The Board of Education will provide wireless communication devices ("WCDs") (i.e. cellular and wireless telephones, pagers/beepers, personal digital assistants (PDAs) BlackBerries/Smartphones, WiFi-enabled or broadcast access devices, etc.) to employees who by the nature of their job have a routine and continuing business need for the use of such devices for official Board business. WCDs are provided as a tool to conduct Board business and to enhance business efficiencies. WCDs are not a personal benefit and shall not be a primary mode of communication, unless they are the most cost-effective means to conduct Board business (i.e. because some wireless services plan are billed on a time-used basis, Board-owned WCDs should not be used if a less costly alternative method of communication is safe, convenient and readily available).

The Superintendent is authorized to designate those staff members who will be issued a Board-owned WCD and provided with a wireless service plan.

The Superintendent or his/her designee is responsible for verifying:

In deciding which staff members should receive a Board-owned WCD, the Superintendent will consider whether their jobs:

Using a WCD while operating a vehicle is strongly discouraged. Employees should plan accordingly so that calls are placed, text messages, instant messages or e-mails sent/read, and/or the Internet browsed either prior to traveling or while on rest breaks. In the interest of safety for both Board employees and other drivers, employees are required to comply with all applicable laws while driving.

Employees are subject to all applicable policies and guidelines pertaining to protection of the security, integrity and availability of the data stored on their Board-owned WCDs.

Wireless communications, including calls, text messages, instant messages, and e-mails sent from WCDs may not be secure. Therefore, employees should use discretion in relaying confidential information, particularly as it relates to students.

Additionally, wireless communications, including text messages, instant messages and e-mails sent and/or received by a public employee or school official using their Board-owned WCD may constitute public records if the content of the message concerns District business, or an education record if the content includes personally identifiable information about a student. Wireless communications that are public records are subject to retention and disclosure, upon request, in accordance with Policy – 8310 Public Records. Wireless communications that are student records should be maintained pursuant to Policy 8330 – Student Records. Finally wireless communications and other electronically stored information (ESI) stored on the staff member's Board-owned WCD may be subject to a Litigation Hold pursuant to Policy 8315 – Information Management. Staff are required to comply with District requests to produce copies of wireless communications in their possession that are either public records or education records, or that constitute ESI that is subject to a Litigation Hold.

Except in emergency situations, employees are prohibited from using WCDs to capture, record or transmit the words (i.e. audio) and/or images (i.e. pictures/video) of any student, staff member or other person in the school or while attending a school-related activity, without express prior notice and explicit consent for the capture, recording or transmission of such words or images. Using a WCD to take or transmit audio and/or pictures/video of an individual without his/her consent is considered an invasion of privacy and is not permitted, unless authorized by the building principal or Superintendent.

At no time may any WCD be utilized by an employee in a way that might reasonably create in the mind of another person an impression of being threatened, humiliated, harassed, embarrassed or intimidated.

Employees are responsible for the safekeeping, care and custody of the WCDs assigned to them. Further, employees are responsible for the cost of misuse, intentional damage or reckless loss of the WCDs provided to them. The District does not provide or purchase insurance to allow for loss or damage to its WCDs.

Reasonable precautions should be taken to prevent unauthorized use/access to, or loss, damage, theft and/or vandalism to said devices. Upon resignation or termination of employment, or at any time upon request, the employee may be asked to produce the WCD for return or inspection. Employees unable to present the device in good working condition within the time period requested (e.g. twenty-four (24) hours) might be expected to bear the cost of a replacement. Employees who separate from employment with outstanding debts for equipment loss or unauthorized charges will be considered to have left employment on unsatisfactory terms and may be subject to legal action for recovery of the loss.

Each employee issued a Board-owned WCD is required to keep a log documenting the calls made, e-mails, instant messages or text messages sent/receive, or Internet sites accessed with a notation of the purpose of each action.

Each employee issued a Board-owned WCD will receive a detailed monthly statement for all charges. The employee must review the monthly statement for billing accuracy, then sign and date it verifying the employee's review and attesting that there are no charges for personal calls, text messages, instant messages or e-mails. A copy of the signed and dated statement is to be submitted to the Treasurer within seven (7) days of receipt of it by the employee. In the event that a personal call is inadvertently made or received, or a text message, instant message or e-mail of a personal nature is sent or received on the employee's Board-owned WCD, the employee shall be billed for the actual cost of the personal calls made or received, or the text messages, instant messages or e-mails sent or received. In addition, the employee shall also be charged a portion of the monthly service fee. If the employee's service plan is all-inclusive and charges are not assessed for individual calls, text messages, instant messages or e-mails, then the employee will be charged a pro-rated share of the monthly charge. Any amount owed will be deducted from the employee's paycheck in the following pay cycle.

Any employee who regularly places or receives personal calls, or uses his/her Board-owned WCD to send/receive personal e-mails, text messages, or instant messages, may be subject to disciplinary action. Use of a Board-owned WCD by an employee to access a personal e-mail account or connect to the Internet for personal business is strictly prohibited.

WCDs may not be transferred to any other employee without prior notification and approval of the Superintendent. Employees provided with a WCD understand that the WCD is owned by the Board. Any alteration or switching of WCDs must be approved in advance by the Superintendent.

The Board reserves the right to audit all Board-owned WCDs, which will include but not be limited to, a review of the detailed monthly statement upon submission after the requisite review by the employee. The detailed monthly service statements for all Board-owned WCDs as well as invoices and payment documents related to these accounts are public records and, as such, may be subject to disclosure and review.

The use of WCDs that contain built-in cameras (i.e. devices that take still or motion pictures, whether in a digital or other format) is prohibited in locker rooms, classrooms, bathrooms, and/or swimming pool.

The Board recognizes that in rare circumstances it may be necessary for an employee to use a Board-owned WCD for personal business. The Board generally prohibits such conduct as emphasized by this policy, but realizes there may be limited situations when such use is justified. Employees are advised not to take advantage of this provision and that repeated use of a Board-owned WCD for personal business will result in disciplinary action.

If unforeseen circumstances develop where employees must use their Board-issued WCD for personal reasons (i.e. to let family know that the employee will be home late, etc.) it is up to the Superintendent or his/her designee to determine whether the employee should reimburse the Board.

During work hours, personal communications made or received, regardless of whether on a WCD, regular telephone, or network computer, can interfere with employee productivity and/or distract others. Employees are expected to use discretion in using personal WCDs while at work. Employees are asked to limit personal communication to breaks and lunch period and to inform friends and family members of the Board's policy in this regard.

Violation of this policy may constitute just cause for disciplinary action up to and including termination. Use of the WCD in any manner contrary to local, State or Federal laws will constitute misuse, and will result the Board immediately canceling the employee's privilege to use a Board-owned WCD and return of the device.

If a Board employee's job duties do not include frequent need for a WCD, the employee is not eligible to receive a Board-owned WCD. Such employees, however, may request reimbursement for the actual extra expenses of business cell phone calls. Reimbursement for per-minute "air time" charges is limited to the total overage charge shown on the invoice; expenses for minutes included in the employee's personal plan will not be reimbursed. The employee should make personal payment to the provider, and then submit a request for reimbursement, which details the date/time of the call, to whom the call was placed or from whom the call was received, and a brief description of the purpose of the call. A copy of the employee's wireless service bill must be attached to the request for reimbursement (the employee should redact any personal calls from the bill prior to submitting it). Business calls made on school property should be made from traditional land-line phones, when readily accessible, and therefore will not be reimbursed if made on a personal WCD.

Revised 9/28/09
Revised 2/15/10