Policy 6470 – Staff Acceptable Use Policy

The Board will provide staff with access to various technology resources through the District’s  technology systems (DTS) consisting of software, hardware, applications, computer networks, wired and wireless networks/access, and electronic communication systems. This includes all district-provided online resources and electronic mail. It may also include the opportunity for staff to utilize district resources from their home or other remote locations, and/or to access the DTS from their personal devices. All use of the DTS, including usage off school premises and use on personal devices, will be subject to this policy and any accompanying regulations.

The Board encourages staff to make use of the DTS to explore educational purposes,. The expectation of the Board is that staff access to DTS such as email as a means of communication will expedite and facilitate the performance of tasks associated with their positions and assignments. The Board directs the Superintendent or designee(s) to provide staff with appropriate and necessary training in the proper and effective use of the DTS.

Staff use of the DTS is conditioned upon written agreement by the staff member that use of the DTS will conform to the requirements of this policy and any regulations adopted to ensure acceptable use of the DTS. These agreements will be kept on file in the District Office.

Generally, the same standards of acceptable staff conduct which apply to any aspect of job performance will apply to use of the DTS. Employees are expected to communicate in a professional manner consistent with applicable District policies and regulations governing the behavior of school staff. Electronic mail and telecommunications will not be utilized for personal use or to share confidential information about students or other employees.

Access to confidential data is a privilege afforded to District employees in the performance of their duties. Safeguarding this data is a District responsibility that the Board takes very seriously. Consequently, District employment does not automatically guarantee the initial or ongoing ability to use mobile or personal devices to access the DTS and the information it may contain.

This policy does not attempt to articulate all required and/or acceptable uses of the DTS; nor is it the intention of this policy to define all inappropriate usage. Administrative regulations will further define general guidelines of appropriate staff conduct and use as well as proscribed behavior.

District staff will also adhere to the laws, policies, and rules governing technology including, but not limited to, copyright laws, rights of software publishers, license agreements, data privacy agreements, and rights of privacy protected by federal and state law.

Staff members who engage in unacceptable use may lose access to the DTS and may be subject to further discipline under the law and in accordance with applicable collective bargaining agreements. Legal action may be initiated against a staff member who willfully, maliciously, or unlawfully damages or destroys property of the District.

Social Media Use by Employees

The District recognizes the value of teacher and professional staff inquiry, investigation and communication using new technology tools to enhance student learning experiences. The District also realizes its obligations to teach and ensure responsible and safe use of these new technologies. Social media, including social networking sites (SNS), have great potential to connect people around the globe and enhance communication. Therefore, the Board authorizes use of District approved social media tools and the exploration of new and emerging technologies to supplement the range of communication and educational services.

Public social media networks or SNS are defined to include: websites, Web logs (blogs), wikis, social networks, online forums, virtual worlds, video sites, and any other social media generally available to the District community which do not fall within the District’s electronic technology network (e.g., Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, LinkedIn, Flickr, Instagram, SnapChat, etc.). The definition of District approved password-protected social media tools are those that fall within the District’s electronic technology network or which the District has approved for educational use. Within these internal forums, the District has greater authority and ability to protect minors from inappropriate content and can limit public access.

The use of social media (whether public or internal) can generally be defined as Official District Use, Professional/Instructional Use and Personal Use. Personal use of social media or SNS by employees during District time or on District-owned equipment is discouraged. In addition, employees are encouraged to maintain the highest levels of professionalism when communicating, whether using District devices or their own personal devices, in their professional capacity as educators. They have a responsibility to address inappropriate behavior or activity on these networks, including requirements for mandated reporting and compliance with all applicable District policies and regulations.

Confidentiality, Private Information and Privacy Rights

Confidential or private data, including, but not limited to, protected student records, employee personal identifying information, and District assessment data, will only be loaded, stored, or transferred to District-owned devices which have encryption and/or password protection. This restriction, designed to ensure data security, encompasses all computers and devices within the DTS, any mobile devices, including flash or key drives, and any devices that access the DTS from remote locations. Staff will not use email to transmit confidential files in order to work at home or another location. Similarly, staff are prohibited from using  non-district cloud-based storage services for confidential files.

In addition, staff will not leave any devices unattended. All devices must be locked down while the staff member steps away from the device, and settings enabled to freeze and lock after a set period of inactivity.

Staff data files and electronic storage areas will remain District property, subject to District control and inspection. The Technology Coordinator may access all staff data files and communications without prior notice to ensure system integrity and that users are complying with requirements of this policy and any accompanying regulations. Staff should not expect that information stored on the DTS will be private.

NOTE:  Refer also to Policies:

#5683 — Information Security Breach and Notification
#6471 — Use of Email in the District
#7243 — Student Data Breaches
#8271 — Internet Safety/Internet Content Filtering Policy

Adopted: 04/25/01
Revised: 02/11/10
Revised: 02/17/22