The Board of
Education recognizes the use of technology in the educational process is an
essential part of the schooling experience. Technology is to be viewed as
a resource to enhance the learning process among other resources available to
teachers and pupils. In addition, technology can be used to enhance the
administration of the schools and the district. In order to provide
direction and meaning to the use of technology as an instructional resource,
the Board encourages and supports staff use of technology as a component of the
learning process.
For purposes of
this policy “technology” includes, but is not limited to, the use of computers
and computer peripherals, communications networks, access to databases and
libraries of information and the integration of audio, video, multimedia
devices and media for purposes of teaching and learning.
The Chief
School Administrator, in consultation with teaching and support staff, shall
recommend to the Board the acquisition of appropriate technology to best
implement the curricular, instructional, and administrative program of the
school district. The Chief School Administrator shall prepare a
technology plan for the school district to encompass the following:
Curricular,
Instructional and Administrative Need
The technology
plan shall define the curricular, instructional and administrative need for
technological equipment and media for the district.
In-service
Education
The Board shall
provide opportunities for school staff to participate in in-service programs on
hardware or software programs to be used in the execution of educational and
administrative tasks. In-service programs may be provided in or out of
the district.
Standards,
Codes and References
All technology
installations shall conform to the industry standards and applicable federal,
State and local statutes and codes.
Facilities
Planning
In all
facilities projects involving new constructions, additions, and renovations the
Chief School Administrator or designee shall ensure the plans include
provisions for current and future technology needs in terms of the structural,
electric/electronic, mechanical, acoustical and visual systems of the
building(s). All educational specifications shall include features required
for the use of instructional technology.
Computers
The school
district will provide support or maintenance agreements for specified brands of
computers. All other computers purchased or donated will be subject to
repair only when non-allocated funding is available and therefore may remain
unrepaired until funding is available.
Computer
Software Acquisition and Upgrading
The school
district will only support the specified upgrades and training. Staff
members shall not purchase software that has not been included on a list of
specified software or has been approved by Chief School Administrator.
The Chief
School Administrator will recommend the purchase of upgrades to software as
needed. An evaluation of upgrades shall be made by appropriate personnel
and no upgrade shall be purchased without the express approval of Chief School
Administrator.
Site Licenses
In the case
where more than one copy of a software program is required, the computer
teacher shall attempt to acquire or negotiate a site license with the software
developers. In the event a site license is not possible, vendors shall be
sought who will provide multiple copies at a discounted cost.
Software
Copyright
All employees
shall strictly adhere to the copyright laws of the United States. No
software shall be copied and/or distributed except in accordance with these
laws. All software placed on media workstations or any network with
public access shall be copy protected by the computer teacher, who shall assure
that individuals who have access to such programs shall not copy them without
authorization.
Internal
Communication (District)
The school
district shall provide communication between schools by a variety of means.
External
Communications
The Board
encourages the use of external communications so schools may utilize the vast
resources of external databases and communicate with other schools, external
agencies, and businesses throughout the world. Gateways to such
communications will be supported by the school district. The use of
particular gateways shall be approved by the computer teacher. The
computer teacher shall be responsible for the installation of software in
district owned computers and/or computer systems that prevents access to
gateways and Internet sites that have material considered by the computer
teacher to be inappropriate for use by pupils.
Computer
Laboratories and Distributed Computing
In order to
provide teacher, staff, and pupil access to computers, the Board directs that
provisions be made to provide computer access in computer laboratories,
classrooms, and school libraries/media centers.
Audio/Video
All audio
and/or video materials shall be used in accordance with the copyright laws of
the United States. Teachers, pupils, or staff who create audio or video
materials containing the voices or images of the individuals involved shall
obtain proper releases from those individuals, their parent(s) or legal
guardian(s) for instructional use within the school.
Informing
Parents, Legal Guardians and Interested Parties
Upon request,
the Chief School Administrator shall make available to parent/legal guardians
the computer hardware and software used in the district in order that a
computer purchased privately for home use may be compatible with the computer
and software the pupil uses in the school setting.
Technology
Coordination
The Board shall
appoint a computer teacher to assure the technology needs of the district are
met in the most efficient manner possible at the lowest costs available to meet
specified needs.
Broadcast
Rights and Copyrights
The Board
specifically retains the Broadcast rights and copyrights to all materials
created by employees of the Board as part of their responsibilities to the
Board. Any financial remuneration for the use of such materials shall be
retained by the Board.
Computer
Security
The computer
teacher shall develop security procedures to include, but not be limited to,
the following areas:
1. Physical
Security of Equipment
All computer equipment shall be maintained in a
secure manner appropriate to its location.
2. Data
Security
a. Back-up
procedures for system files, libraries, and data shall be practiced in a timely
fashion.
b. Disaster
recovery plans shall be kept up-to-date at all times.
c. Password
protection shall be in place and updated periodically.
d. Resource
security shall be in place to prevent unauthorized access to system files,
libraries, and data.
3. Employee
Training
All new employees having, as part of their job
responsibilities, access to computers and information systems will be trained
in the proper security procedures outlined above.
All employees having, as part of their job
responsibilities, access to computers and information systems will be kept up-to-date
on current security procedures for equipment and data.
4. Transaction
Audit Trail
Appropriate procedures will be maintained in
order to monitor system activity and users, as necessary.
5. Security
Officer
The Chief School Administrator shall designate a
Computer Security Officer to monitor system security procedures.
Use of
Facsimile (FAX) Machines
Fax machines
provide a useful means of communicating and shall be subject to the same rules
that apply to the use of telephones. All incoming faxes shall be
considered confidential mail. No disclosure of the contents of any fax
shall be made except to the individual for whom the fax is intended. Any
individual violating this confidentiality shall be subject to discipline as
provided by the policies and regulations of the Board.
N.J.A.C.
6A:26-6.1 et seq.
17 U.S.C. 101
et seq.
Adopted:
12 March 2007
Revised:
9 February 2009