The Board of Education recognizes the advantages to its work force afforded by the District's computers, its electronic mail system and other data-generation and communication technologies. It also is aware of the increasing frequency with which these technologies are used to accomplish the District's mission. Finally, the Board also recognizes that from time to time it will be necessary to gain access to district computers and to the electronic mail system used by its employees.

Accordingly, the Board of Education authorizes the Superintendent of Schools to adopt such procedures relating to computers, electronic mail and other communication and data-generation technologies used in the performance of the work of the District as are believed by the Superintendent to be necessary. Such procedures should aid the efficient operation of the District while at the same time protecting the rights of employees.

General Guidelines for Use of E-mail and Computer Systems

• Employees shall not send anonymous messages or messages which appear to be from someone other than the sender.
• Employees should take care not to disclose their Passwords unnecessarily. At the same time, however, employees may be required by their supervisor to disclose their passwords to their supervisor or to a co-worker.
• Employees shall not use unauthorized codes. Passwords. or other means to gain access to others' voice mail boxes, computers, or e-mail.
• No district-owned resources shall be used to send or compose messages which would tend to create a hostile work environment under applicable law relating to age, sex, race, religion, or disability discrimination or which would violate district policies concerning sexual harassment and ethnic intimidation, or which would otherwise be disruptive to the workplace.
• District-owned computer resources generally may not be used in any way for commercial ventures (including sale of an employee's personal property).
• District e-mail may be used to support charitable ventures.
• District-owned resources shall not be used to access or download material which is sexuallv explicit. obscene. lewd. or vulgar

Use of District Computers and E-mail System

District-owned equipment, including computers and the electronic mail system, are the property of the School district and are to be used by employees primarily for the business purposes of the District. Occasional personal use may be acceptable when it does not interfere with the employee's fulfillment of his duties or the duties of his co-workers. The privilege of occasional use for personal matters may be withdrawn by a supervisor when it is abused or where it interferes with the work of any employee. Inappropriate use of district computers or network systems, including use which is intended to damage the system or makes it less efficient (for example by the introduction of a virus), may subject the user to discipline. Inappropriate communications (including messages that may constitute intimidating, hostile or offensive material on the basis of gender, race, color, religion, national origin, or disability) may subject an employee to the same sort of disciplinary action as would verbal comments or non-electronic written comments of a similar character.

Anything sent/received via E-mail is available for public record!