Appropriate Use of E-Mail

Overview:  Employees should use good sense, follow all laws, and maintain appropriate vigilance of students using Internet or network resources.  For example, it may be inappropriate for very young students to use e-mail without direct supervision to ensure the content of messages sent and/or received is appropriate for school.  Also, employees should monitor with whom communication is taking place when e-mail is used.  Employees should be aware that both strudents and parents have signed a "permission" form as part of District registration materials - these materials contain rules and regulations for use of the Internet.  Their signationres indicate their awareness of school and District policies regarding appropriate use of technology and (for the student) compliance with those requirements.  Below is a summary of the Board Policies related to appropriate use - individual school requirements should also be checked by the employee when planning activities involving use of communication technology.

Summary of Blue Valley Appropriate Use Guidelines For Communication Technologies (from Board Policy):

• Communication Technology includes Internet, World Wide Web, E-mail, Online services, gopher, district networks, and other services or technologies available now or in the future
• Use by students is a privilege which may be restricted or denied
• Use by employees is a privilege which may be restricted or denied
• Inappropriate use (as defined below) may result in disciplinary action or even termination for employees

Specific  Rights & Responsibilities - the student/employee will:

• respect the rights of privacy of other students and district personnel;
• bear in mind that all student communication represent the district and thus reflect on the integrity, ethics, and good name of the district as a K-12 public education institution;
• apply the same standards of behavior, conduct, and courtesy as are expected in the school, classroom, or other district setting;
• comply with all laws, Board policies, and administrative guidelines regarding the use of copyrighted materials;
• not seek unauthorized access to school, district, other public, or private computer networks, computers, or electronic files for any purpose; and
• comply with any and all related Board policies, administrative guidelines, and operating procedures relative to acceptable and responsible use.

Unacceptable and Inappropriate Use - it is inappropriate for students/employees to:

• create, copy, or post a virus;
• send/receive messages using someone else's name;
• send/receive messages that are inconsistent with school rules (for students);
• send/receive messages that are inconsistent with the district's code of conduct (for employees);
• send/intentionally receive a message that is sexist, racist, or otherwise prejudicial or inflammatory;
• send/intentionally receive messages that contain obscene language, graphics, pictures, or attached graphics files, either encoded/encrypted or un-encoded/de-crypted;
• lend his/her account and/or password to others (students and/or adults);
• use obscene, harassing or abusive language on-line;
• violate copyright laws
• publicize his/her home address or phone number (for students);
• log-in or attempt to log-in to district computer networks as a network administrator (without proper authorization - if an employee);
• vandalize or otherwise destroy data of another user, including the district;
• access or attempt to access any part of the district computer networks or any part of a sub-system of the Internet without proper authorization;
• plagiarize the work of others in completing school/work assignments
• use communication technologies for commercial use (students) or monetary gain (employees);
• use communication technologies in any way that violates school/district rules, administrative guidelines, Board policies or procedures, state statutes, local ordinances, or other laws.

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Contents of this site are copyrighted (2000) by Dr. Blake West, Blue Valley Schools