604.3 Internet

Code No. 604.3

INTERNET

Telecommunications, electronic information sources, networked services, and social media significantly alter the information landscape for schools by opening classrooms to a broader array of resources and by enabling students to explore thousands of libraries, databases, and bulletin boards while exchanging messages with people throughout the world.  The Board of Directors recognizes that as telecommunications and other new technologies shift the ways that information may be accessed, communicated, and transferred by members of society, those changes will also alter instruction and student learning.

While instructional and library media materials can usually be screened based on selection criteria prior to use, the new sources of information are not always capable of being screened in advance.  Because the global network leads to any publicly available fileserver in the world, telecommunications may open classrooms to electronic information resources which have not been screened by educators for use by students of various ages.  Further, students may find ways to access other materials as well.  The Board of Directors believes, however, that the benefits to students and staff from access to information resources and opportunities for collaboration exceed the possible disadvantages.  The Board of Directors supports access by students and staff members to a variety of information resources.

The instructional staff shall use such information resources throughout the curriculum and provide guidance and instruction in order for the students to analyze and evaluate such resources.  The staff should honor, as much as possible, guidelines for instructional material selection while working with students in the new technologies.

Because technology is a vital part of the District curriculum, the Internet will be made available to employees and students.  Appropriate and equitable use of the Internet will allow employees and students to access resources unavailable through traditional means.  Employees and students will be instructed on the appropriate use of the Internet.

Students and employees will be able to access Internet through individual accounts, and electronic mail addresses may be issued to students and employees.  Additionally, teachers may utilize social media platforms as part of the classroom communication.  Independent use of telecommunications and electronic information resources will only be permitted upon the signing of the District’s Acceptable Use Policy.  Failure to conform with the terms and conditions of the District’s Acceptable Use Policy or other applicable school policy or law may lead to disciplinary action of the employee or student and may also lead to the withdrawal of the privilege to have independent access to the Internet.  Ultimately, parents and guardians of students are responsible for setting and conveying the standards that their children should follow when independently using telecommunications resources, social media and information sources.  To that end, the Decorah Community School District supports and respects each family’s right to decide whether or not to apply for independent access to the Internet.

Date of Review:  April 9, 2018