ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS

THESE REGULATIONS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN ORDER TO COMPLY TO POLICY CQ (Local).

ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION AND DATA MANAGEMENT

CQ

(REGULATIONS)

The Superintendent or designee will oversee the District’s computer networks. The District’s computer networks will be used only for administrative and educational purposes consistent with the WISD’s mission and goals. Commercial use of WISD’s computer networks is strictly prohibited.

The District will provide training to employees in proper use of the network and will provide all users with copies of acceptable use guidelines. All training in the use of the District’s network will emphasize the ethical use of this resource.

Copyrighted software or data may not be placed on any system connected to the WISD computer network system without permission from the holder of the copyright and such software MUST be licensed directly to WISD. Only the owner (s) or individuals the owner specifically authorizes may upload copyrighted material to the system. An inventory and archive of software is to be kept at each campus library.

SYSTEM ACCESS

Access to the District’s electronic communications system will be governed as follows:

1. With approval of the immediate supervisor, WISD employees will be granted access to the District’s system.
2. The District will require that all passwords be changed every 60 days.
3. A teacher may apply for a class account and, in doing so, will be ultimately responsible for use of the account. Teachers with accounts will be required to maintain password confidentiality by not sharing the password with students or others.
4. Any system user identified as a security risk or having violated District and/or campus computer-use guidelines may be denied access to the District’s computer / network system.  A violation of District and/or campus computer-use guidelines may also result in serious disciplinary action and/or termination.

CAMPUS-LEVEL COORDINATOR RESPONSIBILITIES

As the campus-level coordinator for the electronic communications system, the principal or designee will:

1. Be responsible for disseminating and enforcing applicable District policies and acceptable use guidelines for the District’s system at the campus level.
2. Ensure that all users of the District’s system complete and sign an agreement to abide by District policies and administrative regulations regarding such use. All such agreements will be maintained on file in the principal’s office.
3. Ensure that employees supervising students who use the District’s system provide training emphasizing the appropriate use of this resource.
4. Be authorized to monitor or examine all system activities, including electronic mail transmissions, as deemed appropriate to ensure proper use of the system.

INDIVIDUAL USER RESPONSIBILITIES

The following standards will apply to all users of the District’s electronic information / communications system:

ON-LINE CONDUCT

1. The individual in whose name a system account is issued will be responsible at all times for its proper use.
2. The system may not be used for illegal purposes, in support of illegal activities, or for any other activity prohibited by WISD policy.
3. System users may not disable, or attempt to disable, filtering devices or filtering software on the WISD electronic communications system or network.
4. Communications may NOT be encrypted so as to avoid security review by WISD system administrators.
5. System users should avoid actions that are likely to increase the risk of introducing viruses to the system, such as opening email messages from unknown senders and loading data from unprotected sources.
6. System users should be mindful that the use of school-related electronic mail addresses might cause some recipients or other readers of that mail to assume they represent WISD or a WISD campus, whether of not that was the user’s intention.
7. System users may not gain unauthorized access to resources or information.
8. System users may not forward or redistribute electronic communications of WISD without the approval of the sender / author or the sender’s supervisor.
9. System users may not use another person’s system account.
10. System users must purge electronic mail in accordance with established guidelines.  Electronic mail expires on the server after 90 days.
11. System users may NOT redistribute copy or install copyrighted programs or data of any kind.

VANDALISM PROHIBITED

Any malicious attempt to harm or destroy WISD equipment or materials, data of another user, or any of the agencies or other networks that are connected to the Internet is prohibited. Deliberate attempts to degrade or disrupt system performance may be viewed as violations of WISD policy and administrative regulations and, possibly, as criminal activity under applicable state and federal laws. This includes, but is not limited to, the uploading or creating of computer viruses.

Vandalism as defined above will result in the cancellation of system use privileges and will require restitution for costs associated with system restoration, hardware, or software costs.

FORGERY PROHIBITED

Forgery or attempted forgery of electronic mail messages is prohibited. Attempts to read, delete, copy, or modify the electronic mail of other system users or deliberate interference with the ability of other system users to send/receive electronic mail is prohibited.

INFORMATION CONTENT / THIRD PARTY SUPPLIED INFORMATION

System users and parents of students with access to the District’s system should be aware that use of the system may provide access to other electronic communications systems in the global electronic network (Internet) that may contain inaccurate and/or objectionable material.

A student knowingly bringing prohibited materials into the school’s electronic environment will be subject to a suspension and/or a revocation of privileges on the District’s system and will be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct.

An employee knowingly bringing prohibited materials into the school’s electronic environment will be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with District policies.

NETWORK ETIQUETTE

System users are expected to observe the following network etiquette:

1. Be polite to other network users.
2. Use of inappropriate language such as; swearing, vulgarity, ethnic or racial slurs, and any other inflammatory language are prohibited.
3. Pretending to be someone else when sending/receiving messages is considered inappropriate.
4. Transmitting obscene messages or pictures is prohibited.
5. Revealing personal addresses and / or phone numbers of the user or others is prohibited.
6. Using the network in such a way that would disrupt the use of the network by other users is prohibited.
7. The public posting of another user’s message, without that user’s permission is prohibited.
8. Avoid the use of personal opinions and stick to the facts. Personal opinions may be misinterpreted as WISD policy or fact.

TERMINATION / REVOCATION OF SYSTEM USER ACCOUNT

WISD may suspend or revoke a system user’s access to the District’s system upon violation of District policy and/or administrative regulations regarding acceptable use.

Termination of an employee’s account or of a student’s access will be effective on the date the principal or district coordinator receives notice of student's withdrawal or of revocation or system privileges, or on a future date if so specified in the notice.

DISTRICT WEB SITE

The District will maintain a District Web site for the purpose of informing employees, students, parents, and members of the community of District programs, policies, and practices.  Requests for publication of information on the District Web site must be directed to the designated Webmaster.  The Executive Director and the District Webmaster will establish guidelines for the development and format of Web pages controlled by the District.

No personally identifying information regarding a student will be published on a Web site controlled by the District without written permission from the student’s parent.

No personal or commercial advertising will be permitted on a Web site controlled by the District.

CAMPUS OR TEACHER WEB PAGES

Campuses or classes may publish pages that will be linked to the District’s Web pages.  The campus principal will designate a staff member responsible for managing the campus’s Web page under the supervision of the District’s Webmaster.  Teachers will have easy-to-use templates for sharing pertinent information with parents, students, and the community.  Any links from a school or class Web page to sites outside the District’ computer system must receive approval from the District Webmaster and campus principal.  No personal Web pages will be allowed to be created or linked to the District’s Web page.  Booster Club pages will be linked to the District’s Web page upon the approval of the District Webmaster and administrator assigned to Booster Club activity or sport. 

CONDUCT ON  DISTRICT HOSTED WEB PAGES

• The Web pages are intended to share information with parents and our community.  The use of the template provides the Web page creator easy access in which to put information about his/her classroom and any activities of interest.
• Web pages may include limited use of photographs with signed approval from parents.
• To improve Web site performance and accessibility, Web pages should not include sound files and / or animated GIF files. 
• Photos used on Web pages should not exceed 100 KB (153 x102 pixels is an appropriate size).
• Keep information accurate and up-to-date.

DISCLAIMER

WISD's computer network system is provided on an "as is, as available" basis. The District does not make any warranties, whether express or implied, including, without limitation, those of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose with respect to any services provided by the system and any information or software contained therein. The District does not warrant that the functions or services performed by, or that the information or software contained on, the system will meet the system user’s requirements, or that the system will be uninterrupted or error-free, or that defects will be corrected.

Opinions, advice, services, and all other information expressed by system users, information providers, service providers, or other third party individuals in the system are those of the providers and not WISD.

WISD will cooperate fully with local, state, or federal officials in any investigation concerning or relating to misuse of the District’s computer network systems.