The Board recognizes that telecommunications and other new technologies, including the Internet, a global computer network referred to as the World Wide Web, are dramatically increasing the ways information may be accessed and communicated by members of society. The access to electronic information has great potential for altering instruction and enhancing student achievement. Moreover, electronic research skills are fundamental preparation for citizens and future employees in the age of information and communication and should be used in the educational environment as a learning resource to educate and to inform.
Telecommunications, electronic information sources, and networked services significantly alter the learning environment by opening classrooms to a broad array of current world-wide information resources. The Board supports student and staff access to these rich information resources along with the development of appropriate skills to apply such resources.
The Board believes the educational opportunities inherent in these tools far outweigh the possibility that users may procure material not consistent with the educational goals of the District. However, the Internet and electronic communications are fluid environments in which users may access materials and information from many sources. Staff members, students, and other authorized users, which may include but not be limited to, volunteers, or vendors, shall take responsibility for their own use of District computers and computer systems to avoid contact with material or information that violates this policy.
The Board expects that staff will blend thoughtful use of such information throughout the curriculum, target the information to the curriculum, and provide guidance and instruction to students in the appropriate use of such resources. Staff will consult Board Policies IMB/IMB-R, addressing the teaching of controversial issues, the guidelines for selecting instructional materials contained in Board Policies IJ/IJK, and will honor the goals contained therein.
In order to match electronic resources as closely as possible to the approved District curriculum, District staff will, as much as possible, review and evaluate resources in order to offer materials which comply with Board guidelines listed in Board Policies IJ and IJK governing the selection of instructional materials. Access to the District's networked electronic information resources will be designed in ways which point students to those sources which have been reviewed and evaluated prior to use. While students may be able to move beyond those resources to others which have not been evaluated by staff, they shall be provided with guidance in the appropriate selection and use of information. In this manner, staff will provide clear direction for students as they make use of telecommunications and electronic information resources to conduct research and other studies related to the District curriculum.
Students may be granted access to the District's computers and networked electronic resources only after signing the Cherry Creek School District Acceptable Use Agreement. The agreement contains acceptable use policies and guidelines outlining standards for behavior and communication which for students who are minors (persons under 18 years of age) includes parental permission to use the networked electronic resources. Students may pursue electronic research independent of staff supervision only if they have been granted parental permission.
It is recommended that students, staff members and other authorized users receive instruction appropriate to the resources being accessed prior to using the District's computers and networked electronic information resources. This may include, but is not limited to, training in technical skills required to use the network and education in ethical uses of networked electronic resources.
Use of District computers and the District electronic communication systems must be consistent with the educational objectives of the Cherry Creek School District. Transmission of any material in violation of any federal or state law or regulation is prohibited.
The following guidelines shall apply to all use of the District's computers and District electronic communication systems:
Blocking or Filtering Obscene, Pornographic and Harmful Information
To protect students from material and information that is obscene, pornographic or otherwise harmful to minors, as defined by the Board, software that blocks or filters such material and information has been installed on all District computers having Internet or electronic communications access. However, none of these systems are foolproof and do not guarantee protection against users accessing inappropriate materials. Blocking or filtering software may be enabled or disabled by a supervising teacher or school administrator, as necessary, for purposes of bona fide research or other educational purpose being conducted by staff members over the age of 18.
Cherry Creek School District does not and cannot control Internet content or access thereto, some of which may be deemed offensive by some; therefore, the school district shall not be responsible for any material or information accessed on the Internet by any user and shall not be responsible for the impact or effect of the information on the user. Use of any information obtained via District computers or the District's electronic communication systems is at the user's own risk.
Cherry Creek School District specifically denies any responsibility for the accuracy or quality of information obtained through District computers or the District's electronic communication systems, and it exercises no control whatsoever over the content of the information residing on or passing through the system. Personal products and services not related to school District business should not be purchased through the system.
Any financial obligations arising from unauthorized use of the system for the purchase of products or services are the responsibility of the user. Files stored on District servers, electronic mail and use of District computers and the District's electronic systems are not private, and may be subject to inspection and/or monitoring.
No Expectation of Privacy
District computers and the District's electronic communication systems are owned by the District and are intended for educational purposes and District business at all times. Staff members, students and other authorized users shall have no expectation of privacy when using the Internet or electronic communications. The District reserves the right to monitor, inspect, copy, review and store (at any time and without prior notice) all usage of District computers and District electronic communication systems, including, but not limited to, all Internet and electronic communications access and transmission/receipt of materials and information.
All material and information accessed/received through District computers and the District's electronic communication systems shall remain the property of the school District. Users should not expect that files which are stored on District servers or on devices attached to District computers, or other information that is accessed via the District's electronic communication systems, including electronic mail, will be private.
Public Records
Electronic communications sent and received by District employees may be considered a public record subject to public disclosure or inspection under the Colorado Open Records Act. All employee electronic communications shall be monitored in accordance with relevant state and federal laws and applicable school board policy to ensure that all public electronic communication records are retained, released, archived and destroyed in accordance with applicable statutory and policy requirements.
Unauthorized and Unacceptable uses
Staff members, students and other authorized users shall use District computers and computer systems in a responsible, efficient, ethical and legal manner.
Because technology and ways of using technology are constantly evolving, every unacceptable use of District computers and the District electronic communication systems cannot be specifically described in policy. Therefore, examples of unacceptable uses include, but are not limited to, the following.
No District employee, student or other authorized user shall access, create, transmit, retransmit or forward material or information or software:
- that promotes violence or advocates destruction of property including, but not limited to, access to information concerning the manufacturing or purchasing of destructive devices or weapons;
- that is not related to District education objectives;
- that contains pornographic, obscene or other sexually oriented materials, either as pictures or writings, that are intended to stimulate erotic feelings or appeal to prurient interests in nudity, sex or excretion;
- that harasses, threatens, demeans, or promotes violence or hatred against another person or group of persons with regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, marital status, disability or handicap;
- for personal profit, financial gain, advertising, commercial transaction or political purposes;
- that plagiarizes the work of another without express consent;
- that uses inappropriate or profane language likely to be offensive to others in the school community;
- that is knowingly false or could be construed as intending to purposely damage another person's reputation;
- in violation of any federal or state law, including but not limited to copyrighted material and material protected by trade secret;
- that contains personal information about themselves or others protected by confidentiality laws;
- that allows an employee to impersonate another or transmit through an anonymous emailer without express authority from the administration and that is related to a legitimate job duty or educational purpose;
- that runs port scans, network scans, network monitors, or uses any scanning tool or program on or from the District electronic communication systems, unless there is prior approval from the systems administrator and is related to a legitimate job duty or educational purpose;
- that utilizes keyloggers, password-cracking programs, hacking software, or to engage in file-sharing of any kind unless such file-sharing is authorized as part of legitimate job-related duties or educational purpose. For purposes of this policy, "hacking" is defined as "to gain access to a computer, computer file or network, illegally or without authorization; or to view, alter, steal, damage or destroy computer data without authorization."
- that accesses fee services without specific permission from the system administrator security.
- use or attempt to use another person's password or any other identifier without appropriate, express consent as determined by the District;
- gain or attempt to gain unauthorized access to District computers or computer systems, computer data or files;
- read, alter, delete or copy or attempt to do so, electronic communications of other system users without express consent, or in a manner that is deemed to be inappropriate as determined by the District.
- Ensure there is a signed parent/guardian permission form for each student to use these forms of District electronic communication systems.
- Instruct students on safety issues and appropriate use of these types of District electronic communications systems.
- Monitor and review the content of these communications on a regular basis to ensure that applicable school board policies are being followed.