Hickman County Board of Education
Descriptor Code:
Issued Date:
Descriptor Term:
4.406
03/02/20
Use of the Internet
Rescinds:
Issued:
4.406
01/08/18
1
The Board supports the right of staff and students to have reasonable access to various information
2
formats and believes that it is incumbent upon staff and students to use this privilege in an appropriate
3
and responsible manner.
4
Employees
5
Before any employee is allowed use of the district's Internet or intranet access, the employee shall sign
6
a written agreement, developed by the director/designee that sets out the terms and conditions of such
7
use. Any employee who accesses the district's computer system for any purpose agrees to be bound by
8
the terms of that agreement, even if no signed written agreement is on file.
9
The director of schools shall develop and implement procedures for appropriate Internet use which
10
shall address the following:
11
1. Development of the Network and Internet Use Agreement.
12
2. General rules and ethics of Internet access.
13
3. Guidelines regarding appropriate instruction and oversight of student Internet use.
14
4. A uniform signature block for use by all district employees; and
15
5. Prohibited and illegal activities, including but not limited to the following: 1
16
Sending or displaying offensive messages or pictures
17
Using obscene language
18
Harassing, insulting, defaming or attacking others
19
Damaging computers, computer systems or computer networks
20
Hacking or attempting unauthorized access to any computer
21
Violation of copyright laws
22
Trespassing in another's folders, work or files
23
Intentional misuse of resources
24
Using another's password or other identifier (impersonation)
25
Use of the network for commercial purposes
26
Buying or selling personal items on the Internet
27
Students
28
The director of schools shall develop and implement procedures for appropriate Internet use by
29
students. Procedures shall address the following:
30
1. General rules and ethics of Internet use.
31
2. Prohibited or illegal activities, including, but not limited to: 1
Version Date: June 14, 2022
Use of the Internet
4.406
1
Sending or displaying offensive messages or pictures
2
Using obscene language
3
Harassing, insulting, defaming or attacking others
4
Damaging computers, computer systems or computer networks
5
Hacking or attempting unauthorized access
6
Violation of copyright laws
7
Trespassing in another's folders, work or files
8
Intentional misuse of resources
9
Using another's password or other identifier (impersonation)
10
Use of the network for commercial purposes
11
Buying or selling on the Internet
12
INTERNET SAFETY MEASURES²
13
Internet safety measures shall be implemented that effectively address the following:
14
Controlling access by students to inappropriate matter on the Internet and World Wide
15
Web
16
Safety and security of students when they are using electronic mail, chat rooms, and
17
other forms of direct electronic communications
18
Preventing unauthorized access, including "hacking" and other unlawful activities by
19
students on-line
20
Unauthorized disclosure, use and dissemination of personal information regarding
21
students
22
Restricting students' access to materials harmful to them
23
The director of schools/designee shall establish a process to ensure the district's education technology
24
is not used for purposes prohibited by law or for accessing sexually explicit materials. The process
25
shall include, but not be limited to:
26
Utilizing technology that filters, blocks or otherwise prevents internet access (for both
27
students and adults) to material that is obscene, child pornography 3 or harmful to
28
students
29
Prohibiting and preventing a use from sending, receiving, viewing, or downloading
30
materials that are deemed to be harmful to minors;⁴
31
Maintaining and securing a usage log
32
Monitoring on-line activities of students
33
The Board shall provide reasonable public notice of, and at least one (1) public hearing or meeting to
34
address and communicate, its Internet safety measures.
35
A written parental consent shall be required prior to the student being granted access to electronic
36
media involving district technological resources. The required permission/agreement form, which shall
37
specify acceptable uses, rules of on-line behavior, access privileges and penalties for policy/
38
procedural violations, must be signed by the parent/legal guardian of minor students (those under 18
39
years of age) and also by the student. This document shall be executed each year and shall be valid
40
only in the school year in which it was signed unless parent(s) provide written notice that consent is
Page 2 of 4
Use of the Internet
4.406
1
withdrawn. In order to rescind the agreement, the student's parent/guardian (or the student who is at
2
least 18 years old) must provide the director of schools with a written request.
3
Complaints alleging a violation of the internet safety measures shall be submitted to the District
4
Technology Director. All complaints shall be reviewed to determine how to appropriately respond.
5
E-MAIL
6
Users with network access shall not utilize district resources to establish electronic mail accounts
7
through third-party providers or any other nonstandard electronic mail system. All data including e-
8
mail communications stored or transmitted on school system computers shall be monitored.
9
Employees/students have no expectation of privacy with regard to such data. E-mail correspondence
10
may be a public record under the public records law and may be subject to public inspection. 5
11
INTERNET SAFETY INSTRUCTION⁶
12
Students will be given appropriate instruction in internet safety as a part of any instruction utilizing
13
computer resources. The director shall provide adequate in-service instruction on internet safety.
14
Parents and students will be provided with material to raise awareness of the dangers posed by the
15
internet and ways in which the internet may be used safely.
16
SOCIAL NETWORKING
17
1. District staff who have a presence on social networking websites are prohibited from posting
18
data, documents, photographs, or inappropriate information that is likely to create a material
19
and substantial disruption of classroom activity.
20
2. District staff are prohibited from accessing personal social networking sites on school
21
computers or during school hours except for legitimate instructional purposes.
22
3. The board discourages district staff from socializing with students on social networking
23
websites. The same relationship, exchange, interaction, information, or behavior that would be
24
unacceptable in a non-technological medium is unacceptable when done through the use of
25
technology.
26
VIOLATIONS
27
Violations of this policy or a procedure promulgated under its authority shall be handled in accordance
28
with the existing disciplinary procedures of this District.
29
VENDOR CONTRACTS³
30
Prior to entering into any contract for the provision of digital or online materials created or marketed
31
for kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12), the district shall obtain an assurance that the vendor
32
shall adhere to state law. This determination includes ensuring that the vendor filters, blocks, or
33
otherwise prevents access to pornography or obscenity and verifying that the technology prevents a
34
user from sending, receiving, viewing, or downloading materials that are harmful to minors.
Page 3 of 4
Legal References
Cross References
1.
TCA 39-14-602
Use of Electronic Mail (e-mail) 1.805
2. 47 USCA § 254 (h)(5)(A) - (C), 254(1); 47 CFR
Web Pages 4.407
§ 54.520(c)(1)(i); 20 USCA § 7131
Controversial Materials 4.801
3.
Public Acts of 2022, Chapter No. 1002
Student Publications 6.704
4.
TCA 39-17-901; Public Acts of 2022, Chapter
No. 1002
5.
TCA 10-7-512
6.
TCA 49-1-221
Version Date: June 14, 2022

## Table 1

|  | Hickman County Board of | Education |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | Descriptor Term: Use of the Internet | Descriptor Code: 4.406 | Issued Date: 03/02/20 |
|  |  | Rescinds: 4.406 | Issued: 01/08/18 |

## Table 2

| 1 | agreement, |
| --- | --- |
| 2 | least 18 years old) must provide the director of schools with a written request. |
| 3 | Complaints alleging a violation of the internet safety measures shall be submitted to the District |
| 4 | Technology Director. All complaints shall be reviewed to determine how to appropriately respond. |
| 5 | E-MAIL |
| 6 | Users with network access shall not utilize district resources to establish electronic mail accounts |
| 7 | through third-party providers or any other nonstandard electronic mail system. All data including e- |
| 8 | mail communications stored or transmitted on school system computers shall be monitored. |
| 9 | Employees/students have no expectation of privacy with regard to such data. E-mail correspondence |
| 10 | may be a public record under the public records law and may be subject to public inspection. 5 |
| 11 | INTERNET SAFETY INSTRUCTION⁶ |
| 12 | Students will be given appropriate instruction in internet safety as a part of any instruction utilizing |
| 13 | computer resources. The director shall provide adequate in-service instruction on internet safety. |
| 14 | Parents and students will be provided with material to raise awareness of the dangers posed by the |
| 15 | internet and ways in which the internet may be used safely. |
| 16 | SOCIAL NETWORKING |
| 17 18 19 | 1. District staff who have a presence on social networking websites are prohibited from posting data, documents, photographs, or inappropriate information that is likely to create a material and substantial disruption of classroom activity. |
| 20 21 | 2. District staff are prohibited from accessing personal social networking sites on school computers or during school hours except for legitimate instructional purposes. |
| 22 23 24 25 | 3. The board discourages district staff from socializing with students on social networking websites. The same relationship, exchange, interaction, information, or behavior that would be unacceptable in a non-technological medium is unacceptable when done through the use of technology. |
| 26 | VIOLATIONS |
| 27 | Violations of this policy or a procedure promulgated under its authority shall be handled in accordance |
| 28 | with the existing disciplinary procedures of this District. |
| 29 | VENDOR CONTRACTS³ |
| 30 | Prior to entering into any contract for the provision of digital or online materials created or marketed |
| 31 | for kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12), the district shall obtain an assurance that the vendor |
| 32 | shall adhere to state law. This determination includes ensuring that the vendor filters, blocks, or |
| 33 | otherwise prevents access to pornography or obscenity and verifying that the technology prevents a |
| 34 | user from sending, receiving, viewing, or downloading materials that are harmful to minors. |