FILE: IFBGA
STUDENT COMPUTER AND INTERNET USE
INTERNET SAFETY
The Internet is a vast, global computer network that provides access to major universities, governmental agencies, other school systems, and commercial providers of data banks. The Monroe City School Board shall establish appropriate guidelines for exploring and using Internet resources within the School District to enhance learning and teaching activities. Acceptable use of these resources shall be consistent with the philosophy, goals and objectives of the Monroe City School Board.
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:
Instruction on how to detect potential threats to school safety exhibited online, including posting on any social media platform.
Visual examples of possible threats.
The process for reporting potential threats, which shall be in accordance with the procedures referenced in policy EBBB, School and Student Safety.
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’s technology network shall not be considered nor used as a public access service or public forum. Therefore, the Monroe City School Board shall establish and maintain reasonable restrictions upon the use of the School Board’s technology network, use of all School Board computers, and access to the Internet. The School Board reserves the right to monitor all users' online activities, and to access, review, copy, store or delete any electronic communications or files and disclose them to others as it deems necessary.
In its continued efforts to comply with the Children's Internet Protection Act, and the Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act, the School Board shall adopt and enforce a policy of Internet safety that incorporates the use of computer-related technology or the use of Internet service provider technology designed to block or filter Internet access for minors and adults to certain visual depictions, including without limitation those that are obscene, child pornographic, or harmful to minors, including without limitation sites that are excessively violent, pervasively vulgar, or sexually harassing. Sites which contain information on the manufacturing of bombs or other incendiary devices shall also be prohibited. Only authorized persons may disable for a user the blocking or filtering mechanism in order to enable Internet access for bona fide research or other lawful purposes.
In addition to filtering requirements, the School Board shall maintain regulations which:
Prohibit access by minors to inappropriate matter on the Internet and World Wide Web;
Address the safety and security of minors when using electronic mail, chat rooms, and other forms of direct electronic communications;
Prohibit unauthorized access, including what is now known as Ahacking@ and other unlawful on-line activities by minors online;
Prohibit unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal information regarding minors;
Institutes measures designed to restrict minors' access to materials harmful to minors; and
Address appropriate online behavior including interacting with others and cyber bulling awareness and response.
No filtering software, however, is foolproof, and there is still a risk an Internet user may be exposed to a site containing such materials. A user who incidentally connects to such a site shall immediately disconnect from the site and notify a teacher or supervisor. If a user sees another user is accessing inappropriate sites, he or she shall notify a teacher or supervisor immediately.
COMPUTER AND INTERNET USE TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Acceptable Use - The purpose of the district’s technology network in providing access to the Internet is to support research and education by providing access to unique resources and opportunities. Transmission of any material in violation of any U.S., state, local or School Board regulations shall be prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, copyrighted material, threatening or obscene material, or material protected by trade institutions. Use for product advertisement, political lobbying, or illegal activities shall be strictly prohibited.
Privileges - The use of the School Board’s technology network is a privilege, not a right, and inappropriate use shall result in a cancellation of those privileges and may result in disciplinary action by the administration, faculty or staff and/or legal action by the School Board. All users shall be advised that School Board personnel shall have access to all messages or mail and that routine monitoring of the system and tracking of student navigation on all on-line activities and the Internet shall be conducted. Routine maintenance of the system may purge files from individual accounts. Users shall also be advised that the School Board shall have the right to access, review, copy, store, or delete any electronic communications or files and disclose them to others as it deems necessary.
Security - Security on any computer system is a high priority, especially when the system involves many users. Any suspected security problem with the district’s technology network or the Internet shall be reported to the teacher, building technology coordinator or the principal. The problem shall not be demonstrated to other users. Any user identified as a security risk or having a history of problems with other computer systems may be denied access to the Internet through the district’s technology network.
Vandalism - Vandalism shall result in cancellation of privileges and/or other disciplinary actions. Vandalism is defined as any malicious attempt to harm or destroy hardware or software data of the school system, another user, the Internet Service Provider, or the School Board’s technology network or other networks that are connected to the Internet. This includes, but is not limited to, the uploading or creation of computer viruses or worms.
Consequences of Misuse - School principals may suspend from school any student who accesses, sends, receives, or configures electronically any profane or threatening language or pictures, or violates any regulations for computer use, or any rules contained herein. Moreover, students may also be disciplined for off-campus speech, Internet activities, or use of off-campus computer and/or electronic systems that may cause a substantial disruption to the educational environment, interfere with the rights of others, or can be considered a threat. Consequences for violations of these standards may range from loss of Internet privileges to expulsion from school depending on the nature and severity of the act.
UNAUTHORIZED AND ILLEGAL USE
Tampering with selection menus, procedures, or icons for the purpose of misleading or confusing other users shall be prohibited. Any use by any person of the School Board’s technology network that incurs expenses to the school other than the monthly user fees and rates shall be strictly prohibited. Furthermore, School Board computers and the network shall not be used for commercial, political or religious purposes.
Use of the School Board’s technology network for any illegal activities shall also be prohibited. Illegal activities include (a) tampering with computer hardware or software, (b) unauthorized entry into computers and files (hacking), (c) knowledgeable vandalism or destruction of equipment, and (d) deletion of computer files. Such activity is considered a crime under state and federal law.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF USE
All students attending Monroe City public schools shall be allowed computer network and Internet access unless written and signed objection to such access is submitted by the parent/guardian and is on file with the school.
Guidelines are provided so that Internet users are aware of the responsibilities they are about to assume. Responsibilities include 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 network shall abide by all policies of the School Board and any applicable administrative regulations and procedures.
The following regulations, terms, and conditions for the use of computers and other technology equipment and the School Board’s technology network and Internet resources are not all-inclusive, but are only representative and illustrative. Any user who commits an act of misconduct or inappropriateness which is not listed may also be subject to disciplinary action or suspension, or termination, or be subject to appropriate criminal or civil prosecution.
The School Board will not host student email accounts on its email server; however, the School Board may issue accounts for students via a third party provider. The School Board’s provider shall ensure technology protection measures are in place that guard students from inappropriate content and contact. Accounts shall be issued for educational purposes only upon request by an administrator or teacher. The teacher shall supervise and instruct students in the appropriate, ethical, and safe use of email.
Home page development shall be encouraged for individual classes, school organizations, and special class, school, or district projects. However, under no circumstances shall the School Board permit the posting of personal home pages not directly related to educational purposes. The term educational purposes shall include classroom activities and assignments, directed student research, interpersonal communication, professional development, collaborative projects, and dissemination of successful educational practices, methods, and materials. The Technology Supervisor or his/her designee reserves the right to remove inappropriate pages from the server.
Students shall be prohibited from disclosing personal contact information. Personal contact information shall be defined as the student’s name together with other information that would allow an individual to locate the student, including but not limited to, parent’s name, home address or location, work address or location, or phone number. Students may be identified by first names or initials. Pictures of students (identified by first name only) may be posted unless written notification by a parent or guardian prohibits such use.
Students shall not arrange to meet nor meet in person anyone with whom they have been in contact on the Internet and shall promptly disclose to a teacher or school employee any message or contact they receive that is inappropriate or makes them feel uncomfortable.
Users shall not attempt to gain unauthorized access to the School Board’s computer network or the Internet or to any other computer system through the district’s network technology, or go beyond their authorized access.
Students shall follow School Board policies and regulations prohibiting indecent, vulgar, lewd, slanderous, abusive, threatening, sexually harassing, bullying, or terrorizing language which shall apply to all forms of electronic communications.
Students shall not attempt to gain unauthorized access, including so-called "hacking" or otherwise compromise any computer or network security or engage in any illegal activities on the Internet, including willfully introducing a computer virus, worm, or other harmful program to the network.
Students shall not make any purchase on the Internet while using school equipment or Internet service.
Degrading or disrupting equipment or system performance shall not be permitted.
Invading the privacy of individuals, sending of hate mail, harassing, or making discriminatory remarks or other antisocial behavior shall be prohibited.
Using an account owned by another user shall be prohibited.
Posting anonymous messages shall not be permitted.
Downloading of music or videos for personal use shall be strictly prohibited.
Accessing or creating exposure in any way to pictures, graphics, or other visual depictions that describe or represent in an offensive way with respect to what is suitable for minors, an actual or simulated sexual act or sexual contact, actual or simulated normal or perverted sexual acts, or a lewd exhibition of the genitals shall be prohibited.
Use for product advertisement, political lobbying, or illegal activities shall be strictly prohibited.
CONSEQUENCES OF INAPPROPRIATE USE
Student use of the Internet is a privilege, not a right, and inappropriate use may result in the temporary or permanent cancellation of that privilege and/or other disciplinary action (including suspension, expulsion, or legal action) as deemed appropriate by administration, faculty, and staff. Inappropriate use of the network may also result in legal action and/or prosecution, and may require restitution for costs associated with system restoration, hardware, or software costs.
No information on the network (including e-mail and personal files) is private. Information relating to or in support of illegal activities shall be reported to the authorities.
Students bringing illegal and/or inappropriate materials onto the network shall be subject to disciplinary action.
LIMITATION ON SCHOOL BOARD AND SCHOOL DISTRICT LIABILITY
Use of the Monroe City School Board’s computers and technology network shall be at the user’s own risk.
The Monroe City School Board technology network and computer system is provided on an “as is, as available” basis. The School Board does not make any warranties, whether expressed or implied, including, without limitation, those of fitness for a particular purpose with respect to any services provided by the system and any information or software contained therein. The School Board uses a variety of vendor-supplied hardware and software. Therefore, the School Board does not warrant that the functions or services performed by, or that the information or software contained on the system shall meet the user’s requirements. Neither does the School Board warrant that the system shall be uninterrupted or error-free, nor that defects will be corrected.
The School Board shall not be responsible for any damage the user may suffer, including but not limited to, loss, damage, or unavailability of data stored on district diskettes, tapes and drives, or servers, or for delays or changes in or interruptions of service or mis-deliveries or non-deliveries of information or materials, regardless of the cause. The School Board shall not be responsible for the accuracy or quality of the information obtained through or stored on the system. The School Board shall not be responsible for financial obligations arising through the unauthorized use of the system. Opinions, advice, services, and all other information expressed by system users, information providers, service providers, or other third party individuals in the system are those of the providers and not necessarily the School Board.
Revised: November, 2012
Revised: November 1, 2018
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, 2-6-03, 3-12-13, 11-1-18
Monroe City School Board