Northshore School District

ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE
No. 2022 P
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INSTRUCTION
A. PURPOSE
The purpose of the Northshore School District Responsible Use Procedure is to provide
rules, guidelines, personal safety recommendations and the code of conduct for the use of
technology, the district network and other connected networks including the Internet.
This Responsible Use Procedure (RUP) applies to staff, students and guests who utilize:
District-owned technology on the NSD network, on non-school networks and offline
Non-District technology, including privately owned technology that is connected to the
NSD network or using non-district networks while on school property
B. DEFINITIONS
Technology
Technology shall be defined as any electronic device that can use a network connection, process
information, display information or store information for long-term retrieval and the software
and services that are used by these devices. This includes:
All Internet services and shared network resources
Desktop, mobile computers, tablets, phones and other handheld devices
Videoconferencing, monitors, projection systems and telephones
Online collaboration services, message boards, email and other messaging services
Copiers, printers, peripheral equipment and external file storage devices
Social media, web-based or Internet tools such as blogs, wikis, social networks, podcasts,
or other Internet tools
Additional technologies as developed
Network
The District network includes wired and wireless computers and peripheral equipment, files and
storage, e-mail and Internet content (blogs, web sites, web mail, groups, wikis, etc.). The District
reserves the right to prioritize the use of, and access to, the network. All use of the network must
be consistent with efforts to enhance learning, support education and research consistent with the
mission of the District and to provide support for district operations.

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Responsible Use
Northshore provides access to technologies for all users (staff, students, and guests in some
cases). Access to technology is a privilege, not a right, and as such, all users must seriously
consider the responsibilities associated with the opportunity to use technology devoted to
activities that support teaching and learning. The norms of behavior with regard to responsible
use of technology are defined as Digital Citizenship. It is the responsibility of both NSD staff
and parents to help prepare students to be members and citizens of a digital society.
A digital citizen is one who:
1. Understands human, cultural and societal issues related to technology and practices legal
and ethical behavior.
2. Advocates and practices safe, legal and responsible use of information and technology.
3. Exhibits a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning
and productivity.
4. Demonstrates personal responsibility for lifelong learning.
5. Exhibits leadership for digital citizenship.
It is assumed that parents grant their child the right to access the network and have a desire to
have their child use the Internet as an educational resource. Parents who do not want their
child(ren) to have access and use the Internet must sign and return the opt out form that is made
available to families annually.
Annually, students will receive grade level appropriate instruction on digital citizenship and
Internet safety educating them about appropriate online behavior, using personal portable devices
at school, interacting with other individuals on social networking websites, cyber-bullying
awareness and response, and other relevant topics.
Annually, all staff must sign a Responsible Use and Internet Safety Agreement or take an online
Responsible Use and Internet Safety course prior to using the network.
COPPA and Internet Tools Terms and Conditions
The Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) is a federal law, enacted in April 2000,
related to the online collection of personal information from students under age 13. COPPA
makes it clear to website owners what they must include in their privacy policy, when they must
seek consent from parents for a child under 13 to use their services, and what the website
owners responsibilities are to protect the online privacy and safety of children. These rules
apply regardless of whether the website is fee-based or not. COPPA does not preclude schools
from acting as intermediaries between operators and parents in the notice and consent process, or
from serving as the parents agent in the process of collecting personal information online from
students in the school context when parents have provided permission for student Internet use.

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Northshores use and sharing of student data is solely for education purposes. District staff must
maintain the confidentiality of student data in accordance with the Family Educational Rights
and Privacy Act (FERPA).
Northshore uses a variety of software systems in the classroom, including some that are hosted
outside the Districts facilities in the Cloud. When used appropriately and thoughtfully, these
tools can help create a rich, flexible and engaging learning environment for Northshore students.
Additionally, an important part of students becoming good digital citizens is having
opportunities to access materials in the Cloud and/or on the Internet in a responsible and
effective manner.
Northshore supports COPPA and insists that websites the District uses adhere to this law. It is
important that all Northshore staff members who work with children be aware of and follow
COPPA and other state and federal regulations related to student Internet access and related data
use. Staff using web-based tools shall be aware of the Terms of Use and Privacy Policies for
those systems. Staff, who want to use outside resources with students, shall obtain approval
prior to use from the Technology Department. Depending on the nature of the resources and how
they will be used with students, it may be necessary to obtain approval from groups such as the
Curriculum Materials Adoption Committee (CMAC).
C. GUIDELINES
Responsible use by students, staff and guests shall include the following:
1. Creation of files, digital projects, videos, web pages and podcasts using network
resources shall be in support of educational activities;
2. When participating in blogs, wikis, bulletin boards, social networking sites and groups,
and the creation of content for podcasts, e-mail and web pages that support educational
research, users will create online names that are appropriate and use appropriate
language/content in all online posts;
3. Student and Staff use of the network for incidental personal use shall be in accordance
with all District policies and procedures. Such incidental work, while not prohibited, will
not be provided any additional staffing resources to support or enable;
4. Connection of personal electronic devices (wired or wireless) including portable devices
with network capabilities to the District network using NSD credentials. Students will
only use personal electronic devices on the Districts network at the discretion and
approval of their teacher, school building staff and/or administration. Connection of any
personal electronic device to the District network by any person is subject to all
guidelines in this document;
5. Users will help maintain a safe computing environment by notifying appropriate campus
or district officials of inappropriate behavior, vandalism, vulnerabilities, risks and
breaches of NSD policy involving technology. If the user is uncertain whether an activity
is permitted or appropriate, he/she will ask a teacher/administrator before engaging in
that activity.

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Network Security and Privacy
Passwords are the first level of security for a user account. System logins and accounts are to be
used only by the authorized owner of the account for authorized district purposes. Students and
staff are responsible for all activity on their account, must not share their account password, must
not use the account of other users, and must exercise responsible password management.
Internet Safety
Personal Information and Inappropriate Content:
1. Students and staff should not reveal personal information, including a home address and
phone number on websites, blogs, podcasts, videos, social networking sites, wikis, e-mail
or as content on any other electronic medium;
2. Students and staff should not reveal personal information about another individual on any
electronic medium without first obtaining permission;
3. No student pictures or names can be published on any public class, school or district
website unless the appropriate permission has been obtained according to District policy;
and
4. If students encounter dangerous or inappropriate information or messages, they should
notify the appropriate school authority.
Use of Social Media and Web-based Tools
Online communication is critical to students learning 21st-century-skills. Social media, webbased or Internet tools such as blogs, wikis, social networks, podcasts, email or other Internet
tools offer an authentic, real-world vehicle for student expression. Examples of social media
include, but are not limited to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google+, Instagram, LinkedIn and
Flickr. The Districts primary responsibility to students is their safety. The District holds staff
and students, using these tools to the same responsible use, terms of agreement, standards and
expectations and must follow all established Internet safety guidelines. When these tools are used
by staff or students with District resources, while on district property or while acting as a
representative of the District, the District reserves the right to monitor appropriate behavior and
adherence to instructional guidelines. Anything deemed to be inappropriate will be subject to
deletion. The District may also take other disciplinary actions as appropriate.
The District will provide all secondary students and many elementary grades with free email
service for educational purposes only. These students will be offered email accounts managed by
the District using an Internet-based service. These accounts are offered to students to provide
consistent and reliable communication with their respective teachers and staff members. Use of
these email accounts is subject to the same conditions and restrictions applicable to use of the
Districts network. Any references to email or electronic resources in this RUP shall incorporate
Google Apps for Education email accounts.

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The District maintains the right to withdraw account access should there be reason to believe that
the account has been misused or that the individual has violated the Districts policies or the
responsible use guidelines. Violation of district policy or these guidelines by staff, students
and/or guests may result in disciplinary action as well as revocation of network and computer
access privileges.
Social Media for Personal Use by Staff
Communication with Students:
In order to maintain a professional and appropriate relationship with students, district employees
should not communicate with individual students who are currently enrolled in district schools
on personal social media sites. Additionally, district employees should not communicate with
students via social media tools in a manner that is not readily visible and accessible to the
students parents/guardians and the employees supervisor. This provision is subject to the
following exceptions: (a) staff communication with their own family members and (b) if an
emergency situation requires such communication, in which case the District employee should
notify his/her supervisor of the contact as soon as possible.
Guidance Regarding Personal Social Media Sites
District employees should exercise caution and common sense when using personal social media
sites:
1. Employees are prohibited from inappropriate online socializing with students or from
engaging in any conduct on social networking Web sites that violates the law, district
policies, or other generally recognized professional standards. Employees whose conduct
violates this policy may face discipline or termination, consistent with the Districts
policies, responsible use agreement and collective bargaining agreements, as applicable;
2. District employees are encouraged to use appropriate privacy settings to control access to
their personal social media sites although there are limitations to privacy settings. Private
communication published on the Internet can easily become public; social media sites can
change their current default privacy settings and other functions. As a result, employees
have an individualized responsibility to understand the rules of the social media site
being utilized;
3. District employees should not tag photos of other district employees, district
volunteers, district contractors or district vendors without the prior permission of the
individuals being tagged;
4. Personal social media use, including off-hours use, has the potential to result in
disruption at school and/or the workplace, and can be in violation of district policies and
federal and/or state law;
5. The posting or disclosure of personally identifiable student information or confidential
information via personal social media sites, in violation of these guidelines is prohibited;
and
6. District employees should not use the Districts logo in any postings or post district
material on any personal social media sites without the written permission of a district
administrator.

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Copyright and Ownership of Work
Downloading, copying, duplicating and distributing software, music, sound files, movies, images
or other copyrighted materials without the specific written permission of the copyright owner is
generally prohibited. However, the duplication and distribution of materials for educational
purposes are permitted when such duplication and distribution fall within the Fair Use Doctrine
of the United States Copyright Law (Title 17, USC) and content is cited appropriately (School
Board Policy 2025 and 2025P Copyright).
Work created by employees as part of their employment is considered property of the District
under the terms of work made for hire. The District owns any and all rights to such work
including any and all derivative works, unless there is a written agreement to the contrary.
All work completed by students as part of the regular instructional program is owned by the
student as soon as it is created, unless such work is created while the student is acting as an
employee of the school system or unless such work has been paid for under a written agreement
with the school system. If under such agreement with the District, the work will be considered
the property of the District. Staff members shall obtain a students permission prior to
distributing his/her work to parties outside the school.
D. UNACCEPTABLE USE AND PREVENTATIVE MEASURES
The guidelines for responsible use are in place to protect users and systems from harm.
Unacceptable use is prevented through the implementation of filtering and monitoring systems
and training on topics such as digital citizenship and responsible use of technology. When these
guidelines are not followed and unacceptable use occurs, the District shall impose disciplinary
action.
Examples of unacceptable use:
1. Use for personal gain, commercial solicitation or compensation of any kind;
2. Actions that result in unapproved liability or cost incurred by the District;
3. Downloading, installing and use of games, audio files, video files or other applications
for anything other than in the support of educational research;
4. Support or opposition for ballot measures, candidates and any other political activity;
5. Hacking, cracking, vandalizing, the introduction of viruses, worms, Trojan horses, time
bombs and changes to hardware, software and monitoring tools or any other activities
that would damage, hinder or alter the use of District technology without permission;
6. Unauthorized access to other district computers, networks and information systems or
unauthorized use of district-managed accounts on other systems;
7. Cyber bullying, hate mail, defamation, harassment of any kind, discriminatory jokes and
remarks;
8. Information posted, sent or stored online that could endanger others (e.g., bomb
construction, drug manufacturing);
9. Accessing, uploading, downloading, storage and distribution of obscene, offensive,
pornographic or sexually explicit material;

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10. Connecting unauthorized devices to the District network. Any such device will be
confiscated and additional disciplinary action may be taken;
11. Publishing personal details for any user; making available personal schedules available
for public viewing;
12. Making audio or video recordings of any user without their prior permission; and
13. Posing as someone else when online.
Filtering and Monitoring
Filtering software is used to block and/or filter access to visual depictions that are obscene and
all child pornography in accordance with the Childrens Internet Protection Act (CIPA). Filtering
software is not 100% effective. While filters make it more difficult for objectionable material to
be received or accessed, filters are not a complete solution. Every user must take responsibility
for his or her use of the network and Internet and avoid objectionable sites.
The District will provide appropriate adult supervision of Internet use. The first line of defense in
controlling access by minors to inappropriate material on the Internet is appropriate and effective
training followed by deliberate and consistent monitoring of student access to district computers.
Staff members who supervise students, control electronic equipment or have occasion to observe
student use of said equipment online, must make a reasonable effort to monitor the use of this
equipment to assure that student use conforms to the mission and goals of the District. Staff
must make a reasonable effort to become familiar with the Internet and to monitor, instruct and
assist effectively.
Any attempts to defeat or bypass the Districts Internet filter or conceal Internet activity are
prohibited. This includes proxies, https, special ports, modifications to district browser settings
and any other techniques designed to evade filtering or enable the publication of inappropriate
content. E-mail inconsistent with the educational mission of the District will be considered
Spam and blocked from entering district e-mail boxes.
Expectation of Privacy
The District provides the network system, e-mail and Internet access as tools for education in
support of the Districts mission. The District reserves the right to monitor, inspect, copy, review
and store, without prior notice, information about the content and usage of:
1. The network;
2. User files and disk space utilization;
3. User applications and bandwidth utilization;
4. User document files and folders;
5. E-mail and other electronic communications;
6. Internet access; and
7. Any and all information transmitted or received in connection with Network and email
use.

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Users of the Districts network should not have any expectation of privacy when using the
Districts network. The District reserves the right to disclose any electronic messages to law
enforcement officials or third parties as appropriate. All documents are subject to the public
records disclosure laws of the State of Washington.
Disciplinary Action
Use of the computer network and Internet is a privilege, not a right. A user who violates this
agreement shall, at a minimum, have his or her access to the network temporarily limited or
terminated. The District may also take other disciplinary actions as appropriate.
All users of the Districts electronic resources are required to comply with the Districts policy
and procedures (and agree to abide by the provisions set forth in the Districts user agreement).
Violation of any of the conditions of use explained in the Districts online network user
agreement training, Internet safety training, student handbook, Electronic Resources Policy
and/or in this RUP would be cause for disciplinary action, including revocation of network and
computer access privileges.

Issued: 1/22/96
Revised: 5/23/02, 5/5/06, 10/8/07, 9/15/14