Technology Usage Procedures
Adopted:   3/16/99 Saint Paul Public Schools Policy  520.00
Revised: 6/17/2008
 
 
520.00  INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY USAGE AND SAFETY POLICY
 
 
1. The publications Guidelines for Acceptable Use by Employees and
Guidelines for Acceptable Use by Students contain additional information
further describing acceptable use of information technology resources in
the Saint Paul Public Schools.
2. The Board of Education provides
• Access
  The Board of Education offers employees, students and other
authorized individuals access to a variety of information technology
(including, but not limited to, the Internet, wide and local area
networks, e-mail, information systems, electronic resources,
computers, cellular devices and other hardware and software
applications.)
• Use as a Privilege 
   The use of the school district information technology resources
and access to use of the Internet is a privilege, not a right.
Unacceptable use of the school district technology resources, including
e-mail and the Internet, may result in one or more of the following
consequences: suspension or cancellation of use or access privileges;
discipline under applicable district policies and procedures, or civil or
criminal liability under applicable laws.
 RESPONSIBILITY OF USE
 1. Responsibility
 The proper use of information technology resources, and the educational
value to be gained from proper use, is the joint responsibility of students,
parents or guardian and employees of the school district.  Individual users
of Saint Paul Public Schools information technology resources have the
responsibility to:
• Comply with all existing Board of Education policies as they may be
interpreted to apply to technology resources
• Find, evaluate, and effectively use information resources
• Respect the privacy of other users, and not intentionally seek
information on, obtain copies of, or modify files, other data or
passwords belonging to other users without permission
• Help maintain the security of the district technology resources
• Recognize and honor the intellectual property rights of others and 
• Immediately disclose inadvertent access of unacceptable materials or
an unacceptable Internet site to an appropriate school district
administrator.  
 
2. Acceptable Uses
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 Acceptable uses of information technology resources:
• are consistent with or support the mission of the Saint Paul Public
Schools
• Encourage efficient, cooperative and creative methods to perform the
user’s job duties or educational tasks
• Are related to instructional, administrative, and other support
activities consistent with the mission of the district
• Include authorized and appropriate access to voice, video, and data
systems, software or data, both locally and at and from other sites and 
• Include system administration or maintenance of district technology
resources by authorized district personnel.
 
   3. Unacceptable Use
  Unacceptable uses of information technology resources include, but
are not limited to:
• Providing, assisting in, or gaining unauthorized or inappropriate
access to the district’s technology resources, including any type of
voice, video or data information server
• Activities that interfere with the ability of other users to use the
district’s technology resources or the network connected services
effectively
• Activities that result in the unauthorized loss of another user’s work
or unauthorized access to another user’s work/data
• Distribution of any material in such a manner that might cause
congestion of the voice, video, and data networks
• Using technology resources to access, review, upload, download, store,
print, post, receive, transmit, or distribute:
o Pornographic, obscene, or sexually explicit material or other visual
depictions that are harmful to minors; or
o Abusive or threatening materials, including hate mail, or
harassing or discriminatory materials that violate school district
policies,
• publishing materials without the author’s permission
• Using technology resources for a commercial, political or profit making
enterprise, except as specifically agreed to by the district
• Using technology resources to access a another user’s file or account 
without permission
• Using technology resources to engage in any illegal act or violate any
local, state or federal statute or law
• Using the school district system to violate copyright laws or usage
licensing agreements, or otherwise using another person’s intellectual
property without the person’s prior approval or proper citation
• Using the school district system to post private information about
another person or to post personal contact information about oneself
or other persons
• Using a digital signature other than the user’s without authorization
and 
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• Using technology resources to monitor another user’s information,
attempt security breaches or disruption of communication unless
explicitly authorized by the district as part of a user’s job duties.
 
 LIMITED EXPECTATION OF PRIVACY
 1. Limited Privacy
 By authorizing use of the school district information technology resources,
the school district does not relinquish control over materials on the
system, or materials contained in files on the system.  Users should
expect only limited privacy in the contents of personal files on the school
district system.
2. Violations
 Routine maintenance and monitoring of the school district system may
lead to a discovery that a user has violated this policy, another school
district policy, or the law.  An individual search will be conducted if school
authorities have a reasonable suspicion that the search will uncover a
violation of law or school district policy.
 3. Parent or Guardian Rights
 Parents or guardians have the right at any time to review the contents of
their child’s files and e-mail files.  Parents or guardian have the right to
request the termination of their child’s individual account at any time.
 4. Data Privacy
 Data and other materials in files maintained on the school district system
may be subject to review, disclosure, or discovery under various laws.
 5. Investigative Uses
 The school district will cooperate fully with local, state and federal
authorities in any investigation concerning, or related to, any illegal
activities not in compliance with school district policies conducted through
the school district system.
 6. School District’s Rights
 The school district reserves all rights to control its information technology
resources.  Among other rights, the school district may monitor or restrict
a user’s use of information technology resources including, but not limited
to, the Internet; search any computer or electronic data storage devices
that are assigned to a user or used on any district computer or network;
and retrieve, alter and delete any data created, received or maintained by
any user using district information technology resources.   
 
 LIMITATION ON SCHOOL DISTRICT LIABILITY
 Use of the school district information technology resources is at the
individual’s own risk.  The system is provided on an “as is, as available”
basis.  The school district shall not be responsible for any damage users may
suffer, including, but not limited to, loss, damage, or unavailability of data
stored on school district diskettes, tapes, hard drives, portable storage
devices, school district fixed or removable data storage devices, external
drives or servers, or for delays or changes in, or interruptions of service or
missed deliveries or non deliveries of information or materials, regardless of
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the cause.  The school district is not responsible for the accuracy or quality of
any advice or information obtained through or stored on the school district
system.  The school district shall  not be responsible for unauthorized
financial obligations or consequential damages from the use of district
technology resources arising through use of the school district resources or
the Internet.
 
 CONTENT FILTER
 
 1. Internet Access
  With respect to any computers with Internet access, the district will
monitor the online activities of minors and employ technology protection
measures during any use of such computers by minors and adults.  The
technology protection measures shall be designed to address the safety
ands security of minors when using direct electronic communications and
to block or filter Internet access by minors to inappropriate materials
including, but not limited to, any materials or any visual depictions that:
• Are obscene
• Contain child pornography or
• are harmful to minors.
 
2. Harmful to Minors
 The term “harmful to minors” includes any material or picture, image,
graphic image file, or other visual depiction that:
• Taken as a whole and with respect to minors, appeals to a prurient
interest in nudity, sex, or excretion
• Depicts, describes, or represents, in a patently offensive way with
respect to what is suitable for minors, an actual or simulated sexual
act or sexual contact, actual or simulated normal or perverted sexual
acts, or a lewd exhibition of the genitals and
• Taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific
value as to minors.
 
 INTERNET USE AGREEMENT
 As a condition of access to the school district’s Internet and technology
resources, users must agree to, accept, and abide by the Information
Technology Usage and Safety Policy and the Guidelines for Acceptable Use,
as they may be amended from time to time.
 
 
 
 
 
 
LEGAL REFERENCES: 
 Children’s Internet Protection Act of 2000 (CIPA) 47 U.S.C. § 254
 47 C.F.R. § 54.520 (FCC rules implementing CIPA)
 20 U.S.C. 1232g (FERPA)
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 Minn. Stat. § 125B.15 
 Minn. Stat., Chapter 13 (Minnesota Government Data Practices Act)
 
CROSS REFERENCES: 
 SPPS Technology Department Guidelines for Acceptable Use by Employees
and Students
 
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 520.00-Information_Tech_Use_Safety_Policy.pdf   Revised: 6/17/2008