1. The Technology Policies We Need Now and Why
Sullivan School District Technology Committee
by Jeff Young
Welcome to my presentation on our District’s technology policies. Today we will be reviewing the policies we have in place, policies that are a few years old now, and looking for areas in which we can improve. You should have a copy of the district’s current Internet Usage Agreement in front of you.
(Anita, if you need a copy of this document as well, you can download it at
November 5, 2019

2. Our Current Policy- Strengths
(Strength Intro Screen)

3. Strengths Declares that use of District technology is a privilege
Discusses the need for policy
Establishes a code of conduct
Includes expectations for use of intellectual property, copyrighted materials, etc.
Our current policy clearly establishes that all use of District technology is considered a privilege, not a right. This point is emphasized multiple times in the document, leaving no room for doubt. It also is very clear in stating that the District can revoke those privileges for any violation of acceptable use.
You can also see that our current Internet Usage Agreement discusses the necessity of having a policy and it establishes an expected code of conduct. Expectations for the ethical use of information is also outlined, including the use of intellectual property and copyrighted materials. This is a particularly important area of emphasis because, as you know, the Internet makes it very easy to violate copyright law, even unwittingly.

4. Strengths (Continued)
Outlines “Netiquette” expectations
States possibility of data loss and/or interruption of service
Includes examples of unacceptable activities
Refers to existing disciplinary policy and outlines possible consequences
At the bottom of the second page, you will see a section titled “Network Etiquette and Privacy”. Network Etiquette, or Netiquette, is a compilation of rules of conduct when using the Internet. While there is no comprehensive written list of Netiquette rules, our current policy includes a concise list of those expectations deemed to be the most important.
As we all know, our school network is not quite 100% reliable, and no network in the world can achieve that level of perfection. As such, it is important for our technology users to understand that network and/or workstation failure can lead to data loss and/or interruption of service. The current policy does a good job in stating that possibility and establishes that use of the network is done at the users own risk.
Another important inclusion in our current policy is a list of examples of unacceptable activities. Furthermore, the document cites some possible consequences for misuse and also refers to the District’s existing disciplinary policy.

5. Our Current Policy – Weaknesses and Additional Needs
(Weakness Intro Screen)

6. Weaknesses The title “Internet Usage Agreement” is misleading
Does not adequately define the term “Network”
May be difficult for students and parents to understand
Now that we have had the opportunity to examine the strengths of our current policy, let’s look at some weaknesses which need to be addressed and improved. First of all, the policy is currently titled “Internet Usage Agreement,” but this title is misleading in that the policy addresses all aspects of technology usage in the District, not just Internet use. As such, it is my recommendation that we adopt a new title for the policy. “Acceptable Use Policy” is the most commonly used title in other schools, but “Technology Usage Agreement: would also be a possibility.
Secondly, the term “Network” is not adequately defined in our current policy. In several places, it is clear that “Network” is used to mean the Internet, and other times it is used to refer to the Local or Wide Area Network. If it is still our desire to use the term “Network” universally, we need to state early in the policy that “Network” includes the Internet, the WAN, and the LAN.
A third point that we may wish to address is the wording of the document. The policy, at three pages long, is lengthy and very obviously contains a great deal of legalese. While such detail is probably wise in terms of Board Policy, we may want to consider condensing and simplifying the document that we share with students and parents. To do this, we should break the document down into more subheadings and make extensive use of bulleted lists. By doing this, we will make the document more readable and easier to understand for parents and students.

7. Additional Needs Include District mission or goals
Address the educational benefits of the Internet and technology
Needs to be more accessible
New student orientation should include technology expectations
In addition to the weaknesses we have already discussed, there are a few more items our policy needs to make it stronger. The ALA has published an organizer to assist school districts in writing effective acceptable use policies. Many of the suggestions in this presentation are taken directly from the ALA organizer. The ALA makes two suggestions which I recommend that we also include in our revised policy. Our new policy should include our District mission or goals, particularly those related to technology. We should also add a statement addressing the educational benefits of the Internet and technology. By adding these two additional items, we will give our revised policy a sense of purpose and a much more positive tone.
As I examined our current policy in preparation for this presentation, I noticed a couple of other items that we may wish to address. First of all, our current policy is not very accessable. It took me 45 minutes and an to Sharon Sumner before I could find it online. I finally located it in an obscure section of our District web site that deals with School Board Policy. I feel that this document should be more easily found and should contain a direct link from our District home page.
I also noticed that our current policy mentions that all students will receive an orientation that goes over our technology expectations. While most of our students do receive this orientation, I have noticed that new students moving in during the school year often do not receive adequate training as to their responsibility in technology use. I recommend that we visit with our school counselors and ask them to start reviewing our technology policy with all new students as part of their initial orientation.

8. Conclusion
While it is very important for us as a District to protect our students and employees from the possible negative effects of technology, let us not forget what excellent educational opportunities computers and the Internet affords our students. I am confident that as we review and revise our current technology policies for presentation to the school board, we will be successful in creating a thorough and workable product to benefit the District and its patrons.