General Policy Statement
The computing and networking resources provided by the West Warwick Public Schools are to be used responsibly in an efficient, ethical and legal manner consistent with the objectives of the West Warwick Public Schools.
All users of information technology resources must comply with all federal, state and other applicable laws, as well as school department policies and procedures. Inappropriate activities may result in disciplinary action.
Users
All current school committee members and active employees of the West Warwick Public Schools shall be considered users of information technology resources.
Computer/Network Accounts and Use
All users will be given appropriate credentials to access WWPS technology resources and services. All credentials are provided to meet the specific needs of the end-user and should only be utilized by the intended user for the appropriate services as deemed by the West Warwick Public Schools.
Resource Use
All users must respect the finite capacity of technological resources and avoid excessive use of resources as deemed appropriate by WWPS. If demand for technology resources exceeds capacity, priorities and limits may be established by the WWPS.
Personal Use
Information technology resources and services are provided to employees for business use. Personal use is prohibited when it interferes with normal business activities and when it fails to comply with this and other school department policies. Personal use must not involve solicitation, personal financial gain, outside business activities, or political campaigning. School Department sponsored events do not fall under this prohibition. Additional limits may be imposed by the Superintendent of Schools with advice and consent of the School Committee.
Security and Privacy
The school department employs various measures to protect the security of its information technology resources and of their users’ accounts. However, the school department’s measures do not always guarantee security or privacy. Users should exercise caution in using school department resources to transmit confidential data.
Unauthorized access to systems and data is prohibited. Attempts to breach the security of systems and data by employees may result in disciplinary actions following investigation and the evaluation of due process rights by employees accused of said attempts.
The school department reserves the right for designated technology administrators to access users’ stored information during normal system performance monitoring and maintenance and when investigating possible infractions against all federal, state and other applicable laws, as well as school department policies.
The school department, at its discretion, may use the results in disciplinary proceedings with school department personnel or law enforcement agencies, if so requested. Communications made by means of school department computing resources may also be subject to Rhode Island’s Public Records Statutes to the same extent as hardcopy communications.
Enforcement
Users who violate this policy may be denied access to school department information technology resources and may be subject to further disciplinary action. Violations will normally be handled through school department disciplinary procedures applicable to the user. However, the school department may temporarily suspend or block access to an account, prior to the initiation or completion of such procedures, when it has sufficient cause or evidence that it is necessary to do so in order to protect the integrity, security, or functionality of school department or other computing resources or to protect the school department from liability. Computing privileges may be withdrawn where it has been demonstrated that violations of this policy have occurred.
Date Adopted:
November 13, 2001
Revised:
February 13, 2007
2nd Revision:
August 7, 2007
3rd Revision Date:
8/13/2019