Technology Use

The use of the School's technology equipment or online access of any kind is a privilege and not a right.

There should be NO expectation of privacy regarding all online access. The School reserves the right to monitor and inspect all electronic data and usage occurring over the School's network or on School property. We also reserve the right to assess information in the public domain on the Internet. Staff may also randomly check e-mail or text messages.   

All persons using School devices and/or networks must abide by these guidelines. This applies to using any personal electronic devices (tablets, computers, cameras, cellular devices, iPhones, iPods, video cameras, PDAs, etc.) on School property or at a school-related event, and in some cases, even while out of School. Administration may require Students on campus to provide immediate access to their device for inspection on demand. 

Violations of the following guidelines may result in the revocation of access privileges, reimbursement for repairs due to misuse, and other disciplinary actions.

The Purpose of Internet Access

The purpose of providing access to the Internet and the School's computer systems is to support research, expand knowledge, and offer unique educational opportunities as directed by school staff. The Internet allows users to send and receive e-mail, log onto remote computers, and browse information databases. It also lets users send and receive files and programs contained on other computers. The use of such resources is limited to those activities that support the School's educational objectives.

YOUR IDENTITY ONLINE: You are responsible for any of your online activity conducted with a School email address, and/or which can be traced back to the School's domain, and/or which uses School assets. What you publish on such personal online sites should never be attributed to the School and should not appear to be endorsed by or originated from the School.

SCHOOL'S RIGHT TO INSPECT: The School reserves the right to inspect all electronic data and usage occurring over the School's network or on School property without prior notice. We also reserve the right to assess information in the public domain on the Internet and to discipline students for any violation of these guidelines.

Student internet access is monitored, and an effort is made to limit access to age-appropriate content. Students are blocked from accessing sites considered inappropriate for a school environment and social media sites. Students may only send and receive emails within the communityday.org domain. 

The school works to safeguard our students' computer use; however, we may not be able to control every activity in an online environment. We expect users to act responsibly in their searches and online conduct. Users should immediately disengage from inappropriate materials and report the situation to the faculty member or administrator in charge of the activity. Obtaining material explicitly labeled as not intended for minors will be considered a serious violation of these guidelines. 

INTERNET SAFETY LIABILITY:   The School has taken steps to block many of the social media and networking sites. Safe access is also the responsibility of the parent and student. The School is not liable in any way for irresponsible acts on the part of the student or family.

COMPUTER VIRUS LIABILITY:   The School utilizes technology to minimize system exposure to external threats (e.g., viruses, phishing, hacking, etc.) Computer viruses can be transmitted to and from any computer, even when safeguards are in place. The school is not responsible for transmitting any virus or damage suffered from a virus.

• All software and apps installed on school devices require administrator approval. Using or transferring stolen (pirated) software is illegally obtained and not permitted. Commercial software is copyrighted, and each purchaser must abide by the licensing agreement published with the software. The School will not be held responsible for a student’s own software brought to school for personal use.

• Students must not submit, share, or reproduce content that is not their own (e.g., plagiarism, reproduction of teacher-made tests, textbooks, teaching materials, non-authored text, cheating and theft of ideas.

• Students must not access or distribute offensive, obscene, inflammatory, or pornographic material.

• Students must not use network access to destroy information that belongs to others.

• Copying personal communication to others without the original author's permission is prohibited.

• Copying software or other copyright protected materials without the original author's permission is prohibited.

• Using the network for any illegal activity, private business purposes, or accessing inappropriate internet sites is a violation of school's policy.

• Students shall not intentionally spread computer viruses, vandalize data, infiltrate systems, or degrade/disrupt computer and/or network performance.

• No illegal activity, private business purposes, or accessing inappropriate internet sites is a permitted.

• No illegal activity may be conducted using the school's computers, networks, online telecommunications systems.

• All users of computers, networks and online telecommunications systems shall adhere to laws regarding copyright.

• "Hacking" into the school's computers, networks, or online telecommunications systems will be considered vandalism and will be treated as such.

• Technology shall not be utilized to threaten or harass other students or staff.

• The use of computer or program in any manner other than that for which it was intended is unacceptable.

The School does not permit students to access social media and/or social networking sites on school-issued devices or personal devices while on School property or at a school-related event. Therefore, even if you can access such sites on School property or at a school-related event, you should understand that your activities violate School policy and may result in disciplinary action. 

Teachers and administrators become aware of posted content on social media sites through several sources, most notably when parents, students, or other members of the school community report content they deem concerning to the Administration. School administration may determine that even off-campus behavior violates the School conduct code. For example, 

• Posts that may be considered bullying or harassment when created online are considered cyberbullying. These posts or any others that cause another person to feel uncomfortable will be evaluated and may result in a formal investigation and possible discipline.

• Postings on social networking or other Internet sites of students engaging in inappropriate behavior (such as drinking, smoking, sexual actions, etc.) are prohibited. 

• Posts or reposting content that is contrary to the values of the school and/or code of conduct (e.g., racist, antisemitic, hate-speak, homophobic, etc.)

• Group communication (e.g., texts, DMs, Snaps, etc.) contrary to the values of the school and/or code conduct (e.g., harassing, belittling, willfully excluding, etc.)

• Disclosing confidential information about the School, employees, students, parents, or online activities is prohibited.

• Attributing what is published on personal online sites to the School or appearing to be endorsed by or originated from the School.

• All other examples listed in these guidelines and those not listed can be perceived as violations of these guidelines.

HARASSMENT AND BULLYING, INCLUDING CYBERBULLYING:

The School will not tolerate any type of harassment and/or bullying of or by our students or employees. 

Harassment includes, but is not limited to, slurs, jokes, comments, teasing, and other offensive conduct relating to race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, or disability. Harassment also includes any unwanted, offensive sexual conduct. Willfully excluding or purposefully isolating another student may constitute either harassment or bullying based on the degree or severity of the behavior. The determination of harassment or bullying will be made by the School administration. 

Bullying includes but is not limited to, physical or verbal aggression (hitting, kicking, taunting, teasing, threatening, ridiculing, etc.), relational aggression (harming or threatening to harm relationships or acceptance, friendship, or group inclusion), emotional aggression (teasing, threatening, intimidating others). Bullying or harassment can occur through any type of communication method, including face-to-face communications, phone, text, email, postings on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, etc.), camera phones, or other forms of technology. Communication can be direct or indirect, such as through friends or others. Any offensive conduct, whether on or off campus or at a school-related event, can create an uncomfortable School environment.

VIOLATION OF THIS POLICY WILL SUBJECT THE HARASSER/BULLY TO DISCIPLINARY ACTION, UP TO AND INCLUDING IMMEDIATE DISCHARGE OR EXPULSION FROM SCHOOL. 

For reference, Community Day School utilizes the definition of Cyberbullying contained within Florida Statutes.

Florida Statute: “Bullying includes cyberbullying and means systematically and  chronically inflicting physical hurt or psychological distress on one or more students and may involve teasing, social exclusion, threat, intimidation, stalking, physical violence, theft, sexual, religious, or racial harassment, public or private humiliation or destruction of property.” F.S. 1006.147

Cyberbullying means bullying through the use of technology or any electronic communication which include, but is not limited to, any transfer of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds, data, or intelligence of any nature transmitted in whole or in part by a wire, radio, electromagnetic system, photoelectronic system, or photo-optical system, including, but not limited to, electronic mail, internet communications, instant messages, or facsimile communications.”  Also includes assuming the identity of someone else in a created webpage AND distributing any communication that meets the definition of bullying.

http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=1000-1099%2F1006%2FSections%2F1006.147.html