File:  GBEE - Staff Use of the Internet and Electronic Communications

The school district recognizes the value of teacher inquiry, investigation and innovation using new technology tools to enhance learning experience. The district also recognizes its obligation to teach and ensure responsible and safe use of technology.

The Internet and electronic communications are fluid environments in which users may access materials and information. Staff members shall take responsibility for their own use of district technologies and technology systems to avoid contact with material or information that violates this policy.

Blocking or filtering obscene, pornographic and harmful information

To protect students from material and information that is obscene, child pornography or otherwise harmful to minors, as defined by the Board, software that blocks or filters such material and information has been installed on all district computers having internet or electronic communications access. Blocking or filtering software may be disabled by a supervising teacher or school administrator, as necessary, for purposes of bona fide research or other educational projects being conducted by staff members over the age of 18.

No expectation of privacy

District technology devices and systems are owned by the district and are intended for educational purposes and district business at all times. Staff members shall have no expectation of privacy when using the Internet or electronic communications. The district reserves the right to monitor, inspect, copy, review and store (at any time and without prior notice) all usage of district computers and computer systems, including all Internet and electronic communications access and transmission / receipt of materials and information. All material and information accessed/ received through district computers and computer systems shall remain the property of the school district. Electronic messages sent or received by the Board, the district's employees, or students including electronic mail on district-owned devices as well as other documents generated through the use of district systems may be considered a public record subject to disclosure or inspection under the Colorado Open Records Act.

All employee electronic communications shall be monitored to ensure that all public electronic communication records are retained, archived and destroyed in accordance with applicable law.

Acceptable Use

Staff members shall use district technology and technology systems in a responsible, efficient, ethical and legal manner.

Because technology and ways of using technology are constantly evolving, every unacceptable use of district computers and computer systems cannot be specifically described in policy. Therefore, examples of unacceptable uses include, but are not limited to, the following.

No staff member shall access, create, transmit, retransmit, or forward material or information that:

  promotes violence or advocates destruction of property including, but not limited to, access to information concerning the manufacturing or purchasing of destructive devices or weapons.

  is not related to district education objectives.

  contains pornographic, obscene or other sexually oriented materials, either as pictures or writings, that are intended to stimulate erotic feelings or appeal to prurient interests in nudity, sex or excretion.

  harasses, threatens, demeans, or promotes violence or hatred against another person or group of persons with regard to race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status or disability.

  is for personal profit, financial gain, advertising, commercial transaction or political purposes.

  plagiarizes the work of another without express consent.

  uses inappropriate or profane language likely to be offensive to others in the school community.

  is knowingly false or could be construed as intending to purposely damage another person's reputation.

  is in violation of any federal or state law, including but not limited to copyrighted material and material protected by trade secret.

  contains personal information about themselves or others, including information protected by confidentiality laws.

  uses another individual's Internet or electronic communications account without written permission from that individual.

  impersonates another or transmits through an anonymous remailer.

  accesses fee services without specific permission from the system administrator.

Use of the Internet and electronic communications demands personal responsibility and an understanding of the acceptable and unacceptable uses of such tools. Staff member use of the Internet and electronic communications is a privilege, not a right. Failure to follow the use procedures contained in this policy shall result in the loss of the privilege to use these tools and restitution of the costs associated with damages, and may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination and/or other legal action. The school district may deny, revoke or suspend access to district technology or close accounts at any time.

Staff members shall be required to sign the district's Acceptable Use Agreement upon hire before Internet or electronic communications accounts shall be issued or access shall be allowed.

Staff members shall not:

  use another person's password or any other identifier

  gain or attempt to gain unauthorized access to district technology or technology systems

  read, alter, delete or copy, or attempt to do so, electronic communications of other system users

Security

Security on district technology systems is a high priority. Staff members who identify a security problem while using the Internet, or electronic communications, or technology devices must immediately notify the district technology department. Staff members should not demonstrate the problem to other users. 

Any staff member identified as having a history of problems with computer technology systems or technology policies may be denied access to the Internet and electronic communications.

Confidentiality

Staff members shall not access, receive, transmit or retransmit material information regarding students, parents/guardians, district employees or district affairs that is protected by confidentiality laws unless such access, receipt or transmittal is in accordance with their assigned job responsibilities, applicable law and district policy. It is imperative that staff members who share confidential student information via electronic communications understand the correct use of the technology, so that confidential records are not inadvertently sent or forwarded to the wrong party. Staff members who use email to disclose student records or other confidential student information in a manner inconsistent with applicable law and district policy may be subject to disciplinary action.

If material is not legally protected but is of a confidential or sensitive nature, great care shall be taken to ensure that only those with a "need to know" are allowed access to the material. Staff members shall handle all employee, student and district records in accordance with policies GBJ (Personnel Records and Files), JRA/JRC (Student Records/ Release of Information on Students) and EGAEA (Electronic Communication).

Disclosure of confidential student records, including disclosure via electronic mail or other telecommunication systems, is governed by state and federal law, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). (See policy JRA/JRC, Student Records/Release of Information on Students for detailed information on student records).

Use of social media

Staff members may use social media within school district social media guidelines for instructional purposes, including promoting communications with students' social media, parents/ guardians and the community concerning school related activities and for purposes of supplementing classroom instruction. The employees' use of any social media network must comply with all state and federal laws and any applicable district policies. Employees may not disclose information on any social media network that is confidential or proprietary to the district, its students, or employees or that is protected by data privacy laws.

Staff members are expected to protect the health, safety and emotional well-being of students and to preserve the integrity of the learning environment. Online or electronic conduct that distracts or disrupts the learning environment or other conduct in violation of this or related district policies may form the basis for disciplinary action up to and including termination. Additionally, the district requires that the use of social media networks be utilized in accordance with the district social media guidelines document.

Vandalism

Vandalism will result in cancellation of privileges and may result in school disciplinary action and /or legal action. Vandalism is defined as any malicious or intentional attempt to harm, destroy, modify, abuse or disrupt operation of any network within the school district or any network connected to the Internet, operation of any form of electronic communications, the data contained on any network or electronic communications, the data of another user, usage by another user, or district-owned software or hardware. This includes but is not limited to, the uploading or creation of computer viruses and the use of encryption software.

Unauthorized software

Staff members are prohibited from installing or utilizing any software that has been downloaded or is otherwise in the user's possession without appropriate registration and payment of any fees owed to the software owner.

School district makes no warranties

The school district makes no warranties of any kind, whether expressed or implied, related to the use of district technologies and technology systems, including access to the Internet and electronic communications services. Provided access to these services does not imply endorsement by the district of the content, nor does the district make any guarantee as to the accuracy or quality of information received. The school district shall not be responsible for any damages, losses or costs a staff member suffers in using the Internet and electronic communications. This includes loss of data and service interruptions. Use of any information obtained via the Internet and electronic communications is at the staff member's own risk.

Adopted: July 25, 2001

Revised: January 8, 2003

Revised May 22, 2012

Revised: July 1, 2014

Revised: September 23, 2014

LEGAL REFS.:   47 U.S.C. 254(h) (Children's Internet Protection Act of 2000)

47 U.S.C. 231 et seq. (Child Online Protection Act of 2000)

20 U.S.C. 6801 et seq. (Elementary and Secondary Education Act)

C.R.S. 22-87-101 et seq. (Children's Internet Protection Act)

C.R.S. 24-72-204.5 (monitoring electronic communications)

CROSS REF.:  EGAEA Electronic Communication

GBJ Personnel Records and Files

JRA/JRC Student Records/Release of Information on Students