EFA, Acceptable Use of Technology

The Vernon Parish School Board recognizes the importance of all users of School Board technology being aware of what constitutes acceptable use of technology. Any person using computers or other electronic information resources shall be required to use such equipment and resources in a responsible, legal manner. The School Board retains the right to monitor all computer usage and files for compliance to all School Board regulations and/or procedures.

Technology, particularly Internet access and email, shall be available to employees, students, and volunteers of the Vernon Parish School Board. The Vernon Parish School Board’s goal in providing these resources is to enhance innovative education for students through access to unique resources available through the Internet. Furthermore, such technology can improve learning and teaching through research, teacher training, collaboration, and dissemination of successful educational practices, methods, and materials.

Guidelines are provided so that the technology users are aware of the responsibilities they are about to assume. Responsibilities include appropriate, efficient, ethical, and legal utilization of network resources. All users, including students, employees, or any other users of School Board computers, hardware, and School Board’s technology network shall abide by all policies of the School Board and any applicable administrative regulations and procedures.

Users shall be polite; users shall not send abusive, threatening, bullying, intimidating and/or harassing messages to others.
Appropriate language shall be used at all times.
Hardware or software shall not be destroyed, modified, or abused in any way.
The technology network shall not be used in a way that would disrupt the use of the network by other users (e.g. downloading huge files during prime time, sending mass E-mail messages, installation of unapproved software, or annoying other users using chat, talk, or write functions). The network shall be used only for research, information gathering, and academic practice directly related to school assignments and extracurricular projects supervised by school faculty.
The network is not designed to be used as a radio or television for the classroom. Any such use should be directly related to instruction. All streaming media not directly related to instruction shall be prohibited.
Malicious use of the network to develop programs that harass other users or infiltrate a computer, computing system, or network shall be prohibited. Use of the network to damage the software components of a computer or computing system shall be prohibited.
Using the network for commercial purposes, gambling, financial gain, fraud, illegal acts, or threatening the safety of a person shall be prohibited.
Use of the network to access or process pornographic materials, inappropriate text files, and files dangerous to any individual or group shall be prohibited.
Network use for product advertisement, political lobbying, or illegal activities shall be strictly prohibited.
Use or posting of information related to the school, school staff, students, use images of the school, the school logo, initials or seal, in any form on the Internet or in any form of electronic communication without specific written permission of the Superintendent and/or his/her designee shall be prohibited. The posting of any such information on any website, bulletin board, chat room, email, or other messaging system without permission, or the posting or transmission of images or information in any format related to the school, staff, or students that are defamatory, abusive, pornographic, or which could be construed as threatening or impugning the character of another person shall be prohibited.

Personal addresses or phone numbers of students or colleagues shall not be revealed.
Gaining unauthorized access to resources or entities shall be prohibited. Users should access only those files that belong to them or which they have been granted permission to use by faculty or coworkers.
Files stored on School Board computers and servers shall be limited to those relating to formal school courses or activities.
Using the account or password of another user shall be prohibited. Distribution of passwords by other than designated staff shall be forbidden.
Users shall log off or lock their personal accounts when they step away from the computer for more than a few moments to prevent unauthorized access.
Bypassing Filters or Security Systems - Attempts to remove, modify, or bypass software, hardware, and configurations installed to prevent Internet or other access to pornographic material, other objectionable materials, or prohibited resources shall be forbidden. Such violations shall result in cancellation of computer use privileges or other disciplinary measures.

VPSB may provide email accounts for its employees and shall not warrant access to other email services or messaging services. E-mail accounts are to be used for professional correspondence.
Web mail shall not be permitted on any computers located in classrooms or used by students except for VPSB provided student accounts.
E-mail signatures shall only include the following:

Name and Position; School or Office; Physical Address; Voice and Fax numbers; Email address and/or website address; School Mission Statement;
Users shall not post or forward e-mail chain letters or send annoying or unnecessary messages to others.
Users shall not use School Board authorized e-mail to mass email and spam any users (internal and external) with unauthorized communications or solicitations.
E-mail, chat, and instant messaging of any form should be used for legitimate and responsible communication only. Use of these technologies for commercial purposes, financial gain, fraud, illegal acts, or threatening the safety of a person shall be prohibited.
Hate mail, including statements that bully, threaten, intimidate and harass, discriminatory remarks, cursing, and other anti-social behaviors shall be prohibited on the School Board’s technology network.

The use of all recording devices of any kind, including but not limited to all kinds of cameras, video recorders, audio recorders, etc. except for instructional purposes or VPSB official business shall be strictly prohibited.
Use of the Internet, cameras, cell phones, “IPODS” and/or any other electronic systems on campus that subsequently causes substantial disruption to the Vernon Parish schools’ educational environment, interferes with the rights of others, or can be considered a threat, will result in disciplinary action.

This policy applies to all users of Vernon Parish School Board’s technology resources. Honesty, integrity, and respect for the rights of others should be evident at all times.

The technology user shall be held responsible for his/her actions and activities. Unacceptable uses of the network shall result in disciplinary action including possible revocation of these privileges or other disciplinary measures.