STAFF TECHNOLOGY USE POLICY/SOCIAL NETWORKING
The Board of Directors of the Harlan Community School District provides its employees with access to Internet and electronic communication to support the educational mission of the District.
Employees are to utilize district computers, networks, telecommunication devices and Internet services for school-related purposes and performance of job duties and responsibilities. District computers and computer systems are owned by the District and are intended for educational purposes and District business. Incidental personal use of school computers is permitted; as such use does not interfere with such job duties and performance. “Incidental personal use” is defined as use by an individual for occasional personal communication. Such use must comply with this policy and all other applicable policy, procedures and rules.
All computer, network and Internet use shall be consistent with the purposes, goals, and policies of the Harlan Community School District. It is imperative that users of such technology conduct themselves in a responsible and ethical manner. All users shall comply by all local, state and federal laws. All employees shall accept the responsibility of adhering to high standards of conduct and the terms and conditions set forth in this policy.
The following uses of computers, networks and Internet are prohibited:
- Any violation of local, state, or federal law including but not limited to copyrighted material
- Any activity that contains pornographic, obscene, or other sexually oriented material
- Any activity that promotes violence or advocates destruction of property
- Any activity that demeans, harasses, threatens, or promotes violence or hatred against another person or group of persons with regard to race, gender, religion, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability
- Any activity for personal profit, advertising, or political purpose
- Any activity that uses profane or inappropriate language likely to be offensive to others in the school community
- Any activity that is knowingly false or could be construed as intending to purposely damage another person’s reputation
- Any activity using another district employee’s internet access without their written consent
- Any activity that utilizes software that has been downloaded or is otherwise in the user’s possession without appropriate registration and payment of any fees owed to the software owner.
As technology evolves on a continual basis, every unacceptable use of district computers, networks, and Internet use cannot be described in this policy. Consequently, examples of unacceptable and unauthorized use are included but not limited to the above.
District employees shall have no expectation of privacy in their use of district computers, networks, and the Internet. Harlan Community School District reserves the right to monitor, inspect, review and restrict any user's network access and use. All material and information accessed/received through district computers, networks, and Internet and personal technology that is related to the employer's operations shall remain the property of the school district.
Social Networking or Other External Web Sites
For purposes of this policy any website, other than the school district web site or school-school district sanctioned web sites, are considered external web sites. Employees shall not post confidential or proprietary information, including photographic images, about the school district, its employees, students, agents or others on any external web site without consent of the superintendent. The employee shall adhere to all applicable privacy and confidentiality policies adopted by the school district when on external web sites. Employees shall not use the proprietorial school district logos, images, iconography, etc. on external web sites. Employees shall not use school district time or property on external sites that are not in direct-relation to the employee’s job. Employees, students and volunteers need to realize that the Internet is not a closed system and anything posted on an external site may be viewed by others, all over the world. Employees, students and volunteers who don’t want school administrators to know their personal information, should refrain from exposing it on the Internet. Employees should not connect with students via external web sites without consent of the superintendent. Employees, who would like to create an external web site or start a social media site for school district sanctioned activities, should contact the should contact the District Technology Director for consent and to register the site,
It is the responsibility of the superintendent to develop administrative regulations implementing this policy.
Legal Reference:
Iowa Code § 279.8.
281 I.A.C. 13.35, .26.
Cross Reference:
104 Anti-Bullying/Harassment
306 Administrator Code of Ethics
401.11 Employee Orientation
407 Licensed Employee Termination of Employment
413 Classified Employee Termination of Employment
605 Instructional Materials
Adopted: 8.22.2011
Revised/Reviewed: 5.10.2021
Reviewed: 07.18.22
