File: IJNDC - PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INTERNET POSTINGS

District-curated Internet postings are for the sole purpose of furthering the district´s educational mission. The Watertown School Committee recognizes that sharing information empowers educational environments by connecting teachers, students, parents and community members around the world.  Promoting a culture of shared information proliferates collaboration and sparks creativity which, in the end, globally advances educational environments.

Web postings must be regularly maintained, free of advertisements, be free from discrimination, biases, religious affiliations, commercial or political affiliations. Content should adhere to copyright laws. Care should be taken to ensure privacy laws are followed including The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Personal identifiable information (PII) in general should not be posted to protect the privacy and safety of students. Parents and students aged 14 and over have the right to restrict posting of student-related items including images of their child and student work.  The main office of any school will track any such restrictions.

Staff pages should have contact information including staff member´s name, school name, school address, teacher´s work email address, and teacher´s school phone number. Universal design and access should be promoted by providing information about available assistive technology or other appropriate resources. Regularly updated guidelines are posted in the technology section on the district´s website to inform and help teachers, staff and students understand how to use the public web appropriately.

 ACCEPTABLE STUDENT USE OF DIGITAL RESOURCES

The Superintendent, in conjunction with the Director of Technology, shall develop and implement appropriate procedures to provide guidance for access to digital resources. Guidelines shall address teacher supervision of digital resources, ethical use of such resources and issues of online privacy. In addition, procedures shall prohibit utilization of digital resources for prohibited or illegal activities and for the use of other programs with the potential of damaging or destroying programs or data. 

Students are reminded that there is no expectation of privacy in the use of district digital resources. 

Technology procedures 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 in use of digital resources; 

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

Annually, all students must agree to and sign an appropriate digital use form developed by the Superintendent in conjunction with the Director of Technology; this form must also be signed by the parent or guardian for students under the age of 18. 

All staff must agree to and sign an appropriate digital use form prior to being granted access to district digital resources. Employees must use district resources for the purposes directly related to educational and instructional purposes 

On the recommendation of the Superintendent in conjunction with the Director of Technology, the district shall determine when and which digital resources can be made available to the community. All guest users will be prompted to and must accept a digital use agreement prior to use. 

Those violating the digital use agreement will be held accountable in ways subject to appropriate consequences that will not interfere with learning. 

SOURCE: MASC 2023 

LEGAL REF: 47 USC § 254 

CROSS REF: GBEE  EMPLOYEE PERSONNEL USE OF TECHNOLOGY

JICJ  STUDENT USE OF TECHNOLOGY

KDC  COMMUNITY USE OF DISTRICT RESOURCES 

ACAB  SEXUAL HARASSMENT 

JICFB  BULLYING PREVENTION 

JK  STUDENT CONDUCT 

IJND  ACCESS TO DIGITAL RESOURCES