NORTHFIELD BOARD OF EDUCATION FILE CODE: 6142.10
Northfield, New Jersey Monitored
X Mandated
Policy X Other Reasons
INTERNET SAFETY AND TECHNOLOGY
The board shall develop a technology plan that effectively uses electronic communication to advance and promote learning and teaching. This system of technology shall be used to provide local, statewide, national and global communications opportunities for staff and students. Educational technology shall be infused into the district curriculum to maximize student achievement of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards.
It is the policy of the district to establish safe and effective methods for student and staff users of the district’s technological resources and to:
- Prevent user access over its computer network to, or transmission of, inappropriate material via Internet, electronic mail, or other forms of direct electronic communications;
- Prevent unauthorized access and other unlawful online activity;
- Prevent unauthorized online disclosure, use, or dissemination of personal identification information of minors; and
- Comply with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA).
The district shall ensure equal and bias-free access for all students to computers, computer classes, career and technical education programs, and technologically-advanced instructional assistance, regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, affectional/sexual orientation, gender, religion, disability, English proficiency, immigration status, housing status or socioeconomic status.
COMPLIANCE WITH CIPA
Filters Blocking Access to Inappropriate Material
To the extent practical, technology protection measures (or “Internet filters”) shall be used to block or filter Internet, or other forms of electronic communications, access to inappropriate information.
Specifically, as required by the Children’s Internet Protection Act, blocking shall be applied to visual depictions of material deemed obscene or child pornography, or to any material deemed harmful to minors.
Subject to staff supervision, technology protection measures may be disabled or, in the case of minors, minimized only for bona fide research or other lawful purposes.
Inappropriate Network Usage
To the extent practical, steps shall be taken to promote the safety and security of users of the school district online computer network when using electronic mail, chat rooms, instant messaging, and other forms of direct electronic communications.
Specifically, as required by the Children’s Internet Protection Act, prevention of inappropriate network usage includes:
- Unauthorized access, including so-called “hacking,” and other unlawful activities; and
- Unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal identification information regarding minors.
Education, Supervision and Monitoring
It shall be the responsibility of all members of the school district staff to educate, supervise and monitor usage of the online computer network and access to the Internet in accordance with this policy and the Children’s Internet Protection Act. Procedures for the disabling or otherwise modifying any technology protection measures shall be the responsibility of the Superintendent or his or her designee.
The Superintendent or his or her designee shall ensure that students and staff who use the school internet facilities receive appropriate training including the following:
- The district established standards for the acceptable use of the internet;
- Internet safety rules;
- Rules for limited supervised access to and appropriate behavioral expectations for use of online resources, social network websites, and chat rooms;
- Cyberbullying (board policy 5131.1 Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying) awareness and response.
Student use of the Internet shall be supervised by qualified staff.
Policy Development
The district Internet Safety and Technology policy shall be adopted and revised through a procedure that includes reasonable public notice and at least one public hearing.
ACCEPTABLE USE OF COMPUTER NETWORK/COMPUTERS
AND RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS
The school board bears responsibility for the manner in which internet access is provided and managed within a district. Providing Internet access to students is an action that can potentially create controversy within the community. Careful board consideration of policies and practices related to Internet use will position the district to more effectively address any issues that may arise. The board should provide every parent or guardian with information about the district policies and practices and provide an option for parents or guardians to request that their child not be allowed access through the district system.
The district Internet system is being established for an Internet educational purpose. The system is limited to use of educational and career or professional development activities and limited high quality self-discovery.
District Responsibilities and Parent and/or Legal Guardian Responsibilities
The Superintendent or his or her designee is responsible for the overall system coordination and relationships with other regional or State network programs. The Superintendent is also responsible for ensuring that parents/guardians are notified about the district network and the rules governing its use.
Parents/guardians shall sign an agreement to allow their children to have an individual account. Parent/guardians who do not wish their children to have access to the Internet must notify the principal in writing.
The Principal will be responsible for policy implementation within the classrooms. The Principal will ensure that all of the employees receive instruction in the district policies, establish a process to ensure adequate supervision of students using the system, establish procedures for conducting building activities (such as a web page), maintain executed user agreements, and be responsible for interpreting the district policies at the building level.
The director of technology services will be the system manager and will be responsible for maintaining and monitoring the district system. The director will also establish a process for setting up individual and class accounts, set quotas for disk usage, establish a retention schedule, and develop a virus protection process.
The district’s responsibilities include the establishment of the reasonable boundaries of what is considered acceptable use of the district system, educating students about the acceptable uses, providing general supervision, and enforcing the policies for acceptable use. The district cannot be responsible for direct supervision of every student while they are using the Internet and this fact must be made clear to parents/guardians.
Parents/guardians responsibility will be to address with their children any additional boundaries of what is considered acceptable use by members of their family.
Northfield Community School – Procedures for Acceptable Technology Usage
Recommended Network Safety Rule
I will not give out personal information, such as my last name, address, home email address, telephone number, or the location of my school without permission of my parents/guardians.
I will tell my teacher and/or parents/guardians right away if I come across any information that makes me feel uncomfortable.
I will never agree to get together with someone I “meet” online without checking with any parent or guardians.
I will not respond to any messages that are mean or that in any way make me feel uncomfortable. If I receive this kind of message, I will tell my teacher and/or parents/guardians immediately so that they can contact the online service.
Limitation of Liability
The internet constitutes an unregulated collection of resources that changes constantly, so it is not possible to totally predict or control the resources that users may locate. The board cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information or the appropriateness of materials that a user may encounter. Furthermore, the board shall not be responsible for any damage users may suffer, including but not limited to, loss of data or interruptions of service. Nor shall the board be responsible for financial obligations arising through the unauthorized use of the system.
Use of Technology Violation Consequences
1st Violation Parent or guardian phone call or conference and/or loss of computer privileges for three days.
2nd Violation Five day loss of computer privileges and parent or guardian notification.
3rd Violation Administrative intervention.
4th Violation Loss of computer privileges for the remainder of the year and parents/guardians notification.
Severe Violation Immediate loss of computer privileges for the school year with parent or guardian notification. (Examples include but are not limited to, accessing pornography, bullying, etc.)
Damage Control Modification of technology usage and these policies will be implemented immediately by the Superintendent, pending review of the action by the school board.
Adopted: November 17, 2009
NJSBA Review/Update: December 2009; December 2010; March 2017
Readopted: October 24, 2011
Revised: June 25, 2012; June 22, 2020
Key Words
Acceptable Use, Blocking/Filtering Software, E-mail, Internet, Technology, Web Site, World Wide Web
Legal References: N.J.S.A. 2A:38A-1 et seq. Computer System
N.J.S.A. 2C:20-25 Computer Related Theft
N.J.S.A. 18A:7A-10 New Jersey QSAC
N.J.S.A. 18A:36-35 School Internet websites; disclosure of certain student information prohibited
N.J.A.C. 6A:30-1.1 et seq. Evaluation of the Performance of School Districts
17 U.S.C. 101 United States Copyright Law
47 U.S.C. 254(h) Children’s Internet Protection Act
State in re T.L.O., 94 N.J. 331 (1983), reversed on other grounds, New Jersey v. T.L.O., 569 U.S. 325 (1985).
O’Connor v. Ortega 480 U.S. 709 (1987)
No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, Pub. L. 107-110, 20 U.S.C.A. 6301 et seq.
Possible
Cross References: *1111 District publications
*3514 Equipment
- Office services
*3570 District records and reports
4118.2/4218.2 Freedom of speech (staff)
*5114 Suspension and expulsion
*5124 Reporting to parents/guardians
*5131 Conduct/discipline
*5131.5 Vandalism/violence
*5142 Student safety
5145.2 Freedom of speech/expression (students)
*6144 Controversial issues
*6145.3 Publications
6161 Equipment, books and materials
*Indicates policy is included in the Critical Policy Reference Manual.