BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT 501

5260P

ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES

STAFF ACCESS TO NETWORKED INFORMATION RESOURCES PROCEDURES

Staff will employ electronic mail on a daily basis at work as a primary tool for communications. The district may rely upon this medium to communicate information, and all staff will be responsible for checking and reading messages daily.

The network is provided for staff and students to conduct research, complete assignments, and communicate with others. Communications over the network are often public in nature therefore general rules and standards for professional behavior and communications will apply.

Electronic mail and telecommunications are not to be utilized by employees to share confidential information about students or other employees because messages are not entirely secure.

Network administrators may review files and communications to maintain system integrity and to ensure that staff members are using the system responsibly. Users should not expect that files stored on district servers will be private.

The following behaviors are not permitted on district networks:

• Sharing confidential information on students or employees
• Sending or displaying offensive messages or pictures
• Assisting a campaign for election of any person to any office or for the promotion of or opposition to any ballot proposition
• Using obscene language
• Harassing, insulting or attacking others
• Engaging in practices that threaten the network (e.g., loading files that may introduce a virus)
• Violating copyright laws
• Using others' passwords
• Trespassing in others' folders, documents, or files
• Intentionally wasting limited resources
• Employing the network for commercial purposes, financial gain, or fraud
• Violating regulations prescribed by the network provider
• Promoting, supporting or celebrating religion or religious institutions
• Conducting union or employee association business, except as may be agreed to in writing between the union/employee association and the District, and subject to the usage guidelines and conditions contained in this policy.

When a written agreement exists between the District and a union or employee association (hereinafter “Association”) permitting usage of the District's email and voice mail system, such usage will be subject to the following guidelines and conditions:

• Only current, active employees will be granted District email and voice mail accounts. No separate email or voice mail account will be created for the Association, [employees on Association leave], or employees in their capacities as Association officers or agents.
• Use of the District email and voice mail system for Association business is subject to all generally-applicable rules and conditions for use of District email and communication systems (e.g., no use for obscene, malicious, harassing, commercial, political campaign, defamatory, or illegal communications or purposes) and as identified in this policy and procedure. Every email originating on the District system is identified by its address as a District document. The District reserves the right to suspend or terminate any email or voice mail account without notice for communications that do not exhibit the professionalism expected in more formal District communications.
• Employees and non-employee Association agents (via Internet connection) may use the email and voice mail system to communicate with District administration on Association matters.
• Employees and non-employee Association agents may use the District email and voice mail system to communicate with other employees for District business, e.g., to communicate with members of joint District-Association committees about committee business.
• Employees and non-employee Association agents may use the District email and voice mail system to communicate with other employees for Association business of a routine, non-confidential nature, e.g., to schedule meetings or to make announcements that would be appropriate for posting on an Association bulletin board in a faculty room. Such communications may only be created and sent during non-work time and employees will access and read them during non-work time.
• The District reserves the right to discontinue Association use in the event of a labor dispute. Any use of the email or voice mail system to advocate, support, or coordinate a strike or other labor stoppage is prohibited.

The Network Supervisor will report inappropriate behaviors to the employee's supervisor who will take appropriate disciplinary action. Any other reports of inappropriate behavior, violations, or complaints will be routed to the employee's supervisor for appropriate action. Violations may result

in a loss of access and / or disciplinary action. When applicable, law enforcement agencies may be involved.

Each employee will be given copies of this policy and procedures and will sign an acceptable use agreement before establishing an account or continuing their use beyond April 1, 1996. The District reserves the right to amend its policies and procedures regarding Staff Access to Networked Information Services and acceptable use agreements.

Adopted: August 14, 2002

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