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Maine RSU 21

Maine Regional School Unit 21

Arundel · Kennebunk · Kennebunkport

GCSA - R - EMPLOYEE COMPUTER/DEVICE AND INTERNET USE RULES

  • Section G: Personnel

GCSA-R - EMPLOYEE COMPUTER/DEVICE AND INTERNET USE RULES

These rules implement the School Board of Directors (Board) policy GCSA (Employee Computer/Device and Internet Use). Each employee is responsible for their actions and activities involving school unit computers/devices, networks, and Internet services, which include, but are not limited to, Google’s Workspace for Education; other approved, school-related applications and software – both online and offline (including social media sites); and for their digital files, passwords, and accounts. These rules provide general guidance concerning the use of the school unit’s computers/devices and Internet services. The rules do not attempt to describe every possible prohibited activity by employees. Employees who have questions about whether a particular activity or use is prohibited are encouraged to contact a building administrator or their supervisor. 

Consequences for Violation of Computer Use Policy and Rules

Failure to comply with Board Policy GCSA, these rules, and/or other procedures or rules governing computer/device and Internet use may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination. Illegal use of the school unit’s computers/devices and/or Internet services will also result in referral to law enforcement. 

Access to School Computers/Devices and Internet and Acceptable Use 

The level of employee access to school unit computers/devices, networks, and Internet services is based upon specific job requirements and needs.  Unauthorized access to secure areas of the school unit’s computers/devices, networks, and Internet services is strictly prohibited.

All Board policies, school rules, and expectations for professional conduct and communications apply when employees are using the school unit’s computers/devices, networks, and Internet services, whether in use at school or off school premises. 

Acceptable Use

RSU 21 computers/devices, networks, and Internet services are provided to employees for administrative, educational, communication, and research purposes consistent with the school unit’s educational mission, curriculum, and instructional goals. All Board policies, school rules, and expectation for professional conduct and communication apply when employees are using the school unit’s devices, networks, and Internet services. 

Personal Use

School unit computers/devices, networks, and Internet services are provided for purposes related to school programs and operations, and performance of  employee’s job responsibilities. Incidental personal use of school computers/devices, networks, and Internet services, permitted as long as such use:  

  1. Does not interfere with the employee’s job responsibilities and performance; 

  2. Does not interfere with system operations or other system users; and 

  3. Does not violate this policy and the accompanying rules, or any other Board policy, procedure, or school rules. 

  4. “Incidental personal use” is defined as use by an individual employee for occasional personal communications. 

Prohibited Uses

Examples of unacceptable uses which are expressly prohibited include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. Any use that is illegal or which violates other Board policies, procedures or school rules, including harassing, discriminatory or threatening communications and behavior; violations of copyright laws or software licenses; etc. The school unit assumes no responsibility for illegal activities of employees while using devices, networks, and/or Internet services;

  2. Any use involving materials that are obscene, pornographic, sexually explicit, or sexually suggestive;

  3. Any inappropriate communications with students or minors and any communications with students for non-school-related purposes;

  4. Any use for private financial gain, commercial, advertising, or solicitation purposes;

  5. Any use as a forum for communicating by email or any other medium with other school users or outside parties to solicit, proselytize, advocate, or communicate the views of an individual or non-school sponsored organization; to solicit membership in or support of any non-school sponsored organization; or to raise funds for any non-school sponsored purpose, whether profit or not-for-profit. No employee shall knowingly provide school email addresses to outside parties whose intent is to communicate with school employees, students, and/or their families for non-school purposes. Employees who are uncertain as to whether particular activities are acceptable should seek further guidance from the building principal or other appropriate administrator; 

  6. Any communication that represents an employee’s personal views as those of the school unit or that could be misinterpreted as such;

  7. Downloading or loading software or applications, or using or encouraging students to use online educational services or applications, without permission from the system administrator. Unauthorized copying of software is illegal and may subject the copier to substantial civil and criminal penalties. The school unit assumes no responsibility for illegal software copying by employees;

  8. Sending mass emails to school users or outside parties for school or non-school purposes without the permission of the IT Director or building principal;

  9. Any malicious use or disruption of the school unit’s devices, networks, and Internet services; any breach of security features; or misuse of computer passwords or accounts (the employee’s or those of other users);

  10. Any misuse or damage to the school unit’s computer equipment, including opening or forwarding email attachments (executable files) from unknown sources and/or that may contain viruses;

  11. Any attempt to access unauthorized sites or any attempt to disable or circumvent the school unit’s filtering/blocking technology;

  1. Failing to report a breach of computer security to the system administrator;

  2. Sharing passwords or other login information except with authorized school employees, using other users’ passwords and/or login information, accessing or using other users’ accounts, or attempting to circumvent network security;

  3. Using school devices, networks, and Internet services after such access has been denied or revoked; and

  4. Any attempt to delete, erase, or otherwise conceal any information stored on a school computer/device/cloud provided storage that violates these rules or other Board policies or school rules, or refusing to return computer equipment issued to the employee upon request.
     

No Expectation of Privacy

RSU 21 computers/devices, networks, and Internet services remain under the control, custody, and supervision of the school unit at all times. The school unit reserves the right to monitor all computer/device, network, and Internet activity by employees and other system users whether on or off school premises.  Employees have no expectation of privacy in their use of school computers/devices, networks, and Internet services, including but not limited to email messages, stored files, and Internet access logs. 

Disclosure of Confidential Information 

Employees are expected to use appropriate judgment and caution in communications concerning students and staff to ensure that personally identifiable information remains confidential. 

Employee/Volunteer Responsibility to Supervise Student Technology Device Use 

Employees and volunteers who use school computers/devices, networks, and/or Internet services with students for instructional purposes have a duty of care to supervise such use and to enforce the school unit’s policies and rules concerning student device use. When, in the course of their duties, employees or volunteers become aware of a student violation, or have a concern about student safety on the Internet, they are expected to stop the activity and inform the building administrator. 

Compensation for Losses, Costs and/or Damages 

The employee is responsible for compensating the school unit for any losses, costs, or damages incurred by the school unit for violations of Board policies and school rules while the employee is using school unit computers/devices, networks, and/or Internet services including the cost of investigating such violations. The school unit assumes no responsibility for any unauthorized charges or costs incurred by an employee while using school unit devices. 

Google Workspace for Education 

RSU 21 will, at its discretion, create Google Workspace for Education accounts for eligible employees. Google Workspace features will be enabled on a user-by-user-basis at the discretion of the Director of Information Technology Services. Use of Google Workspace for Education is subject to Google’s acceptable use policy (a copy of which is available to employees upon request from the Information Technology Department), as well as all other RSU 21 policies, procedures, and rules, and applicable law. Employees must take reasonable measures to protect files and information in Google Workspace, including but not limited to not sharing their passwords or other login information, logging out of their account when not in use, never attempting to access or accessing another user’s account without permission, and being careful and purposeful when deciding whether to share access to information with other RSU 21 users.        

 

Cross Reference: GCSA – Employee Computer and Internet Use

GCSA-E Acceptable Use Agreement Acknowledgement Form
 

Adopted: 04/26/10

Amended: 11/04/13

Amended: 05/19/14

Amended: 04/30/18

Amended: 01/10/23

 

  • Section G