Students in grades 1-12 will be issued a Chromebook to be used in accordance with School District policies pertaining to Acceptable Use (SB 815) and Electronic Devices (SB 237, et al). The Chromebook is the property of TWIN VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT and is therefore covered under all school district policies regarding Acceptable Use and Electronic Devices.
This handbook contains all the information regarding care, support, safety and damages of the Chromebook.
Support for the device can be acquired by…
Bringing the device to the Chromebook service desk (MS and HS only).
The support desk personnel will record the damages and if necessary, take the device to the Technology Department for additional repairs.
The support desk personnel will issue you a loaner Chromebook.
You will be contacted via Google email when the repairs are completed and your Chromebook is ready to be picked up.
*NOTE - Grades 5-6 loaner devices must be returned to the library or Chromebook service desk by the end of each day. Long-term loaners should be returned when the repaired device has been given to the student.
FEES may be charged due to the severity of the repairs. Families have the option of paying for a yearly $20 (non-refundable) insurance policy per device to cover all repairs and/or replacement at the time the device is issued. Approximate replacement cost for the device is $400. Fees will not be accepted after the device has been issued. Note—If you do not choose this optional insurance, you may be responsible for the full replacement cost should the device be stolen.
Support for the device can be acquired by…
Bringing the Chromebook to the building Library.
The librarian will report the damages to the Technology department for further processing.
The librarian will issue any necessary loaner devices that the student may use until his/her device has been returned.
*NOTE - Loaner Chromebooks must be returned once the device has been returned to the student/classroom.
Elementary students will be called to the Library to retrieve their repaired device.
Care for your device (see “Caring For Your Chromebook”).
Your Chromebook includes a charger (some devices may be equipped with a snap-on case). You are responsible for maintaining the condition of not only the Chromebook, but all accessories.
Protect your Chromebook. Your Chromebook may include a ruggedized case to help you protect the device, the newer devices include ruggedized features and may not include the case. It is your responsibility to keep the device from dropping, damage or theft. Students with a case will be expected to leave this case attached to the device at all times.
The Chromebook is a learning tool and should be with you each day during school.
Begin each day with a fully charged Chromebook. You will have opportunities throughout the day to charge your device at charging stations located throughout the building. Having the Chromebook with you and charged is part of being prepared for class.
Do not remove any district tags or stickers from the device.
Do not lend your Chromebook to another student, or use another student’s Chromebook.
Repeatedly forgetting your Chromebook or bringing it to school without being fully charged will result in disciplinary action.
Do not drop or throw the device.
Do not allow the device to be stolen.
Do not leave the device in a room or car when unattended.
Avoid excessive temperature changes. Do not leave your device in a hot car or unheated space.
Do not use your device in wet environments such as kitchens or bathrooms.
Chromebooks should never be left in an unsupervised area. Unsupervised Chromebooks will be confiscated by staff. Disciplinary action may be taken for leaving your Chromebook in an unsupervised location.
Carry your device in a secure manner. We recommend carrying the device in a school bag or case and not in the open. If permitted, bags designed to carry laptops are preferable. Other options include laptop/neoprene sleeves, binders with laptop compartment etc.
Stickers or removable decorations are permitted on the top cover of the device. *Note - should we need to replace the device there is no guarantee that the stickers or decorations will be retained.
Do not decorate or write on the device with permanent marker, paint or other substances that are not removable or may damage the Chromebook.
Do not use cleaners of any type to clean the device. A dry rag, microfiber cloth or soft cloth may be used to dust the keyboard or remove smudges from the screen.
Do not have food or drink near the device.
The charging cord must be carried with the device and may be used at the various charging stations throughout the building.
Do not tightly wrap the charging cord as that will weaken the cable and damage the charging block.
Do not rest or leave your device on soft surfaces such as beds, couches or carpeted floors.
Do not attempt to repair your device. Each device is covered by a warranty - bring all damaged devices to the support area in your building (see “Support”).
If you suspect that your device has been stolen, report this immediately to the helpdesk personnel in the library or the main office of your building. Note - you must also file a police report to avoid any penalty.
Filtering of web content will occur while logged into the device 24x7 on and off school property. This is required by Federal Law.
Monitoring of user activity will occur if ALL conditions listed below are met:
The student logs on to the device using the district Google account (tvsd.info)
The student is on district property.
It is during the school day between 7AM-3:30PM.
The webcam is not accessible by district administration, faculty or staff at anytime, even if the device is suspected of being lost or stolen.
Students may only login to their assigned device and not use/access another student’s device.
Students must keep their passwords confidential.
Students may UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES use the webcam or microphone of the device to video or record a teacher, staff or another student without their permission.
There is no expectation of privacy when using district-issued technology or other technology resources. TVSD may, without prior notice, access, monitor and record your Chromebook use and network use during the school day.
Students’ personal devices are not the property of the district and are therefore, not monitored or filtered by the district.
Chromebooks are tagged with district ID numbers and serial numbers, both of which are recorded by the TVSD Technology Dept. These numbers are also associated with the students' school ID.
Regarding cyber-bullying: The district-issued Chromebook is a learning tool. Students will not use this tool as a device for creating or sharing negative, harmful or false content about themselves or others. Students will not use this tool as a device for sharing personal or private information about themselves or someone else thereby causing negative reactions, embarrassment or humiliation. Such material or content may be considered unlawful or criminal and may be handled as such. (For additional information, please see TVSD SB Policy 248.1 or visit https://www.stopbullying.gov/.)
The optional insurance fee is $20.00 (non-refundable) per year, per device. The optional insurance can be purchased at the time the device is issued. Families can pay for or renew the optional insurance online through Campus Parent. (Money orders should be made to “Twin Valley School District.”)
For online payments, login to Campus Parent and click Fees at the left. Select the Chromebook Insurance and follow the rest of the prompts to pay for the insurance online using a credit or debit card.
CASH or MONEY ORDERS can be submitted to the Chromebook service desk located in the MS and HS.
Insurance is for accidental loss or damage.
Insurance covers basic wear and tear, and minor damages to the device.
All loss or damages will be investigated and assessed for cause and severity. Administration will determine if the loss or damage is intentional or the result of gross negligence. Damages will be assessed and communicated to the parent/guardian.
Insurance does not cover the damage or theft of another student’s device.
Gross negligence and intentional damage are not covered under this insurance policy. The full cost of replacing the device will be charged to the family.
Students in grades 1-4 are not expected to take the device home in a normal teaching and learning environment; therefore families of students in grades 1-4 do not need to pay the optional insurance. All damages (within reason) will be covered by the district. If gross negligence is suspected than a repair cost charged to family may occur, but these will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
Incoming grade 5 and incoming grade 9 students will receive Chromebooks prior to the start of school. Distribution will typically take place in the month of August. Please check the district website or the 1:1 site for dates and times.
Students in grades 1-4 will receive their Chromebooks in the classroom during the first weeks of school. Teachers will assign the Chromebooks to each student.
Both students and parents will be responsible for signing the acceptable use acknowledgement.
Students in grades 5-12 are issued Google email accounts through the district domain (@tvsd.info). Students in grades 5-8 may only send and receive emails to/from allowed email addresses as well as any email message from a @tvsd.org or @tvsd.info address*. Students in grade 9-12 may send/receive email outside the district domains for educational purposes and purposes of contacting higher-education institutes.
K-4 students' Google accounts will also appear as an email address; however they will not have access to the email app to send or receive emails.
Students should have no expectation of privacy. All messages sent and received through the TVSD Google domain (tvsd.info) are archived and searchable.
Students' accounts are not used for commercial purposes. Through an agreement with Google, all tvsd.info email is the property of TVSD.
*Note - parents' emails are considered an external email account; therefore your grade 5-8 student will not receive your email message.