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2361 ACCEPTABLE USE OF COMPUTER NETWORK/COMPUTERS AND RESOURCES
The Board of Education recognizes that as telecommunications and other new
technologies shift the manner in which information is accessed, communicated
and transferred that those changes will alter the nature of teaching and
learning. Access to telecommunications will allow pupils to explore
databases, libraries, Internet sites, bulletin boards and the like while
exchanging information with individuals throughout the world. The Board
supports access by pupils to information sources but reserves the right to
limit in school use to materials appropriate to educational purposes. The
Board directs the Superintendent to effect training of teaching staff
members in skills appropriate to analyzing and evaluating such resources as
to appropriateness for educational purposes.
The Board also recognizes that telecommunications will allow pupils access
to information sources that have not been pre-screened by educators using
Board approved standards. The Board therefore adopts the following standards
of conduct for the use of computer networks and declares unethical,
unacceptable or illegal behavior as just cause for taking disciplinary
action, limiting or revoking network access privileges and/or instituting
legal action.
The Board provides access to computer network/computers for educational
purposes only. The Board retains the right to restrict or terminate pupil
access to the computer network/computers at any time, for any reason. The
Board retains the right to have district personnel monitor network activity,
in any form necessary, to maintain the integrity of the network and ensure
its proper use.
Standards for Use of Computer Networks
Any individual engaging in the following actions when using computer
networks/computers shall be subject to discipline or legal action:
A.
Using the computer network(s)/computers for illegal, inappropriate or
obscene purposes, or in support of such activities. Illegal activities are
defined as activities that violate federal, state, local laws and
regulations. Inappropriate activities are defined as those that violate
the intended use of the network. Obscene activities shall be defined as a
violation of generally accepted social standards for use of publicly owned
and operated communication vehicles.
B.
Using the computer network(s)/computers to violate copyrights, institutional
or third party copyrights, license agreements or other contracts.
C.
Using the computer network(s) in a manner that:
1. Intentionally disrupts network traffic or crashes the network;
2. Degrades or disrupts equipment or system performance;
3. Uses the computing resources of the school district for commercial
purposes,financial gain or fraud;
4. Steals data or other intellectual property;
5. Gains or seeks unauthorized access to the files of others or vandalizes
the data of another user;
6. Gains or seeks unauthorized access to resources or entities;
7. Forges electronic mail messages or uses an account owned by others;
8. Invades privacy of others;
9. Posts anonymous messages;
10. Possesses any data which is a violation of this policy; and/or
11. Engages in other activities that do not advance the educational purposes
for which computer networks/computers are provided.
Internet Safety/Protection
The school district is in compliance with the Children’s Internet Protection
Act and has installed technology protection measures for all computers in
the school district, including computers in media centers/libraries, that
block and/or filter visual depictions that are obscene as defined in Section
1460 of Title 18, United States Code; child pornography, as defined in
Section 2256 of Title 18, United States Code; are harmful to minors
including any pictures, images, graphic image file or other visual depiction
that taken as a whole and with respect to minors, appeals to a prurient
interest in nudity, sex, or excretion; or depicts, describes, or represents
in a patently offensive way, with respect to what is suitable for minors,
sexual acts or conduct; or taken as a whole, lacks serious literary,
artistic, political, or scientific value as to minors.
The school district will certify on an annual basis, that the schools,
including media centers/libraries, in the district are in compliance with
the Children’s Internet Protection Act and the school district enforces the
requirements of this policy.
This Policy also establishes Internet safety policy and procedures in the
district as required in the Neighborhood Children’s Internet Protection
Act. Policy 2361 addresses access by minors to inappropriate matter on the
Internet and World Wide Web; the safety and security of minors when using
electronic mail, chat rooms, and other forms of direct electronic
communications; unauthorized access, including “hacking” and other unlawful
activities by minors online; unauthorized disclosures, use, and
dissemination of personal identification information regarding minors; and
measures designed to restrict minors’ access to materials harmful to minors.
Notwithstanding blocking and/or filtering the visual depictions prohibited
in the Children’s Internet Protection Act, the Board shall determine other
Internet material that is inappropriate for minors. The Board will provide
reasonable public notice and will hold one annual public hearing during a
regular monthly board meeting or during a designated special board meeting
to address and receive public community input on the Internet safety policy -
Policy and Regulation 2361.
Consent Requirement
No pupil shall be allowed to use the computer network and the Internet
unless they shall have filed with the Technology Specialist a consent form
signed by the pupil and his/her parent(s) or legal guardian(s).
Violations
Individuals violating this policy shall be subject to the consequences as
indicated in Regulation No. 2361 and other appropriate discipline, which
includes but are not limited to:
1. Use of the network only under direct supervision;
2. Suspension of network privileges;
3. Revocation of network privileges;
4. Suspension of computer privileges;
5. Revocation of computer privileges;
6. Suspension from school;
7. Expulsion from school; and/or
8. Legal action and prosecution by the authorities.
N.J.S.A. 2A:38A-3
Federal Communications Commission: Children’s Internet
Protection Act.
Adopted: 04 April 2006
5512.02 CYBER-BULLYING
Policy Statement
A safe and civil environment in school is necessary for pupils
to learn and achieve high academic standards. Cyber-bullying by a pupil in
the district directed toward another school district pupil or school staff
member is conduct that disrupts both a pupil's ability to learn and a
school's ability to educate its pupils in a safe environment.
The Board of Education prohibits acts of cyber-bullying by
school district pupils through the use of any school district owned,
operated, and supervised technologies. The Building Principal or designee
may report allegations of cyber-bullying to law enforcement authorities.
Definitions
"Cyber-Bullying" is the use of electronic information and
communication devices, to include but not be limited to, e-mail messages,
instant messaging, text messaging, cellular telephone communications,
internet blogs, internet chat rooms, internet postings, and defamatory
websites, that:
Deliberately threatens, harasses, intimidates and individual or group of
individuals; or
Places and individual in reasonable fear of harm to the individual or damage
to the individual's property; or
Has the effect of substantially disrupting the orderly operation of the
school.
"School district owned, operated, or supervised technologies" is any
computer, networking system, electronic equipment, or any other equipment or
device that may be used by a person to communicate to another which is
owned, leased, operated, or under the control or supervision of the school
district and/or school district staff.
Reporting Procedure and Investigation
Any pupil or school staff member who believes he/she has or is
being subjected to cyber-bullying, as well as any person who has reason to
believe a pupil or school staff member has knowledge or reason to believe
another pupil or school staff member is being subjected to or has been
subjected to cyber-bullying shall immediately make a report to the Building
Principal or designee.
The Building Principal or designee shall investigate all reports of such
conduct. If the investigation results indicate cyber-bullying was not
committed, the Building Principal or designee will inform the affected
parties of the investigation results. In the event the investigation
results indicate cyber-bullying was committed by a school district pupil on
school grounds and/or using school district technologies, the pupil will be
subjected to appropriate discipline.
In the event the investigation results indicate cyber-bullying was committed
by a school district pupil using non-school district technologies away from
school grounds, the Building Principal or designee may report the
investigation results to local law enforcement. In addition, school
authorities have the right to impose a consequence on a pupil for conduct
away from school grounds, including on a school bus or at a school-sponsored
function pursuant to N.J.A.C.6A:16-7.6. This authority shall be exercised
only when it is reasonably necessary for the pupil's physical or emotional
safety, security, and well-being or for reasons relating to the safety,
security, and well-being of other pupils, staff, or school grounds, pursuant
to N.J.S.A. 18A:25-2 and 18A:37-2. This authority shall be exercised only
when the conduct, which is the subject of the proposed consequence,
materially and substantially interferes with the requirements of appropriate
discipline in the operation of the school. Consequences shall be handled in
accordance with Policy and Regulation 5600, N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.1, and as
appropriate, in accordance with N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.2, 6A:16-7.3, or 6A:16-7.5.
Any investigation regarding an allegation of cyber-bullying will
provide all parties the appropriate due process rights, including the right
to appeal the determination of the Building Principal or designee as
outlined in Regulation 5512.
Discipline and Consequences
Some acts of cyber-bullying may be isolated incidents requiring
the school district to respond appropriately to the individual committing
the acts. Other acts may be so serious or part of a larger pattern of cyber-
bullying that require a response either at the classroom, school building,
or school district level or by law enforcement officials.
Consequences and appropriate remedial actions for pupils who
commit an act of cyber-bullying range from positive behavioral interventions
up to and including suspension or expulsion, as permitted under N.J.S.A.
18A:37-1, Discipline of Pupils. In addition, cyber-bullying using district
technology violates Policy 2361 – Acceptable Use of Computer
Network/Computer and Resources and subjects the pupil to discipline and
sanctions of Policy and Regulation 2361.
Prevention and intervention techniques to prevent cyber-bullying
and to support and protect victims shall include appropriate strategies and
activities as determined by the Building Principal or designee.
Reprisal or Retaliation Prohibited
The school district prohibits reprisal or retaliation against
any person who reports an act of cyber-bullying. The consequence and
appropriate remedial action for a person who engages in reprisal or
retaliation shall be determined by the Building Principal or designee after
consideration of the nature and circumstances of the act, in accordance with
case law, Federal and State statutes and regulations, and district policies
and procedures.
Consequences for False Accusation
Consequences and appropriate remedial action for a pupil found
to have falsely accused another of an act of cyber-bullying range from
positive behavioral interventions up to and including suspension or
expulsion, as permitted under N.J.S.A. 18A:37-1, Discipline of Pupils.
Consequences and appropriate remedial action for a school
employee found to have falsely accused another of an act of cyber-bullying
shall be disciplined in accordance with district policies and procedures.
Policy Publication
This Policy will be disseminated annually to all school staff,
pupils, and parent(s) or legal guardian(s).
Adopted: February 15, 2007
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