Advances in telecommunications and other related technologies have fundamentally altered the ways in which information is accessed, communicated, and transferred in our society. Such changes are driving the need for educators to adapt their means and methods of instruction, and the way they approach student learning, to harness and utilize the vast, diverse, and unique resources available on the Network/Internet. The District is pleased to provide Network/Internet service to its staff. The District encourages staff to utilize the Network/Internet in order to promote educational excellence in our schools by providing them with the opportunity to develop the resource sharing, innovation, and communication skills and tools which will be essential to life and work. The District encourages the faculty to develop the appropriate skills necessary to effectively access, analyze, evaluate, and utilize these resources. The instructional use of the Network/Internet will be guided by the District's policy on instructional materials.

The Network/Internet is an electronic highway connecting computers and users in the District with computers and users worldwide. Access to the Network/Internet enables staff members to explore thousands of libraries, databases, and bulletin boards, while exchanging messages with people throughout the world. Access to such an incredible quantity of information and resources brings unique challenges.

First, and foremost, the District may not be able to technologically limit access to services through the District's Network/Internet connection to only those that have been authorized for the purpose of instruction, study and research related to the District related business. Unlike in the past when educators and community members had the opportunity to review and screen materials to assess their appropriateness, access to the Network/Internet, because it serves as a gateway to any publicly available file server in the world, will open classrooms and staff to electronic information resources.

The District has implemented technology protection measures utilizing software and hardware measures to monitor, block, and filter Internet access to visual displays that are obscene, pornographic, or harmful to minors. The District utilizes software and/or hardware to monitor online activity of staff members to restrict access to child pornography and other material that is obscene, objectionable, inappropriate and/or harmful to minors. The Superintendent may disable the technology protection measure to enable access for bona fide research or other lawful purposes.

The Superintendent is directed to prepare procedures which address staff safety and security while using e-mail, and other forms of direct electronic communication, and prohibit disclosure of personal identification information of minors and unauthorized access (e.g., "hacking") and other unlawful activities by minors online. Staff members are reminded that personally identifiable student information is confidential and may not be disclosed without prior written parental permission. Before electronic mail is released pursuant to a public records request, all exempt information in it must be deleted.

Site administrators are responsible for providing training so that Network/Internet users under their supervision are knowledgeable about this policy and its accompanying procedures. The Board expects that staff members will provide guidance and instruction to students in the appropriate use of the Network/Internet. All Network/Internet users are required to sign a written agreement annually or at the time of employment to abide by the terms and conditions of this policy and its accompanying procedures.

Staff members are responsible for good behavior on District's computers/network and the Network/Internet just as they are in classrooms, school hallways, and other school premises and school sponsored events. Communications on the Network/Internet are often public in nature. General school rules for behavior and communication apply. The District does not sanction any use of the Network/Internet that is not authorized by or conducted strictly in compliance with this policy and its accompanying procedures. Users who disregard this policy and its accompanying procedures may have their use privileges suspended or revoked, and disciplinary action taken against them. Users granted access to the Network/Internet through the District's computers assume personal responsibility and liability, both civil and criminal, for uses of the Network/Internet not authorized by this policy and its accompanying procedures.

The District complies with all federal and state laws pertaining to electronic mail. State and federal law exempts certain documents and information within documents from disclosure, no matter what their form. Before electronic mail is released pursuant to a public records request, all exempt information in it must be deleted.

The Board designates the Superintendent as the administrator responsible for initiating, implementing, and enforcing this policy and its accompanying procedures as they apply to the use of the Network and the Internet for educational/business purposes.

F.S. 1001.41
H.R. 4577, P.L. 106-554, Children's Internet Protection Act of 2000 
47 U.S.C. 254(h), (1), Communications Act of 1934, as amended
20 U.S.C. 6801 et seq., Part F, Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965,
as amended
18 U.S.C. 2256
18 U.S.C. 1460
18 U.S.C. 2246