ESU 10 Policy

Policy in PDF

Educational Service Unit 10
Board Policy Pertaining to Internet Safety
(IV-K-1)

First Reading: 02/19/01
Second Reading: 03/19/01
Adopted: 03/19/01
First Reading Rev: 06/18/01
Second Reading Rev: 08/20/01
Rev. Adopted: 08/20/01

K. POLICY ON INTERNET SAFETY

It is the policy of Educational Service Unit 10 that access to the Internet provided by ESU 10 is expected to be used as an educational and/or work-related resource and that such access shall be made available subject to such rules and regulations as may be established, provided that no use shall be permitted which, in the judgment of the Board of Directors of ESU 10, is in any way prejudicial to the best interest of the unit or in conflict with the ESU 10 Program of Services.

The ESU 10 Board of Directors reserves the right to refuse access to the Internet by ESU 10 to anyone when it deems it necessary in the public interest.

Definitions

1. Access to the Internet - A computer shall be considered to have access to the Internet if such computer is equipped with a modem or is connected to a computer network which has access to the Internet.

2. Minor shall mean an individual who has not attained the age of 19.

3. Obscene shall have the meaning given such term in section 1460 of title 18, United States Code.

4. Child pornography shall have the meaning given such term in section 2256 of title 18, United States Code.

5. Harmful to minors shall mean any picture, image, graphic image file, or other visual depiction that:

a. taken as a whole and with respect to minors, appeals to a prurient interest in nudity, sex, or excretion;

b. depicts, describes, or represents, in a patently offensive way with respect to what is suitable for minors, an actual or simulated sexual act or sexual contact, actual or simulated normal or perverted sexual acts, or a lewd exhibition of the genitals; and

c. taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value as to minors.

6. Hacking shall mean attempting to gain unauthorized access to computer and network systems connected to the Internet.

7. Technology protection measure shall refer to a proxy server managed by ESU 10 that blocks and/or filters Internet access.

8. Authorized staff member as used herein shall refer to an adult staff member appointed by the Educational Service Unit 10 Technology Committee.

9. Technology Committee as used herein shall refer to a group of ESU 10 staff including the following:

a. Administrator
b. Director of Technology
c. One (1) Network Information and Operations Center staff member
d. Two (2) staff members appointed by the Administrator

 

Access to Internet by Minors

Minors accessing Internet services provided by ESU 10 when working as an employee or volunteer of ESU 10; when attending trainings, meetings, conferences, or other events sponsored at a facility owned or leased by ESU 10 or at a facility of which ESU 10 has otherwise been granted primary custody; or when accessing ESU 10 Internet services with remote access connections shall be subject to the following rules and regulations:

1. Minors shall not access material that is obscene, child pornography, harmful to minors, or otherwise inappropriate for educational or work-related uses.

2. Minors shall not use ESU 10 technology or Internet resources to engage in hacking or attempts to otherwise compromise any computer or network system's security.

3. Minors shall not engage in any illegal activities on the Internet.

4. Minors should only use electronic mail, chat rooms, and other forms of direct electronic communications for purposes related to education within the context of a school-related assignment activity or for purposes related to work, including volunteer, at ESU 10.

5. Minors shall not disclose personal identification information on the Internet.

6. The online activities of minors shall be monitored.

 

Access to Internet by Adults

Adults accessing Internet services provided by ESU 10 when working as an employee or volunteer of ESU 10; when attending trainings, meetings, conferences, or other events sponsored at a facility owned or leased by ESU 10 or at a facility of which ESU 10 has otherwise been granted primary custody; or when accessing ESU 10 Internet services with remote access connections shall be subject to the following rules and regulations:

1. Adults shall not access material that is obscene, child pornography, or otherwise inappropriate for training or work-related uses.

2. Adults shall not use ESU 10 technology resources to engage in unauthorized hacking or attempts to otherwise compromise any computer or network system's security.

3. Adults shall not engage in illegal activities on the Internet.

 

Technology Protection Measure

ESU 10 shall use a technology protection measure that blocks and/or filters Internet access to prevent access to Internet sites that are not in accordance with the policies of ESU 10.

1. The technology protection measure that blocks and/or filters Internet access may be disabled by an authorized staff member for bona fide research purposes with permission of the immediate supervisor of the staff member requesting said disabling or with the permission of the administrator of ESU 10.

 

Policy Violations

Any violation of this policy may result in the loss of access to the Internet by ESU 10. Additional disciplinary action may be determined in accordance with existing procedures and practices, both administrative and as stipulated in ESU 10 board policy, and including applicable law enforcement agencies when necessary.

 

Policy Challenge Procedure

An individual who has been granted access to the Internet by ESU 10 and desires to access an Internet site that is not compliant with this policy may challenge the enforcement of the policy according to the following provisions:

1. Internet site review requests should be directed to ESU 10's Director of Technology in writing for forwarding to the Technology Committee for consideration.

2. The Technology Committee will review the site within seven working days of submission of the request and, if deemed appropriate for educational or work-related purposes, may vote to unblock the site.

3. ESU 10 department directors will regulate enforcement of the policy, including disciplinary actions, and shall forward to the administrator of ESU 10 any challenges to the severity of the applied discipline.

4. Challenges to the application or enforcement of ESU 10's Internet Safety Policy which cannot be resolved at the levels outlined in the preceding step will be handled in accordance with ESU 10's established grievance policy or at the ESU 10 administrator and/or board level for challenges presented in writing by individuals other than ESU 10 employees and volunteers who have been granted access to the Internet by ESU 10.

vkg/03/19/01

vkg/rev/08/20/01