Staff Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)
Kern High School District computers, the District network to which they are connected, and District-funded Internet connections are provided to enhance productivity, to facilitate professional communication, and to harness the resources of the Internet in the service of the education of the students of the Kern High School District. This policy applies to, and describes the responsibilities and obligations of, all District employees using the District’s electronic information resources, including the District’s computers, electronic devices, and network.
Kern High School District Computer and Network Acceptable Use Policy for Staff
I. Description of the District’s Electronic Information Resources.
The District’s electronic information resources covered by this policy include the District’s computers, electronic devices, and network(s). These electronic information resources are District property, provided to meet district needs. They do not belong to employees.
The District’s electronic information resources covered by this policy include the District’s computers, electronic devices, and network(s). These electronic information resources are District property, provided to meet district needs. They do not belong to employees.
A. Definition of “District Computers”:
The term “District computer” means any computer, including a laptop or tablet computer, that is owned, leased or rented by the District, purchased with funds from a grant approved or awarded to the District, or borrowed by the District from another agency, company, or entity, whether or not the computer is equipped with a modem or communication peripheral capable of digital connection.
The term “District computer” means any computer, including a laptop or tablet computer, that is owned, leased or rented by the District, purchased with funds from a grant approved or awarded to the District, or borrowed by the District from another agency, company, or entity, whether or not the computer is equipped with a modem or communication peripheral capable of digital connection.
B. Definition of “Electronic Devices”:
The term “District electronic device” means any device other than a District computer that is capable of transmitting, receiving, or storing digital media and is owned, leased, or rented by the District, purchased with funds from a grant approved by or awarded to the District, or borrowed by the District from another agency, company or entity, whether or not the electronic device is portable and whether or not the electronic device is equipped with a modem or other communication peripheral capable of digital connection.
District electronic devices include but are not limited to:
➢ Telephones
➢ Cellular telephones
➢ Smartphones and smart devices
➢ Radios
➢ Pagers
➢ Voice mail
➢ E-mail
➢ Text messages
➢ Digital cameras
➢ Personal digital assistants
➢ Wearable technology
➢ Any wireless communication device including emergency radios
➢ Portable storage devices such as thumb drives (flash memory) and zip drives
➢ Portable media devices such as compact discs (CD’s) and digital versatile discs (DVD’s)
➢ Printers, copiers, scanners, fax machines, or “all in one” peripheral devices.
➢ Cellular telephones
➢ Smartphones and smart devices
➢ Radios
➢ Pagers
➢ Voice mail
➢ Text messages
➢ Digital cameras
➢ Personal digital assistants
➢ Wearable technology
➢ Any wireless communication device including emergency radios
➢ Portable storage devices such as thumb drives (flash memory) and zip drives
➢ Portable media devices such as compact discs (CD’s) and digital versatile discs (DVD’s)
➢ Printers, copiers, scanners, fax machines, or “all in one” peripheral devices.
C. Definition of “District Electronic Network”:
The term “District electronic network” means the District’s Wide Area Network (WAN), Local Area Network (LAN), wireless access
The term “District electronic network” means the District’s Wide Area Network (WAN), Local Area Network (LAN), wireless access
II. Computer and Software
Kern High School District computers will be installed and maintained ONLY by authorized staff. Only the administrator at each site designated by the building manager or principal in conjunction with District electronics staff will be allowed to authorize installation or maintenance of either hardware or software on Kern High School District computers.
Kern High School District computers will be installed and maintained ONLY by authorized staff. Only the administrator at each site designated by the building manager or principal in conjunction with District electronics staff will be allowed to authorize installation or maintenance of either hardware or software on Kern High School District computers.
A. The District has an obligation to ensure that software on its computers is being used legally according to that software’s license and to ensure that any software installed do not create difficulties on the individual computer or on the District network. Staff members who wish to be authorized to install a particular piece of software on their computers or who wish to have such software installed must certify that they are using the software according to license and must register the license information with the designated administrator at each site.
1. Multiple installations of the same license number will be assumed to violate copyright unless a multiple license provision can be demonstrated.
2. Software not related to the mission of the Kern High School District will not be installed on Kern High School District equipment.
3. ‘Migrating’ to an upgraded computer does not carry with it the right to ‘migrate’ software to that computer unless that software is wiped clean from the original computer.
District technical staff has the capacity to survey individual computers through the network, will remove programs not authorized for installation, and will report the incident to the appropriate site and district administration.
B. Any password protection whether at the system level or the program level must be registered with the appropriate administrator on site. The District needs the ability to access its own equipment. Care must be taken to ensure that students or other unauthorized individuals cannot change passwords; a screen saver SHOULD be password protected to prevent an unanticipated lockout.
C. Screen savers, sound events, wallpaper and other system additions represent the Kern High School District as well as the individual, when found on Kern High School District systems. These should avoid sexually suggestive material as well as that which might reasonably be construed as being demeaning to individuals or groups. If law, custom, or common sense would indicate that material should not be displayed in the classroom or in an office, it should not be displayed on computers in the classroom or in that office.
D. No images, sounds, or media of any sort may be added to Kern High School District equipment or to materials produced through Kern High School District Equipment that violate copyright.
III. Local Area, District, and Internet
Electronic information services (Local, District-wide, and Internet) are available to students and staff in Kern High School District. The Kern High School District strongly believes in the educational value of such electronic services and recognizes their potential to support curriculum and to allow staff to efficiently provide educational services. The District goal in providing this service is to promote educational excellence by facilitating research, innovation, communication, and business efficiency. Staff Internet access will be granted through local area networks and District Internet connections.
The District reserves the right to take immediate action regarding 1) activities that create security and/or safety issues for the District, students, employees, schools, network(s) or computer resources, or 2) activities that expend District resources on content the District in its sole discretion determines lacks legitimate educational content/purpose, or 3) other activities as determined by the District as inappropriate.
Electronic information services (Local, District-wide, and Internet) are available to students and staff in Kern High School District. The Kern High School District strongly believes in the educational value of such electronic services and recognizes their potential to support curriculum and to allow staff to efficiently provide educational services. The District goal in providing this service is to promote educational excellence by facilitating research, innovation, communication, and business efficiency. Staff Internet access will be granted through local area networks and District Internet connections.
The District reserves the right to take immediate action regarding 1) activities that create security and/or safety issues for the District, students, employees, schools, network(s) or computer resources, or 2) activities that expend District resources on content the District in its sole discretion determines lacks legitimate educational content/purpose, or 3) other activities as determined by the District as inappropriate.
The District retains the right, with or without cause, and with or without notice to the employee, to limit or remove access of the employee to the District’s computers, electronic devices, network or other electronic information resources, and any communication or information stored on or passing through the District’s electronic information resources, including but not limited to software, data, and image files, Internet use, e-mails, text messages, and voice mail. Any communication or information stored on or passing through the District’s electronic information resources is the sole property of the District.
A set of expectations and understandings apply to all using Kern High School District network services as representatives of the Kern High School District on the District network and on the Internet through the Kern High School District Internet gateway. These include:
A. Staff must understand that all the rules of conduct described in the Kern High School District Administrative Code apply during network use.
B. Employees are prohibited from using the District’s computers, electronic devices, network and other electronic resources for transmitting, knowingly receiving, or storing any oral or written communication that is profane, abusive, obscene, defamatory, threatening or disruptive, or that reasonably could be construed as cyberbullying, harassment or disparagement of others based on their race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, marital status, sex, age, or sexual orientation.
C. Employees are prohibited from using the District’s computers, electronic devices, and network for transmitting, knowingly receiving, or storing any visual image that depicts actual or simulated torture, bondage, or physical abuse of any human being or other creature, or that is sexually explicit.
1. “Sexually explicit” means a visual depiction of actual or simulated sex acts, and the unclothed human genitalia, pubic area, anus, buttocks, and female breasts that lacks serious artistic, literary, scientific, or political value.
2. This prohibition applies to visual depictions of any kind, including screen savers, drawings, cartoons and animations.
D. Employees are prohibited from violating any state or federal law or municipal ordinance, such as accessing or transmitting harmful materials, materials that encourage others to violate the law, confidential information, or copyrighted materials.
E. Employees are prohibited from engaging in criminal activities that can be punished by law or selling or purchasing illegal items or substances.
F. Employees are prohibited from damaging computer equipment, files, data, or the network in any way, including intentionally accessing, transmitting, or downloading computer viruses or other harmful files or programs, or disrupting any computer system performance.
G. Employees are prohibited from using any District computer to obtain unauthorized information (“hacking”) whether internal or external to the District or attempting to access information protected by privacy laws.
H. Employees are prohibited from accessing, transmitting, or downloading large files, including “chain letters” or any type of “pyramid schemes.”
I. Staff must use assigned accounts or passwords to access District computers, electronic devices, and network. No employee shall permit the use of his or her assigned account or password, or use another person’s assigned account or password, without the prior express written consent of the employee’s supervisor and the designated technology administrator at the employee’s work site. This must be in support of the educational goals and objectives of the District. Staff must:
1. avoid personal use of e-mail.
2. not use the network, e-mail system or Internet connection for personal financial gain including commercial advertising.
3. not use the network, e-mail system, or Internet connection for political or religious advocacy or on behalf of charitable organizations.
4. not send any message through the network, e-mail system or Internet connection under someone else’s name or using another’s account password(s) or identifier(s).
5. not interfere with other users’ ability to access their account(s), disclose their password to others or allow others to use their account(s), or disclose another Staff member’s password to others or allow others to use another Staff member’s account(s).”
6. not transmit, request, or receive materials inconsistent with the mission and values of the Kern High School District.
7. not attempt to breach network security or transmit viruses.
8. not mass distribute e-mail to a site without site administrative approval or mass distribute email in the District without the approval of the Director of IST or the Superintendency.
9. not access pornographic or other websites that are inconsistent with the mission and values of the District.
J. Staff must use language appropriate for a public system in all communications.
K. Staff must respect the copyright and/or software licensing of material received through the Kern High School District network, e-mail system, or Internet connection.
L. Staff must understand that the public meeting provisions of the Brown Act cannot be subverted through e-mail or network conferencing.
IV. Filters and Other Internet Protection Measures
To ensure that the use of the District’s network is consistent with the District’s mission, the District uses content and bandwidth software to prevent access to pornographic and other websites that are inconsistent with the mission and values of the District. No employee shall bypass or evade, or attempt to bypass or evade, the District filter system. Further, no employee shall direct students to, nor provide permission for students to, intentionally bypass KHSD filtered wi-fi or KHSD-provided Internet service so as to provide students access to non-filtered, non-KHSD operated Internet.
To ensure that the use of the District’s network is consistent with the District’s mission, the District uses content and bandwidth software to prevent access to pornographic and other websites that are inconsistent with the mission and values of the District. No employee shall bypass or evade, or attempt to bypass or evade, the District filter system. Further, no employee shall direct students to, nor provide permission for students to, intentionally bypass KHSD filtered wi-fi or KHSD-provided Internet service so as to provide students access to non-filtered, non-KHSD operated Internet.
Employees shall only utilize KHSD-owned and issued electronic devices for instructional purposes.
V. Cyber Security
If a staff member suspects that they have been victimized by malicious cyber activity such as a phishing or malware attack, or if they have clicked on a suspicious link in an email message, they should report this activity to their site administrator or to their site IT Technician immediately.
If a staff member suspects that they have been victimized by malicious cyber activity such as a phishing or malware attack, or if they have clicked on a suspicious link in an email message, they should report this activity to their site administrator or to their site IT Technician immediately.
Immediate reporting of suspicious cyber activity to the IT Department is crucial to the timely isolation and removal of any potentially dangerous code from the Kern High School District computer network.
VI. No Employee Privacy
Employees have no privacy whatsoever in their personal or work-related use of the District’s computers, electronic devices, network, and other electronic information resources, or to any communications or other information in the District’s electronic information resources or that may pass through District electronic information resources. The District retains the right, with or without cause, and with or without notice to the employee, to remotely monitor, physically inspect, or examine the District’s computers, electronic devices, network or other electronic information resources, and any communication or information stored on or passing through the District’s electronic information resources, including but not limited to software, data and image files, Internet use, e-mails, text messages, and voice mail. Staff must understand that as a matter of law, any document pertaining to the public business on a publicly funded system is a public record.
Employees have no privacy whatsoever in their personal or work-related use of the District’s computers, electronic devices, network, and other electronic information resources, or to any communications or other information in the District’s electronic information resources or that may pass through District electronic information resources. The District retains the right, with or without cause, and with or without notice to the employee, to remotely monitor, physically inspect, or examine the District’s computers, electronic devices, network or other electronic information resources, and any communication or information stored on or passing through the District’s electronic information resources, including but not limited to software, data and image files, Internet use, e-mails, text messages, and voice mail. Staff must understand that as a matter of law, any document pertaining to the public business on a publicly funded system is a public record.
VII. Intellectual Property
Employees are engaged in creating “works-for-hire” when they create materials (including curricula, instructional materials, teaching tools, computer coding, computer applications, and computer programs) that are (a) related to the employee’s job duties and description, (b) created substantially with work hours, and (c) created to serve, at least in part, the interest of the District. Employees also create “works-for-hire” when they are specifically paid by the District to create curricular, instructional, or other materials outside of the regular workday. The District retains ownership of the intellectual property right to any “works-for-hire.”
Employees are engaged in creating “works-for-hire” when they create materials (including curricula, instructional materials, teaching tools, computer coding, computer applications, and computer programs) that are (a) related to the employee’s job duties and description, (b) created substantially with work hours, and (c) created to serve, at least in part, the interest of the District. Employees also create “works-for-hire” when they are specifically paid by the District to create curricular, instructional, or other materials outside of the regular workday. The District retains ownership of the intellectual property right to any “works-for-hire.”
VIII. Sanctions
Individuals who violate the terms of the Computer and Network Acceptable Use Policy for Staff will be subject to a series of sanctions through Information Systems including the installation of restrictive lockdown security on their classroom workstation and restriction or revocation of District network, Internet, and/or e-mail privileges.
Individuals who violate the terms of the Computer and Network Acceptable Use Policy for Staff will be subject to a series of sanctions through Information Systems including the installation of restrictive lockdown security on their classroom workstation and restriction or revocation of District network, Internet, and/or e-mail privileges.
Additionally, sanctions may be applied by the Kern High School District Personnel Division in accordance with established discipline policies.
I have read, understand, and accept the Kern High School District Computer and Network Acceptable Use Policy for Staff. The District shall retain a copy of this acknowledged document.
| _______________________________________ | _______________________________________ | |
| KHSD Employee Name (User) | KHSD Employee Identification Number | |
| _______________________________________ | _______________________________________ | |
| KHSD Employee Signature | Date Signed |
Revised 07/20/2022