Teachers, staff, and students will have use of the school’s Wi-Fi network and technology resources, including use of school-issued iPads and laptops for teachers, Chromebooks for students, and on-campus internet access for all. This system is to be used for educational purposes, preparing students for success in their college, their career, and in their home life, for increasing educator-student communication, and enhancing the productivity of the school. These guidelines govern school communication and communication about the school, whether sent over school-owned devices or personal electronic devices. Users shall have no expectation of privacy in the contents of their personal files on school networks and devices and agree to comply with Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) in handling personally identifiable information and student educational records.
Protection for Students, Staff, and Schools
To safeguard security of data and information, only school-owned encrypted devices will be connected to the school’s Wi-Fi system. Neither employees nor students may use their personal devices for work purposes without authorization in advance from school administration. Employees are responsible for the content of all written text, images, or audio, sent or published over the internet. Employees are prohibited from posting statements, photographs, and video or audio that reasonably could be viewed as obscene, malicious, threatening or intimidating. Employees are prohibited from distributing any message in any form that disparage other employees, students, families, and others with whom we interact or that might constitute harassment or bullying. Furthermore, employees may not transmit messages or other communication by means that hide or mask or their identity or attempt to use someone else’s identity rather than their own.
Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash
Use of Electronic Communication Tools
Teachers should check their email at multiple points throughout the day and respond to emails within 24 hours. Contact with parents or guardians should be made frequently, including positive reports rather than just for student discipline reasons.
- Document parent contact in the PowerSchool Log Entry. Click the link for a how-to video.
- Find contact information in PowerSchool under Demographics. If a phone number or home address is outdated or incorrect, please email our administrative support staff to report the error.
- Sample Email Templates for parent communication are available (click the link).
Tips for Email Communication with Parents
- Include a subject line that is specific but also protects student privacy. In the body of the email, be concise and focused on the issue. Sign off courteously.
- Offer a chance to discuss further details BY PHONE to avoid going back and forth with multiple emails.
- Log Communication in PowerSchool to document parental contact.
- When writing about behavior issues, these guidelines may be helpful:
a. Clarify the expectation and state how the expectation was not met.
b. State the consequence that fits the student and the infraction according to the school-wide discipline plan (1st = Warning, 2nd = ___, 3rd+=___).
c. State what happens next.
e. Give a rebound phrase and affirm the student/family.
Communication with Colleagues
Any communication sent using school technology and/or school email accounts have no expectation nor guarantee of privacy. We agree to be open, honest, and caring with one another.
- Harassment of any kind is prohibited. The school may access and monitor the messages and files on the school’s computer system at any time and can disclose this information to law enforcement without the prior consent of the sender or the receiver.
- Do not use school email to solicit outside business or fundraising.
- Never disclose personal passwords or WiFi passwords to anyone other than authorized school representatives. Do not attempt to access another employee’s system, including their email or their voice mail messages.
Use of Employee-Owned Personal Electronic Devices
Making and receiving personal calls, text messages, or other communication should be limited. The use of personal cell phones should not result in additional costs to the school and should not interfere with the performance of employee duties or normal business operations.
Social Media Use
Social Media is a powerful tool that has a significant impact on the school and student culture. The social media policy is designed to offer practical guidance for responsible, clear, and positive communications via social media channels (Bennett, K. 2018; Fox, S. 2017). Examples of social media channels include but are not limited to the following: LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Skype, TikTok, and Instagram.
- Employees are prohibited from sending or accepting friend requests with any current students or former students under the age of 18 years old on any of their own personal social media sites.
- Employees are prohibited from disclosing proprietary or confidential information about the school, employees, students, or their families.
- School logos or school-owned images and icons are prohibited from being posted on personal social media sites.
- Photos of students and or student activities are prohibited without prior written approval from the student’s parent/guardian and the school principal.
School-related social media posts should be sent to the officially-appointed employee who is identified as being responsible for the content of the page rather than be posted on personal social media sites. Employees are liable for anything they post to social media sites. Violations of the above will result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.
References
Accel Schools. (July 1, 2019). Employee handbook for employees at Banning Lewis Academy. Retrieved July 25, 2019, from https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_sUa6I1UzeKbmwtQjdnbDB4eF9IY0VUNjVJMjV6SnB1NXlz/view?usp=sharing
Bennett, K. (2018, September 13). Families Matter: Engaging Families to Strengthen Community. Retrieved from https://www.teachingchannel.org/blog/2014/02/05/families-matter/
Fox, S. (2017, November). Mass imagineering: Combining human imagination and automated engineering from early education to digital afterlife. Technology in Society, 51.
Washington County Public Schools (2020). Acceptable use of telecommunication. Retrieved June 17, 2020, from http://wcpsmd.com/documents/acceptable-use-policy-telecommunications
Accel Schools. (July 1, 2019). Employee handbook for employees at Banning Lewis Academy. Retrieved July 25, 2019, from https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_sUa6I1UzeKbmwtQjdnbDB4eF9IY0VUNjVJMjV6SnB1NXlz/view?usp=sharing
Bennett, K. (2018, September 13). Families Matter: Engaging Families to Strengthen Community. Retrieved from https://www.teachingchannel.org/blog/2014/02/05/families-matter/
Fox, S. (2017, November). Mass imagineering: Combining human imagination and automated engineering from early education to digital afterlife. Technology in Society, 51.
Washington County Public Schools (2020). Acceptable use of telecommunication. Retrieved June 17, 2020, from http://wcpsmd.com/documents/acceptable-use-policy-telecommunications