Acceptable Use Policy - Staff

Series No. 500 - Human Resources
Policy Section No. 520
General Human Resource Policies

Policy No. 522.7
Staff Internet Acceptable Use

Policy

School access to the Internet is available to all faculty and staff in the District without cost.

The Internet is an electronic network connecting computers all over the world with millions of people. Access to electronic mail (e-mail) and information from the World Wide Web provides a wide range of resources to faculty and staff.

Even with Internet filtering, as required by the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA), it is impossible to control all materials on the World Wide Web global network. The benefits of Internet access to faculty and staff, in the form of information resources and opportunities for collaboration, far exceed any disadvantages.

The following guidelines govern faculty and staff use of Internet resources:

1.   Deliberate accessing or transmitting materials that are obscene, sexually explicit or child pornography is prohibited.

2.   Deliberate transmission of any material in violation of any federal or state regulation is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, copyrighted material, hate mail, harassment, discriminatory or defamatory remarks and threatening material.

3.   Users shall abide by the rules of network etiquette. These include using appropriate language, respecting the privacy of others and not disrupting the use of the network.

4.   Attempts to gain unauthorized access to system software applications, passwords or computer equipment are prohibited.

5.   Any malicious attempt to harm, modify or destroy data of another user is prohibited.

6.   E-mail is not encrypted or otherwise protected and therefore privacy can not be guaranteed. E-mail should not be used to communicate confidential student or district information unless security measures are in place to protect the privacy of such information.

7.   Faculty and staff are reminded that school computers and Internet resources are owned by the District. The District reserves the right to monitor and access an employee’s Internet activities and e-mail content. Employees will be required to sign a written consent form whereby the individual consents to monitoring of all the individual’s Internet activities, including, but not limited to, web sites accessed, newsgroup activities and e-mail content.

8.   E-mail messages sent or received by faculty and staff related to school business may be considered public records and subject to inspection, disclosure and retention in accordance with provisions of the state public records law and applicable District policies and procedures.

Policy violations may result in restriction of access to District Internet resources, appropriate disciplinary action in accordance with applicable District policies, procedures and collective bargaining agreements and/or legal action, if warranted.

This policy shall be shared with all faculty and staff on an annual basis.

LEGAL REF.:  Sections    118.125       Wisconsin Statutes
120.12(1)
943.70
947.0125
Chapter 19, Subchapters II and IV
ADM 12, Wisconsin Administrative Code
Children’s Internet Protection Act
Federal Copyright Law [17 U.S.C.]
Electronic Communications Privacy Act  [18 U.S.C. § 2510-2522)
Technology Education and Copyright Harmonization Act (TEACH Act)
Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

CROSS REF.:   347, Student Records
363.2, Acceptable Use of the Internet and Other Computer-Related
Technologies
511, Equal Opportunity Employment
512, Harassment
771.1, Use and Duplication of Copyrighted Materials
823, Access to Public Records
Current Employee Agreements

Exhibits:
No Exhibits

Adopted:
November 2002

Revised:
September 18, 2007