Internet Acceptable Use Policy 524

Staff will use email on a daily basis at work as a primary tool for communication.  The district will rely on this medium to communicate information, and all staff will be responsible for checking and reading messages daily.

The network is provided for staff and students to access web resources and communicate with others.  Communications over the network and on school owned devices are public in nature; therefore, general rules and standards for professional behavior and communications will apply.

Users will follow the responsible use guidelines for network and digital resource etiquette:

• Be polite.  School rules regarding all forms of harassment apply to electronic communications.
• Use appropriate language.  Do not swear, use vulgarities or any other inappropriate language, material or images.
• Do not reveal names, personal addresses, or phone numbers to unknown internet users.
• Be aware that email is not guaranteed to be private.  Staff who manage the email system have access to email.  Messages relating to or in support of illegal activities will be reported to the proper authorities.
• The use of the network and digital resources must be consistent with district policy #524.

Email is not to be utilized by employees to share confidential information about students or other employees as email is not guaranteed to be secure.  Users should not expect that personal files stored on district equipment will be private.

Responsible and ethical use of the network and digital resources is expected of all employees.  Staff members must follow all rules relating to copyright and appropriate use of data and images.

Staff must check the media opt out list before publishing student photos or course work publicly. This can be found under the Forms/Calendar dropdown in Staff Access on the isd47.org website.

Inappropriate behaviors will be reported to the staff’s supervisor who will take appropriate action.  Violations may result in disciplinary action, and when applicable, law enforcement agencies may be involved.

All district issued devices must be locked with a passcode or similar security to prevent unauthorized access to district data and resources.  Devices will maintain an automatic lock screen of no more than 10 minutes for administration, student support staff, administrative assistants and clerical staff and no more than 30 minutes for classroom teachers.

• District issued devices must never be used by anyone other than the assigned user, unless under direct supervision.
• Staff must password protect their email and activate multi-factor authentication to prevent system access by unauthorized users.
• Any district data that is sent, received, or stored on personal cell phones, tablets or computers must be locked with a passcode or other type of lock to prevent unauthorized users from accessing district data.  This includes email and other Google apps on personal cell phones or other personal devices.
• All staff must implement clear desk clear screen procedures to protect passwords and other login credentials to district resources.  Passwords can not be stored in plain text on any storage device i.e. Google Drive, word processing, paper, etc.
• Any device that is lost or stolen that contains district data must be reported immediately to your direct supervisor.  This includes personal devices.
• Upon separation from the district, staff members must not take any district data, private student data or free or paid curriculum resources that you did not create. (see Intellectual Property section below) This includes files moved from your ISD47 Google account to your private Google account. If you use Google Takeout to move files from your ISD47 account to a personal account, it is your responsibility to remove all private data from those files.

Any digital resources created while working for Sauk Rapids-Rice Public Schools remain the property of the district and copies will need to be accessible after separation from the district.  These resources are created under the “works made for hire” doctrine.  Staff that created these resources are allowed to take a copy with them.

Use of Personal Devices when Students are Present - Use of a personal cell phone or other personal electronic device when students are present is not consistent with the active supervision, engagement, and modeling that our students deserve. Students are the center of our work. Being student-centered means being present with student(s) and actively engaging with them at all times.

Personal email is not allowed during student contact time.  Email as part of a class project is to be under the direct supervision of the classroom teacher.  Messages relating to or in support of illegal activities will be reported to the proper authorities.

Email will not be utilized to share confidential information as email is not secure.  Users should not expect that files stored on district equipment will be private.  Your computer use may be monitored.

Responsible and ethical use of internet resources is required.  Staff must know and follow the rules relating to copyright and appropriate use of data and images from internet sources.

Copies of this procedure statement will be available online in the back to school packet.  Each employee must electronically sign the document acknowledging this information annually.