File: IJND - ACCESS TO DIGITAL RESOURCES

The School Committee supports the right of students, employees, and community members to have reasonable access to digital resources and believes it is incumbent upon users to utilize this privilege in an appropriate manner.

Safety Procedures and Guidelines

The Superintendent or designee will develop and implement appropriate procedures to provide guidance for access to digital resources. Guidelines will address ethical use of digital resources and issues of privacy versus administrative review of electronic files and communications. In addition, guidelines will prohibit use of digital resources for prohibited or illegal activities or damaging or destroying programs or data.

Internet safety measures shall be implemented that effectively address the following:

•  Controlling access by minors to inappropriate matter on the Internet as defined by the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) and the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA);

•  Safety and security of minors when they are using e-mail, instant messaging applications, and other forms of direct electronic communications;

•  Preventing unauthorized access, including hacking, viruses, and other unlawful activities by minors online;

•  Unauthorized disclosure, use and dissemination of personal information regarding minors.

Annually the district will provide the Committee with an update of its student acceptable use policy to be published in the student handbook. The Committee will review this policy in conjunction with the student handbook.

PERMISSION/AGREEMENT FORM

All students and faculty must agree to and sign the Student Handbook prior to being granted independent access to digital resources and district networks. The required form, which specifies guidelines for using digital resources and district networks, must be signed by the parent or legal guardian of minor students (those under 18 years of age) and also by the student. The document will be kept on file as a legal, binding document. All staff must agree to and sign the Employee Acceptable Use form.

Employee Use

Employees will use email, district devices, and district networks for work related activities only.

Community Use

The Superintendent or designee will determine when and which computer equipment, software, and information access systems will be available to the community.

Disregard of Rules

Individuals who refuse to sign the student handbook or Employee Acceptable Use form, or who violate district rules governing the use of district technology or networks will be subject to loss or restriction of the privilege of using equipment, software, information access systems, and/or other computing and telecommunications technologies.

Responsibility for Damages

Individuals may be responsible for the repair or replacement of any district property lost, stolen, damaged, or vandalized while under their care.

Responding to Concerns

School officials will apply the same educational suitability criteria used to review other educational resources when questions arise concerning access to digital resources.

LEGAL REFS: 47 USC § 254