7540 - TECHNOLOGY

The School Board is committed to the effective use of technology to both enhance the quality of student learning and the efficiency of School Corporation operations.

Although students' use of Corporation technology resources (see definition in Bylaw 0100) is required to participate in and benefit from certain aspects of the Corporation's curriculum and to participate in online assessment, unsupervised use of technology resources may be limited or denied if such use is not under the direct supervision of school staff if a student's use of Corporation technology resources is in violation of the Corporation's policy regarding acceptable use. Students and their parents must sign and submit a Student Technology Acceptable Use and Safety form annually. (See also, Policy 7540.03)

The Superintendent shall develop, recommend for approval by the Board, and implement a written Corporation Technology Plan (CTP) annually. One of the primary purposes of the CTP is to evaluate new and emerging technologies and how they will play a role in student achievement and success and/or efficient and effective Corporation operations. 

Annually the Superintendent shall require the review of the implementation of the current CTP, update that plan as need be, and recommend the updated plan for approval by the Board. The CTP will address the need for Corporation technology resources for all the Corporation’s instructional, operational and business functions, including, but not limited to software licenses, infrastructure hardware and software, technical support, telecommunication devices, servers, data storage, and recovery systems (both internal and external).

The Superintendent shall create a Technology Governance Committee to oversee and guide the development of the CTP. The Superintendent shall appoint individuals to the Technology Governance Committee that include representatives of all educational, administrative and business/operational areas in the Corporation.

The CTP shall state the procedures for the proper acquisition of technology. The CTP also shall provide guidance to staff and students about making safe, appropriate and ethical use of Corporation Technology Resources, as well as inform both staff and students about disciplinary actions that will be taken if its Technology Resources are abused in any way or used in an inappropriate, illegal, or unethical manner. See Policy 7540.03 – Student Technology Acceptable Use and Safety and AG 7540.03 – Student Technology Acceptable Use and Safety, and Policy 7540.04 – Staff Technology Education Technology Acceptable Use and Safety AG 7540.04 – Staff Network and Internet Acceptable Use and Safety.

The Superintendent, in conjunction with the Technology Director, shall review the CTP and recommend the approval of any changes, amendments, or revisions to the Board annually.

This policy, along with the Student and Staff Technology Acceptable Use and Safety policies and the Student Code of Conduct, further govern students’ and staff members’ use of their personal communication devices (PCDs) (see Policy 5136 and Policy 7530.02). Users have no right or expectation of privacy when using Corporation Technology Resources (including but not limited to privacy in the content of their personal files, e-mails and records of their online activity when using the Corporation’s computer network and/or Internet connection).

Further safeguards shall be established so that the Board's investment in both hardware and software achieves the benefits of technology and inhibits negative side effects. Accordingly, students shall be educated about appropriate online behavior including, but not limited to: using social media to interact with others online; interacting with other individuals in chat rooms or on blogs; and, recognizing what constitutes cyberbullying, understanding cyberbullying is a violation of Board policy, and learning appropriate responses if they experience cyberbullying.

Staff use of Corporation-approved social media platforms/sites shall be consistent with Policy 7544.

Instructional staff and their students may use Corporation Technology Resources to access and use social media for educational purposes, provided the principal approves, in advance, such access and use.

Students shall comply with Policy 7540.03 and Policy 5136 when using Corporation Technology Resources to access and/or use Corporation-approved social media platform/sites.

Similarly, staff shall comply with Policy 7540.04 and Policy 7530.02 when using Corporation Technology Resources to access and/or use social media.

Revised 8/8/11
Revised 1/10/17

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