FILE:  IFBGA

Cf:  EBBB, EFA

Cf:  JCDAF

STUDENT COMPUTER ACCESS AND 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 Zachary Community 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 Zachary Community 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.

Internet access has been made available to enhance innovative education for students through access to unique resources and collaborations.  Furthermore, the School Board expects teachers will improve learning and teaching through research, teacher training, collaboration, and dissemination of successful educational practices, methods, and materials.

In its continued efforts to comply with the Children's Internet Protection 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 an adult user the blocking or filtering mechanism in order to enable Internet access for bona fide research or other lawful purposes, which shall include online services for legitimate scientific or educational purposes approved by the School Board, or access to online services of a newspaper with a daily circulation of at least 1,000.

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, such as "Instant Messaging";
  
  

• Prohibit unauthorized access, including what is now known as "hacking" and other unlawful on-line activities by minors online;
  
  

• Prohibit unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal information regarding minors; and
  
  

• Institutes measures designed to restrict minors' access to materials harmful to minors.

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 student and parent or guardians shall sign an Acceptable Use of Computers and Internet Agreement, which shall be required before any student will be allowed to use school system computers.  The student and parent/guardians signatures shall be legally binding on all parties and shall indicate they have read the terms and conditions carefully and understand their significance.

COMPUTER AND INTERNET USE TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1. Acceptable Use - The purpose of 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.  Subscriptions to listservers, bulletin boards, and on-line services must be pre-approved by the Superintendent or his/her designee.
   
   

2. Privileges - The use of the Internet 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 the Internet shall be conducted.  Routine maintenance of the system may purge files from individual accounts.
   
   

3. Security - Security on any computer system is a high priority, especially when the system involves many users.  Any suspected security problem on the Internet shall be reported to the 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 shall be denied access to the Internet.
   
   

4. 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 other networks that are connected to Internet.  This includes, but is not limited to, the uploading or creation of computer viruses or worms.  No software, programs, or files may be installed or downloaded by any user without the prior permission of the building technology coordinator, who must scan for appropriateness and viruses or worms.
   
   

5. Consequences of Misuse - School principals may suspend from school any student who accesses, sends, receives, or configures electronically any profane 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.

ACCEPTABLE USE

The Internet user shall be held responsible for his/her actions and activities.  Unacceptable uses of system computers and related network shall result in appropriate disciplinary action, including school suspension, expulsion, or revoking of these privileges.  Regulations for participation by anyone on the Internet shall include but not be not be limited to the following.  Students shall:

• Sign a statement as evidence that the student has read, understands, and intends to comply with these policies, and all other related policies before using the computers at Zachary Community Schools.
  
  

• Use World Wide Web search engines and/or other Internet tools only under the direction and supervision of teachers.
  
  

• Not access visual depictions that are obscene, pornographic or harmful to minors.
  
  

• 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.
  
  

• Not access objectionable or inappropriate material over the Internet.
  
  

• Not post any e-mail or other messages or materials that are derogatory, abusive, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, threatening, offensive, dangerous, slanderous, sexually harassing, terrorizing or illegal.  Students shall not use any language online that is not permitted in the classroom.
  
  

• Not post personal information about themselves (last names, addresses, or telephone numbers) or any other person.
  
  

• Not forward personal mail without permission.
  
  

• Not abuse or waste network resources through frivolous and non-educational use or send chain letters or annoying or unnecessary letters to large numbers of people.
  
  

• Observe the copyright law.  Students shall not plagiarize or otherwise use copyrighted material without permission.  Students shall properly cite the source of information accessed over the Internet.
  
  

• Not make any purchase on the Internet while using school equipment or Internet service.
  
  

• Not use e-mail, chat rooms, net meeting rooms, and other form of direct electronic communication including instant messaging systems unless authorized.
  
  

• Not use or post 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.  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 is prohibited.

ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES

In addition, the following guidelines shall be observed:

• Installation of software shall be permitted only by the District's administration, and should not be undertaken by any other user.
  
  

• Users are not permitted to work in or to modify the Network Operating System.
  
  

• Unauthorized exploration or changes to any system files are prohibited.
  
  

• The Zachary Community School Board computers shall be used only for educational activities and are limited to activities that have been approved by a teacher or staff member.
  
  

• The presence of food or drink in the vicinity of the computers or computer related equipment is forbidden.
  
  

• Documents and/or mail stored on the District network should be deleted regularly in order to conserve file space.
  
  

• The Zachary Community School Board reserves the right to purge accounts after proper notification of exceeding space regulations.
  
  

• Students are not to download large files unless absolutely necessary, and then only with the approval of the teacher.  If necessary, students will download the file at a time when the system is not being heavily used and immediately remove the file from the system computer once the research project in question is completed.
  
  

• Users must remember to log off any computer before leaving the area as user IDs will be used as the primary method for tracking computer usage.
  
  

• If a user is concerned that their password is no longer secure, then the user should see the system administrator for a new password.
  
  

• Standard 3 ½” diskettes, CDs and portable memory drives are acceptable for file storage.  However, CDs and memory sticks are the preferred forms of storage.
  
  

• Interpretation, application and modification of the policy is within the sole discretion of the Zachary Community School Board.
  
  

• Any questions or issues regarding this policy should be directed to the Zachary Community School Board Administration.
  
  

• Students who may inadvertently access a site that is pornographic, obscene or harmful to minors shall immediately disconnect from the site and inform the teacher.

Any activity that may be in violation of local, state, or Federal laws will be reported to the appropriate law enforcement agency.

Any parent or guardian who has questions or concerns about their child’s Internet access is encouraged to discuss these concerns with the school principal.  Parents or guardians are also encouraged to discuss family values with their children to guide their activities on the Internet.

Revised:  July, 2008

Revised:  January 8, 2009

Revised:  December 13, 2012

Revised:  November 13, 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, 8-12-04, 1-8-09, 12-13-12, 11-13-18

Zachary Community School Board