FILE:  IFBGA

Cf:  EBBB, EFA, EFB

Cf:  JCD, JCDAF

 

ACCEPTABLE USE OF TECHNOLOGY BY STUDENTS

 

 

The Vernon Parish School Board shall make computer equipment, computer services, and Internet access available to its users for educational purposes.  Technology resources of the School Board shall be used to improve learning and teaching through research, training, collaboration, and the use of global communication resources.  This enables users to explore thousands of libraries, databases, and bulletin boards while exchanging messages with Internet users throughout the world.

 

Research skills in electronic information are essential to the preparation of students for future employment.  Age and grade appropriate classroom instruction shall be provided regarding Internet and cell phone safety.  Such instruction shall include appropriate online behavior, interacting with other individuals on social networking websites and in chat rooms, and cyberbullying awareness and response, as well as areas of concern as authorized in state and federal law.

 

In addition, the School Board, in conjunction with local law enforcement agencies, shall develop and distribute age and grade appropriate information to each student regarding Internet and cell phone safety and online content that is a threat to school safety.  The information shall include the following:

 

 

Such information shall be either distributed to or explained to students and school personnel at the beginning of each school year and shall be posted on an easily accessible page of the School Board’s website and the website of each school.

 

If information reported to a school is deemed a potential threat to school safety, the school shall present the written form and any further evidence to local law enforcement.

 

The School Board shall incorporate the use of computer-related technology or the use of Internet service provider technology designed to block access or exposure to any harmful materials or information, such as sites that contain obscene, pornographic, pervasively vulgar, excessively violent, or sexually harassing information or material.  Sites which contain information on the manufacturing of bombs or other incendiary devices shall also be prohibited.  However, the School Board does not prohibit authorized employees or students from having unfiltered or unrestricted access to Internet or online services, including online services of newspapers with daily circulation of at least 1,000, for legitimate scientific or educational purposes approved by the School Board.

 

The School Board retains the right to monitor all computer usage and files for compliance to all regulations and/or procedures.

 

ACCEPTABLE USE

 

The Vernon Parish School Board offers Internet access for users under the following conditions:

 

  1. E-mail Accounts.  The School Board may grant students e-mail access or creation of e-mail accounts.  Such access or accounts shall allow students to subscribe to mail lists to engage in group discussions related to educational subjects.

  2. Internet Relay Chat (IRC).  IRC provides the capability of engaging in real-time discussions.  The School Board may provide access to IRC only for specifically defined supervised educational classroom activities.  IRC shall not be allowed in school libraries.

  3. Internet access by students may be granted for:

 

  1. Conducting educational research through the use of a Web Browser.

  2. Communicating with others through E-mail and Newsgroups on educational topics.

  3. Downloading public domain and shareware files and programs for educational use.

  4. Printing electronic information for educational use.

  5. High quality, self-discovery activities approved by instructor.

  6. Approved career development activities.

 

Internet Access

 

  1. Individual student e-mail accounts, which are assigned and monitored by the classroom teacher, may be obtained for supervised educational classroom use by:

 

  1. Students with approval of their parent and the technology coordinator.

  2. Other users with the approval of the technology coordinator.

 

Passwords shall be assigned by the classroom teacher, who shall maintain a secure listing of all passwords and to whom they are assigned.

 

  1. All users shall sign an agreement to be granted an individual e-mail account with the Vernon Parish School Board.  This agreement must be renewed on an annual basis.  Parents/technology coordinators may withdraw approval at any time.

  2. If approved by the technology coordinator, a personal Website may be created for school organizations.  All material placed on a Website shall be pre-approved in a manner specified by the school.  Material placed on a Website shall relate to the school and career preparation activities.

 

Network Security

 

  1. All users shall be responsible for individual accounts and shall take all reasonable precautions to prevent others from being able to use the account.  Under no conditions should users provide passwords to another person.

  2. All users shall immediately notify a teacher/technology coordinator if a security problem is identified or encountered.  The user shall not demonstrate the problem to other users.

  3. All users shall avoid the inadvertent spread of computer viruses by following the Vernon Parish virus protection procedures if software is downloaded

  4. Outside computer disks, software, and other multi-media programs shall not be allowed in computer labs without prior approval of the instructor.

 

UNACCEPTABLE USE

 

Any action determined by teacher/technology coordinator to be inappropriate use shall be considered unacceptable use.  This includes, but is not limited to:

 

  1. Vandalism

 

  1. Any attempt to destroy data of another user.

  2. Damaging computers -- hardware, software, furniture, equipment, supplies and any other related materials.

  3. Damage to computers or computer networks.

  4. Introduction of computer viruses or related activities.

 

  1. Inappropriate Language

 

  1. Restrictions against inappropriate language apply to public messages, private messages, and material posted on Websites.

  2. Users shall not use obscene, profane, lewd, vulgar, rude, inflammatory, threatening, or disrespectful language in any technological transmissions.

  3. Users shall not post information that could cause damage or a danger of disruption.

  4. Users shall not engage in personal attacks, including prejudicial or discriminatory attacks of any kind.

  5. Users shall not harass another person.  Harassment shall be considered as persistently acting in a manner that distresses or annoys another person, or as may be defined in any other School Board policy.

  6. Users shall not knowingly or recklessly post false or defamatory information about a person or organization.

 

  1. Respecting Resource Limits

 

  1. Users shall use the School Board’s technology equipment and network for educational and career development activities and limited high-quality, self-discovery activities only.

  2. Users shall not post chain letters or engage in spamming.  Spamming is sending an annoying or unnecessary message to a large number of people.

  3. Users shall not waste printing supplies.

 

  1. Plagiarism and Copyright Infringement

 

  1. Users shall not plagiarize works that are found on the Internet.  Plagiarism is when a user presents the ideas or writings of others as his/her own.

  2. Users shall respect the rights of copyright owners.  Copyright infringement occurs when user inappropriately reproduces a work that is protected by a copyright.  If a work contains language that specifies appropriate use of that work, users should follow the expressed requirements.  If user is unsure whether or not a work may be used, user should request permission from the copyright owner.  Any question regarding copyright issues should be presented to the teacher.

 

  1. Inappropriate Access to Material

 

  1. Users shall not use Vernon Parish School Board’s computer equipment or technology network to access material that is profane or obscene (pornography), that advocates illegal acts, or that advocates violence or discrimination towards other people.

  2. If users mistakenly access inappropriate information, users should immediately tell a teacher/technology coordinator.

 

  1. Use of Electronic Devices

 

  1. 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.

  2. Use of the Internet, cameras, cell phones, “IPODS” and/or any other electronic systems on campus that subsequently causes substantial disruption to the educational environment, interferes with the rights of others, or can be considered a threat, shall result in disciplinary action.  Students violating this provision may be referred to the Director of Child Welfare and Attendance.

 

VIOLATIONS

 

Violations of this policy may result in a loss of access as well as other disciplinary or legal action.  The Vernon Parish School Board shall be responsible for determining disciplinary action(s) in cases concerning infractions of the Acceptable Use of Technology by Students policy.

 

Revised:  August, 1999 Revised:  May 8, 2018
Revised:  December, 2008 Revised:  October 9, 2018
Revised:  November, 2012  

 

 

Ref:    20 USC 7131 (Internet Safety)

47 USC 254 (Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA))

47 CFR 54.520 (Children's Internet Protection Act Certifications for Schools and Libraries)

La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:81, 17:100.7, 17:280, 17:410

Board minutes, 9-3-98, 2-5-09, 12-11-12, 5-8-18, 10-9-18

 

Vernon Parish School Board