Purpose
The Framingham School Committee recognizes the need for students to be prepared to contribute to and excel in a connected, global community. To that end, the district provides ongoing student instruction that develops digital citizenship skill sets for using technology as a tool. Information and communication technology are an integrated part of our curriculum across subjects and grades in developmentally appropriate ways and are aligned with the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks and standards, including seeking knowledge and understanding; thinking critically and solving problems; listening, communicating, and interacting effectively; and engaging and competing in a global environment.
Availability
The Superintendent or designee shall implement, monitor, and evaluate the district's system/network for instructional and administrative purposes.
All users shall acknowledge that they understand that using digital devices, whether personal or school owned, and the school district network is a privilege and when using them in accordance with School District guidelines they will retain that privilege.
The Superintendent or designee shall develop and implement administrative guidelines, regulations, procedures, and user agreements, consistent with law and policy, which shall include but not be limited to the following:
Digital devices, software, and networks shall be used in school for educational purposes and activities.
An individual's personal information (including home/mobile phone numbers, mailing addresses, and passwords) and that of others shall be kept private.
Individuals will show respect for themselves and others when using technology including social media.
Users shall give acknowledgement to others for their ideas and work.
Users shall report inappropriate use of technology immediately.
These procedures shall be reviewed annually by district administration together with students and teachers and shall provide a springboard for teaching and learning around topics such as internet safety, digital citizenship, and ethical use of technology.
PARENT/GUARDIAN NOTIFICATION AND RESPONSIBILITY
The Framingham Public Schools Empowered Digital Use Policy contains restrictions on accessing inappropriate material. There is a wide range of material available on the Internet, some of which may not be in concert with the particular values of the families of students. It is not practically possible for the Framingham Public Schools to monitor and enfor-ce a wide range of social values in student use of the Internet. Further, the District recognizes that parents/guardians bear primary responsibility for communicating their particular set of family values to their children. The district will encourage parents/guardians to specify to their children what material is and is not acceptable for their children to access through The Network.
Framingham Public Schools will provide students and parents with guidelines for the student's personal safety while using the Internet.
DISTRICT LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
Framingham Public Schools makes no warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied, that the functions or the services provided by or through its Network will be error-free or without defect. The district will not be responsible for any damages users may suffer, including but not limited to loss of data, interruptions of service, or physical, psychological, or monetary damages. The District is not responsible for the accuracy or quality of the information obtained through or stored on the system. The District will not be responsible for unauthorized financial obligations arising through the use of the system.
SEARCH AND SEIZURE
The Network is the property of the Framingham Public Schools and its storage systems are therefore subject to inspection by the administration at any time. System users have a limited privacy expectation in the contents of their personal files on The Network.
Routine maintenance and monitoring of the system may lead to discovery that the user has violated or is violating the Framingham Public Schools Empowered Digital Use District Policy, or the law.
An individual search will be conducted if there is suspicion that a user has violated the Empowered Digital Use District Policy or the law. The nature of the investigation will be in the context of the nature of the alleged violation.
SOURCE: MASC
First reading: January 19, 2016; second reading: February 2, 2016