6162.1
Instruction
With
the spread of telecommunications throughout the modern work place, the Board
recognizes that employees will shift the ways they share ideas, transmit
information, and contact others. As staff members are connected to the global
community, their use of new tools and systems brings new responsibilities as
well as opportunities.
The Board expects that all employees will
learn to use electronic mail and telecommunications tools and apply them in
appropriate ways to the performance of tasks associated with their positions
and assignments. Toward that end, the Board directs the Superintendent to
provide staff with training in the proper and effective use of
telecommunications and electronic mail.
Communication
over networks should not be considered private. Network supervision and
maintenance may require review and inspection of directories or messages.
Messages may sometimes be diverted accidentally to a destination other than the
one intended. Privacy in these communications is not guaranteed. The district
reserves the right to access stored records in cases where there is reasonable
cause to expect wrong-doing or misuse of the system. Courts have ruled that old
messages may be subpoenaed, and network supervisors may examine communications
in order to ascertain compliance with network guidelines for acceptable use.
The
Board directs the Superintendent to specify those behaviors which are permitted
and those which are not permitted, as well as appropriate procedures to guide
employee use. In general, employees are expected to communicate in a
professional manner consistent with state laws governing the behavior of school
employees and with federal laws governing copyrights. Electronic mail and
telecommunications are not to be utilized to share confidential information
about students or other employees.
The
Board encourages staff to make use of telecommunications to explore educational
topics, conduct research, and contact others in the educational world. The
Board anticipates that the new systems will expedite the sharing of effective
practices and lessons across the district and will help staff stay on the
leading edge of practice by forming partnerships with others across the nation and
around the world.
(cf.
6140 Curriculum)
(cf.
6161 Equipment/Books/Materials: Provision/Selection)
(cf.
6161.1 Evaluation of Instructional Materials)
(cf.
6161.2 Care of Instructional Materials)
(cf.
6176 Career and Vocational Education)
Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes
10-221
Boards of Education to Prescribe Rules
Policy adopted: September 14, 2004 EAST
HADDAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Moodus,
Connecticut
6162.1(a)
Instruction
Staff
will employ electronic mail on a daily basis at work as a primary tool for
communications. The district may rely
upon this medium to communicate information, and all staff will be responsible
for checking and reading messages daily.
The
network is provided for staff and students to conduct research and communicate
with others. Communications over the
network are often public in nature therefore general rules and standards for
professional behavior and communications will apply.
Electronic
mail and telecommunications are not to be utilized by employees to share
confidential information about students or other employees because messages are
not entirely secure.
Network
administrators may review files and communications to maintain system integrity
and to ensure that staff members are using the system responsibly. Users should not expect that files stored on
district servers will be private. Staff
will adhere to district guidelines for the use of technology resources.
The
following behaviors are not permitted on district networks:
1.
Sharing
confidential information on students or employees
2.
Sending or
displaying offensive messages or pictures
3.
Assisting a
campaign for election of any person to any office or for the promotion of or
opposition to any ballot proposition
4.
Using
obscene language
5.
Harassing,
insulting or attacking others
6.
Engaging in
practices that threaten the network (e.g., loading files that may introduce a
virus)
7.
Violating
and state or federal laws, including copyright
8.
Using
others' passwords or network account
9.
Trespassing
in others' folders, documents, or files
10.
Moving
files and/or programs to/from the network
11.
Intentionally
wasting limited resources
12.
Employing
the network for commercial purposes
13.
Violating
regulations prescribed by the network provider
14.
Conducting
union business
15.
Promoting,
supporting or celebrating religion or religious institutions
16.
Use of
media not belonging to the school system, including floppy disks and CD-ROMs
6162.1(b)
Instruction
The
Network Supervisor will report inappropriate behaviors to the employee’s
supervisor who will take appropriate disciplinary action. Any other reports of inappropriate behavior,
violations, or complaints will be routed to the employee's supervisor for
appropriate action. Violations may
result in a loss of access and/or disciplinary action. When applicable, law enforcement agencies may
be involved.
Each
employee will be given copies of this policy and procedures and will sign an
acceptable use acknowledgement form before establishing an account.
Only
software obtained by the district for use on school computers and networks will
be allowed to be installed and/or used on school computers and networks. The use of software “brought from home” or
from sources outside the school by staff or students is not permitted. Exceptions must have a compelling
instructional or administrative reason.
Exceptions
may be made by administrators on a case-by-case basis. If an exception is made it should be done in
written form detailing the reasons for the exception and the time period the
exception is to last (See Appendix A).
The exception should be kept on file with the district technology
coordinator. In granting an exception
the administrator should work in conjunction with district technology staff. The request for exception should not violate
other guiding district policies and administrative regulations such as, but not
limited to, the selection of instructional materials, copyright, and
limitations of school district liability.
In
general, only hardware and peripherals obtained by the district for use on
school computers and networks will be allowed to be installed and/or used on
school computers and networks. The use
of hardware and peripherals “brought from home” by staff or students is to be
an exception to this guideline and should have a compelling instructional or
administrative reason.
Exceptions
may be made by building or district administrators on a case by case
basis. If an exception is made it
should be done in written form detailing the reasons for the exception and the
time period the exception is to last.
The exception should be kept on file in the building office and with the
district technology coordinator. In
granting an exception the administrator should work in conjunction with
district technology staff. The request
for exception should not violate other guiding district policies and
administrative regulations such as, but not limited to, limitations of school
district liability for use of personal equipment.
6162.1(c)
Instruction
In
general, district technology resources are to be used within school buildings
in conjunction with the performance of a job, or providing instruction to
students. As a rule, building
technology resources should remain within the school building. Within the parameters of building usage and
building security, the administration accepts responsibility for developing
procedures for appropriate access to technology resources during non-instructional
times by students and staff. These
procedures will be developed on a building by building basis.
Removing
equipment from the schools is to be discouraged, in favor of providing
appropriate access to equipment on site.
Taking technology resources out of the building by staff or students is
to be an exception to these guidelines and should have a compelling
instructional or administrative reason.
Exceptions may be made by building or district administrators on a case
by case basis. If an exception is made,
it should be done in written form detailing the reasons for the exception and
the time period the exception is to last (see Appendix A). The exception should be kept on file in the
building office and with the district technology coordinator. In granting an exception the administrator should
work in conjunction with district technology staff. The request for exception
should not violate other guiding district policies and administrative
regulations such as limitations of school district liability for use of
equipment, student and parent liability
for materials on loan from the school, and staff liability for material used
while on loan from the school.
Additionally,
in the granting the exception, the administrator will specify the procedures to
be used to certify that the equipment is returned to the school in proper
working order and that the district guidelines for installing non-district
software and connecting to non-district hardware networks, and peripherals are
to be followed during the exception period.
(cf.
6140 Curriculum)
(cf.
6161 Equipment/Books/Materials: Provision/Selection)
(cf.
6161.1 Evaluation of Instructional Materials)
(cf.
6161.2 Care of Instructional Materials)
(cf.
6176 Career and Vocational Education)
Legal
Reference: Connecticut General
Statutes
10-221 Boards
of Education to Prescribe Rules
Regulation approved: September 14, 2004 EAST HADDAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Moodus,
Connecticut
6162.1
Appendix A
EAST HADDAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Moodus, Connecticut
Request for an Exception to
Use District Technology Resources
(Hardware, Software,
Networks, Peripherals,
Non-designated Equipment
Off-site)
Staff Member:___________________________________________________________________
Building:_______________________________________________________________________
Compelling Instructional or Administrative Reason for Requesting Exception: ____________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Time Period of Exception: Start _______________________ End
__________________________
I
have consulted with the Building Technology Coordinator about this exception.
In
requesting this exception to the District Policies and Administrative
Guidelines, I understand that the exception is granted for the specific
purposes contained in this document. In
using the technology resource in this way, I also understand that other
District Policies and Administrative Guidelines (e.g. copyright policies,
selection of instructional materials) are still in effect and I agree to review
and abide by those policies where applicable.
I also agree to follow the restrictions and conditions specified by my
administrator listed below and to follow the procedures specified to certify
that materials and equipment are placed back in service in proper working
order.
________________________________________________ __________________
Staff Signature Date
Administrator’s Comments or Conditions:______________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________ __________________
Approval by Administrator Date
6162.1
Appendix B
Moodus, Connecticut
Staff Request for Borrowing
Technology Equipment
Staff Member:___________________________________________________________________
Building:_______________________________________________________________________
Reason for Borrowing:____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Equipment Taken On:______________________ To Be Returned On:_________________
Itemized List of Equipment and Materials to Be Borrowed:_________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Replacement
Value of Materials Borrowed: _____________
In
borrowing this equipment I understand that I am responsible for its use, and
care while it is in my possession. I
understand that district policies and guidelines require the use of this
equipment in conjunction with my job responsibilities and for no other
purposes. I also understand that other district policies and guidelines such as
not installing “home” software or making software modifications for connecting
to non-school peripherals such as printers or external drives, are in effect
while the equipment is in my care. I understand it is my responsibility to
familiarize myself with the current policies, procedures and guidelines for use
of technology. I understand that I will
bear financial responsibility for damage or loss to the equipment from accident
or theft or misuse of the equipment. I
agree to follow the procedures specified by my administrator to certify that
the equipment is returned in good working order, and understand that the
judgment of the administrator or their designee is final.
________________________________________________ __________________
Staff Signature Date
________________________________________________ __________________
Administrator’s Signature Date