Martin Parish School Board mobile devices shall be setup through District management systems, logged/tagged.
  
  

• The mobile device shall be used in a responsible and ethical manner.
  
  

• Passwords shall not be changed or altered on the device.
  
  

• Device should be housed in a secure designated area at all times.
  
  

• All software/applications must be School District-approved.
  
  

• All downloading/syncing shall be done in accordance with School District procedures.
  
  

• Mobile devices shall always be within the protective case provided, if applicable.
  
  

• The St. Martin Parish School Board has the right to review items for appropriateness and to limit or revoke access to mobile device at any time for any reason.

LIMITED EDUCATIONAL PURPOSE

• The St. Martin Parish computer system has been established for limited educational purposes.  The term educational purposes includes classroom activities, career development, and limited high quality, self-discovery activities.
  
  

• It has not been established as a public access or public forum.  Uses which might be acceptable on a private, personal account on other computer systems may not be acceptable on this limited purpose network. 
  
  

• The St. Martin Parish School Board has the right to place reasonable restrictions on the material to be accessed or posted and the training required before a user is allowed to use the system.  St. Martin Parish School Board also reserves the right to enforce all rules set forth in the School Board’s Employee/Teacher Handbook and the laws of the state.
  
  

• The communications and computer storage of users of the school district’s computer system may be routinely monitored and reviewed by network administrators to maintain system integrity and ensure responsible use.
  
  

• This system may not be used for commercial purposes to offer, provide, or purchase products or services, or for political lobbying.
  
  

• Student access to the Internet is granted only to those students who have signed a Student Acceptable Use and Internet Safety policy and have been informed by staff of their rights and responsibilities as users of the District Network.  Each time a student enters a new school, updated signatures must be obtain.  Signatures remain valid and in the student’s cumulative folder until and unless the parent revokes the child’s privileges in writing or through disciplinary action taken by the school.  Access level/permissions will also be recorded in the district Student Information System on the student's demographic record.

ACCEPTABLE USES

The St. Martin Parish School Board’s technology network may be used for the following:

• Creation of files, projects, web pages and other forms of educational technology material using network resources in support of educational research.
  
  

• Participation in district-approved blogs, other electronic communication venues, discussion boards, groups, e-Learning and email that support educational research.
  
  

• With parental permission, the online publication of original educational material, curriculum-related materials and student work.
  
  

• Should an employee see any unacceptable materials or inappropriate use, he/she shall notify the site administrator or supervisor immediately.  Employees shall report any instances where the Acceptable Use policy or security may be violated.  Employees shall report inappropriate Internet Web sites to administration so the School District technology department can block access to the site.
  
  

• If there is any doubt as to the appropriate use of a School District-provided electronic system, employees shall review the use in advance with a supervisor.

UNACCEPTABLE USES

The following uses of the St. Martin Parish School Board’s computer system are considered unacceptable:

1. Personal Safety

1. • Employees shall not post personal or private contact information including, but not limited to, social security numbers, home addresses and telephone numbers, school and work addresses, personal e-mail addresses, etc. on websites, blogs, podcasts, videos, wikis, e-mail or as content on any other electronic medium.
     
     

   • Employees shall not use with or refer students to social networking sites and others not approved/recommended by the St. Martin Parish School Board.
     
     

   • Employees shall not post videos of school activities to YouTube or other non-approved websites without permission from appropriate administrators of the St. Martin Parish School Board.
     
     

   • Employees shall not use non-approved third party sites for student email, blogging, discussion boards, etc.
     
     

   • Employees shall not post pictures or names of students on any class, school or School District website unless the appropriate permission has been verified according to School District policy.
     
     

   • Employees shall not share passwords, log-ins, access to School Board accounts, or use another person’s password, log-in, or access.
     
     

   • Employees shall not use the “remember password” feature of Internet browsers.
     
     

   • Employees shall log off, if leaving the room (i.e. WebPams, OnCourse, e-mail, etc.)
     
     

   • Employees shall not leave electronic gradebooks open and unattended while students are in the classroom.

2. Illegal Activities

1. • Employees shall not attempt to gain unauthorized access to the St. Martin Parish School District’s computer system or to any other computer system via the District’s computer system or attempt to defeat or bypass the School District’s filter or conceal Internet activity.  This includes attempting to log in through another person's account or access another person's files.  These actions are illegal, even if only for the purposes of "browsing."
     
     

   • Employees shall not make deliberate attempts to disrupt the computer system’s performance, destroy data by spreading computer viruses or by any other means.  This includes the destruction and vandalism of computer equipment and its components. 
     
     

   • Employees shall not use the system to engage in any other illegal act, such as arranging for a drug sale or the purchase of alcohol, engaging in criminal gang activity, threatening the safety of others, etc.
     
     

   • Employees shall not use the system to engage in non-school-related communications with students.  All electronic communications shall be documented on the Employee/Student Electronic Communications form.  Electronic communication includes, but is not limited to, voice, text-based devices and computers, and those that facilitate indirect communications using an intermediate method, including but not limited to Internet-based social networks.
     
     

   • Employees shall not use the Internet and/or any other electronic device or system, on or off campus, that subsequently causes substantial disruption to the educational environment, interferes with the rights of others, or can be considered a threat.
     
     

   • The use of on or off campus resources, including websites or social networking sites, etc., that subsequently cause material disruption at school is prohibited.
     
     

   • Employees shall not pursue or otherwise access information on weapons and the manufacture or purchase of weapons. 
     
     

   • Employees shall not use the network or School Board equipment for commercial, political, personal or private gain.
     
     

   • Employees shall not use the school district’s computer system for personal acquisitions such as shopping, trading stocks, any form of financial gain unrelated to the mission of the School District, personal entertainment, and on-line gambling.
     
     

   • Employees shall not attach unauthorized equipment to the District network, including, but not limited to laptops, wireless routers, access points, etc.  [If found, prohibited items shall be confiscated by district personnel.]
     
     

   • Employees shall not download, install or use games, audio files or other applications without permission from the Technology Supervisor of Network Manager.
     
     

   • Employees shall not use the School District’s internal network that incurs expenses to the school and/or School District without prior approval of expenditure.

3. Inappropriate Access to Material
   
   Employees shall not use access to review, upload, download, store, print, post, or distribute materials that:

1. • are pornographic, obscene or sexually explicit.
     
     

   • use language or images to advocate violence, or discrimination towards other people (hate literature).
     
     

   • contain harassment of any kind, discriminatory jokes and remarks, defamation, cyberbullying, etc.
     
     

   • engage in any illegal act or violate any local, state, or federal statute or law.
     
     

   • facilitate hacking, cracking, vandalizing, introducing viruses, worms, Trojan horses, time bombs, ransomware, etc. that inhibit operation of a computer or network.
     
     

   • overwhelm the network, including but not limited to chain letters, network games, mass copying of files for no specific reason, etc.

4. Inappropriate Language

1. • The School Board’s computer system is considered a limited forum, similar to the school newspaper, therefore the School Board may restrict text for valid educational reasons.
     
     

   • Restrictions against inappropriate language apply to public messages, private messages, and material posted on Web pages.
     
     

   • Employees shall not use obscene, profane, lewd, vulgar, rude, inflammatory, threatening, disrespectful, or sexually explicit language.
     
     

   • Employees shall not access, post, distribute, or store materials using language that is inappropriate to the educational setting or disruptive to the educational process.
     
     

   • Employees shall not engage in personal attacks, including prejudicial or discriminatory attacks.
     
     

   • Employees shall not harass another person.  Harassment is persistently acting in a manner that distresses or annoys another person.  When requested by another to stop communication in the form of messages, e-mail, or other means of electronic contact, a user shall do so immediately.
     
     

   • Employees shall not knowingly or recklessly post false or defamatory information about a person or organization.

5. Plagiarism and Copyright Infringement

1. • Employees shall not use the school district’s computer system to conduct plagiarism.  Plagiarism is using another person’s ideas or writings and presenting them as the user’s.
     
     

   • Employees shall not violate copyright laws by reproducing work that is protected by a copyright.  This includes copyrighted multimedia content such as music and video clips accessed through unapproved sites.
     
     

   • Employees shall not copy, transfer or duplicate software owned by or registered by St. Martin Parish School Board.
     
     

   • Employees shall not transmit or download any material in violation of any national, state or School Board policy or regulation.

6. Respecting Resource Limits

1. • Employees shall use the St. Martin Parish School Board computer system only for educational and career development activities and limited, high-quality, self-discovery activities.
     
     

   • Employees shall not download large files unless absolutely necessary.  If necessary, a user shall download these files at a time when the system is not being heavily used and remove these files when no longer needed.
     
     

   • Employees shall not post chain letters or engage in spamming.  Spamming is sending an annoying or unnecessary message to a large number of people.
     
     

   • Employees shall subscribe only to high quality discussion group mail lists that are relevant to education or career development.

7. E-Mail and Electronic Communication and Learning Resource Accounts

1. • Employees shall check e-mail frequently and delete unwanted messages promptly.
     
     

   • Employees of St. Martin Parish School Board shall be responsible for the content of their e-mail messages and attachments.
     
     

   • Employees shall not allow students access to the employee’s email account.
     
     

   • Students shall only be allowed to access and use a School District-approved, school electronic communication and learning resource account which is managed, monitored , and filtered (i.e. GMail accounts set up by the St. Martin Parish School Board, Google Classroom, Class Flow, Gaggle.net, Epals)

DUE PROCESS AND CONSEQUENCES

Users of the School Board’s computers, network, and Internet shall be held personally responsible for their own actions in accessing and utilizing available resources.  Depending on the nature and degree of the violation and the number of previous violations, unacceptable use of the school district’s computer system or the Internet may result in one or more of the following consequences:

1. Suspension or cancellation of use and access privileges
   
   

2. Payment for damages and repairs
   
   

3. Disciplinary actions in accordance with other appropriate School District policies as stated in the St. Martin Parish School Board Policy Manual

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

Although the St. Martin Parish School Board enforces a policy of technology and Internet safety and employs measures to block and or filter inappropriate material from student and employee access, the School Board shall not be responsible for damages a user may suffer, including but not limited to, loss of data or interruptions of service.  The School Board shall not be responsible for the accuracy or quality of the information obtained through its services or stored on its system.  The School Board shall not be responsible for any costs or liabilities arising from the unauthorized use of the system.

Revised:  August, 2009

Revised:  August 6, 2014

Revised:  July 13, 2016

Ref:    20 USC 7131 (Internet Safety)

La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:81, 17:100.7

Board minutes, 8-5-09, 8-6-14, 7-13-16

St. Martin Parish School Board