Hickman County Board of Education
Descriptor Code:
Issued Date:
Descriptor Term:
4.406
08/05/24
Use of the Internet
Rescinds:
Issued:
4.406
08/01/22
1
The Board supports the right of staff and students to have reasonable access to various information
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formats and believes that it is incumbent upon staff and students to use this privilege in an appropriate
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and responsible manner.
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Employees
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Before any employee is allowed use of the district's Internet or intranet access, the employee shall sign
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a written agreement, developed by the director/designee that sets out the terms and conditions of such
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use. Any employee who accesses the district's computer system for any purpose agrees to be bound by
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the terms of that agreement, even if no signed written agreement is on file.
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The director of schools shall develop and implement procedures for appropriate Internet use which
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shall address the following:
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1. Development of the Network and Internet Use Agreement.
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2. General rules and ethics of Internet access.
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3. Guidelines regarding appropriate instruction and oversight of student Internet use.
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4. A uniform signature block for use by all district employees; and
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5. Prohibited and illegal activities, including but not limited to the following:
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Sending or displaying offensive messages or pictures
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Using obscene language
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Harassing, insulting, defaming or attacking others
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Damaging computers, computer systems or computer networks
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Hacking or attempting unauthorized access to any computer
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Violation of copyright laws
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Trespassing in another's folders, work or files
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Intentional misuse of resources
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Using another's password or other identifier (impersonation)
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Use of the network for commercial purposes
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Buying or selling personal items on the Internet
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Students
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The director of schools shall develop and implement procedures for appropriate Internet use by
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students. Procedures shall address the following:
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1. General rules and ethics of Internet use.
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2. Prohibited or illegal activities, including, but not limited to:¹
Version Date: June 10, 2025
Use of the Internet
4.406
1
Sending or displaying offensive messages or pictures
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Using obscene language
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Harassing, insulting, defaming or attacking others
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Damaging computers, computer systems or computer networks
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Hacking or attempting unauthorized access
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Violation of copyright laws
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Trespassing in another's folders, work or files
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Intentional misuse of resources
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Using another's password or other identifier (impersonation)
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Use of the network for commercial purposes
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Buying or selling on the Internet
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INTERNET SAFETY MEASURES²
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Internet safety measures shall be implemented that effectively address the following:
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Controlling access by students to inappropriate matter on the Internet and World Wide
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Web
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Safety and security of students when they are using electronic mail, chat rooms, and
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other forms of direct electronic communications
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Preventing unauthorized access, including "hacking" and other unlawful activities by
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students on-line
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Unauthorized disclosure, use and dissemination of personal information regarding
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students
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Restricting students' access to materials harmful to them
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The director of schools/designee shall establish a process to ensure the district's education technology
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is not used for purposes prohibited by law or for accessing sexually explicit materials. The process
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shall include, but not be limited to:
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Utilizing technology that filters, blocks or otherwise prevents internet access (for both
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students and adults) to material that is obscene, child pornography 3 or harmful to
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students
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Prohibiting and preventing a use from sending, receiving, viewing, or downloading
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materials that are deemed to be harmful to minors;4
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Maintaining and securing a usage log
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Monitoring on-line activities of students
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The Board shall provide reasonable public notice of, and at least one (1) public hearing or meeting to
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address and communicate, its Internet safety measures.
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A written parental consent shall be required prior to the student being granted access to electronic
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media involving district technological resources. The required permission/agreement form, which shall
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specify acceptable uses, rules of on-line behavior, access privileges and penalties for policy/
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procedural violations, must be signed by the parent/legal guardian of minor students (those under 18
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years of age) and also by the student. This document shall be executed each year and shall be valid
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only in the school year in which it was signed unless parent(s) provide written notice that consent is
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4.406
Use of the Internet
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withdrawn. In order to rescind the agreement, the student's parent/guardian (or the student who is at
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least 18 years old) must provide the director of schools with a written request.
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Complaints alleging a violation of the internet safety measures shall be submitted to the District
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Technology Director. All complaints shall be reviewed to determine how to appropriately respond.
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E-MAIL
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Users with network access shall not utilize district resources to establish electronic mail accounts
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through third-party providers or any other nonstandard electronic mail system. All data including e-
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mail communications stored or transmitted on school system computers shall be monitored.
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Employees/students have no expectation of privacy with regard to such data. E-mail correspondence
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may be a public record under the public records law and may be subject to public inspection.⁵
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INTERNET SAFETY INSTRUCTION⁶
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Students will be given appropriate instruction in internet safety as a part of any instruction utilizing
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computer resources. The director shall provide adequate in-service instruction on internet safety.
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Parents and students will be provided with material to raise awareness of the dangers posed by the
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internet and ways in which the internet may be used safely.
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SOCIAL NETWORKING
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1. Students are prohibited from accessing social media platforms using district internet except when
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expressly authorized by a teacher for educational purposes.⁷
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2. District staff who have a presence on social networking websites are prohibited from posting
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data, documents, photographs, or inappropriate information that is likely to create a material and
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substantial disruption of classroom activity.
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3. District staff are prohibited from accessing personal social networking sites on school computers
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or during school hours except for legitimate instructional purposes.
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4. The board discourages district staff from socializing with students on social networking websites.
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The same relationship, exchange, interaction, information, or behavior that would be
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unacceptable in a non-technological medium is unacceptable when done through the use of
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technology.
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VIOLATIONS
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Violations of this policy or a procedure promulgated under its authority shall be handled in accordance
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with the existing disciplinary procedures of this District.
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VENDOR CONTRACTS⁸
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Prior to entering into any contract for the provision of digital or online materials created or marketed
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for kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12), the district shall obtain an assurance that the vendor
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Use of the Internet
4.406
1
shall adhere to state law. This determination includes ensuring that the vendor filters, blocks, or
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otherwise prevents access to pornography or obscenity and verifying that the technology prevents a
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user from sending, receiving, viewing, or downloading materials that are harmful to minors.
Legal References
Cross References
1.
TCA 39-14-602
Use of Email 1.805
2.
47 USCA § 254 (h)(5)(A) - (C), 254(1); 47 CFR §
Use of Artificial Intelligence Programs 4.214
54.520(c)(1)(i); 20 USCA § 7131
School and System Websites 4.407
3.
TCA 49-1-221(a)(1)(C)(i)
Controversial Materials 4.801
4.
TCA 39-17-901; TCA 49-1-221(a)(1)(C)(ii)
Student Publications 6.704
5.
TCA 10-7-512
6.
TCA 49-1-221(a)(1)(E)
7.
Public Acts of 2025, Chapter No. 195
8.
TCA 49-1-221(c)
Page 4 of 4

## Table 1

|  | Hickman County Board of | Education |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | Descriptor Term: Use of the Internet | Descriptor Code: 4.406 | Issued Date: 08/05/24 |
|  |  | Rescinds: 4.406 | Issued: 08/01/22 |

## Table 2

| Legal | References | Cross References |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1. | TCA 39-14-602 | Use of Email 1.805 |
| 2. | 47 USCA § 254 (h)(5)(A) - (C), 254(1); 47 CFR § 54.520(c)(1)(i); 20 USCA § 7131 | Use of Artificial Intelligence Programs 4.214 School and System Websites 4.407 |
| 3. | TCA 49-1-221(a)(1)(C)(i) | Controversial Materials 4.801 |
| 4. | TCA 39-17-901; TCA 49-1-221(a)(1)(C)(ii) | Student Publications 6.704 |
| 5. | TCA 10-7-512 |  |
| 6. | TCA 49-1-221(a)(1)(E) |  |
| 7. | Public Acts of 2025, Chapter No. 195 |  |
| 8. | TCA 49-1-221(c) |  |