FILE: IFBGA
COMPUTER AND INTERNET USE BY STUDENTS
The West Baton Rouge Parish School Board believes it is necessary for all persons to become aware of acceptable use of computers. Any person using computers or other electronic information resources shall be required to use such equipment and resources in a responsible, legal manner. All users, including students, employees, or any other users of School Board computers, hardware, and School Board network shall abide by all policies of the School Board and any applicable administrative regulations and procedures.
The School Board retains the right to monitor all computer usage and files for compliance to all regulations and/or procedures.
The West Baton Rouge Parish School Board is pleased to offer students access to the School Board's technology systems and networks, including but not limited to the Internet. To use the School Board's technology systems and networks, including but not limited to the Internet, an acceptable use agreement and permission form must be read and signed by the student and parent or guardian and returned to the appropriate school.
Age and grade appropriate classroom instruction shall be provided regarding Internet and cell phone safety. Such instruction shall include appropriate online behavior, interacting with other individuals on social networking websites and in chat rooms, and cyberbullying awareness and response, as well as areas of concern as authorized in state and federal law.
In addition, the School Board, in conjunction with local law enforcement agencies, shall develop and distribute age and grade appropriate information to each student regarding Internet and cell phone safety and online content that is a threat to school safety. The information shall include the following:
Instruction on how to detect potential threats to school safety exhibited online, including posting on any social media platform.
Visual examples of possible threats.
The process for reporting potential threats, which shall be in accordance with the procedures referenced in policy EBBB, School and Student Safety.
Such information shall be either distributed to or explained to students and school personnel at the beginning of each school year and shall be posted on an easily accessible page of the School Board’s website and the website of each school.
If information reported to a school is deemed a potential threat to school safety, the school shall present the written form and any further evidence to local law enforcement.
Use of the School Board's technology systems and networks, including but not limited to the Internet, will allow students to explore thousands of libraries, databases, and bulletin boards. Families should be warned that some material accessible via the Internet may contain items that are illegal, defamatory, inaccurate, inappropriate, or potentially offensive to some people. While the intent is to make the School Board's technology systems and networks, including but not limited to the Internet, use available to further educational goals and objectives, students may find ways to access other materials as well. The School Board and its staff believe that the benefits to students from use of the School Board's technology systems and networks, including but not limited to the Internet, in the form of information resources and opportunities for sharing, exceed any disadvantages. The School Board shall incorporate the use of computer-related technology or the use of Internet service provider technology designed to block access or exposure to any harmful materials or information, such as sites that contain obscene, pornographic, pervasively vulgar, excessively violent, or sexually harassing information or material. Sites which contain information on the manufacturing of bombs or other incendiary devices shall also be prohibited. However, the School Board does not prohibit authorized employees or students from having unfiltered or unrestricted access to Internet or online services, including online services of newspapers with daily circulation of at least 1,000, for legitimate scientific or educational purposes approved by the School Board.
Ultimately, parents and guardians of students are responsible for setting and conveying the standards that their children should follow when using media and information sources. To that end, the School Board supports and respects each family's right to decide whether or not to give permission to use the School Board's technology systems and networks, including but not limited to the Internet.
Rules for using the School Board's technology systems and networks, including but not limited to the Internet, are as follows:
Users must demonstrate honesty, integrity, and respect for others at all times. Appropriate manners and language are required.
No individual student shall be permitted to have an e-mail account.
No photographs, personal addresses, personal phone numbers, or last names will be permitted in student use of the Internet.
Illegal activities, including copyright or contract violations shall not be permitted. The Internet may not be used for financial or commercial gain. Copies shall not be made of any copyrighted materials, programs or software.
Threatening, profane, or abusive messages are forbidden.
No activities are allowed which may damage or interrupt equipment or any networking system.
Any attempt to alter, harm or destroy the data of another user of the Internet, or any network on the Internet is forbidden.
No user is permitted to upload, or create, a computer virus on the Internet or any networking system.
Resources offered by the Internet and paid for by the School Board may not be willfully wasted.
A user shall not attempt to access any Internet resources or entities not previously authorized by the teacher.
Invading the privacy of another user, or using his/her account, is forbidden.
Posting personal messages without the author's consent is forbidden.
Sending or posting anonymous messages is forbidden.
Perusing, or otherwise accessing, or viewing, obscene or pornographic material, or using profanity in messages shall be expressly forbidden.
Perusing or otherwise accessing information on manufacturing bombs or other incendiary devices shall be forbidden.
Product advertising, political lobbying, or sending messages involving illegal activities is not permitted. Any such use shall be reported to the teacher when evidence of such is encountered on the Internet.
Any subscriptions to list servers, bulletin boards, or on-line services shall be approved by the Superintendent or his/her designee prior to any such usage.
When a security problem is detected, it shall be reported immediately to the teacher. The problem shall not be demonstrated to other users.
Suspension shall automatically result for a user who accesses, sends, receives, or configures electronically any profane or obscene language or pictures.
Violations of these rules may result in a loss of access, as well as, other disciplinary action, such as suspension or expulsion, or other legal action.
| Revised: August, 1999 | Revised: November, 2012 |
| Revised: December, 2008 | Revised: November 28, 2018 |
Ref: 20 USC 7131 (Internet Safety)
47 USC 254 (Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA))
47 CFR 54.520 (Children's Internet Protection Act Certifications for Schools and Libraries)
La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:81, 17:100.7, 17:280, 17:410
Board minutes, 7-17-96, 10-21-98, 11-28-18
West Baton Rouge Parish School Board