SVSD Appropriate Use/Internet Safety Policy

    Saucon Valley has a very extensive Appropriate Use/Internet Safety Policy.  It references the CIPA in several sections of the policy, including the overall statement of policy. The policy covers all the areas of technology use in the district including, computers, network, devices, programs, and email.  The policy is designed for both staff and students.  Although CIPA is only designed to protect students, the staff need to follow similar guidelines in order to be sure that inappropriate content would not accidentally be seen by students.  The SVSD uses filters that are designed to restrict students from accessing material as required by CIPA.  Within the user responsibilities section, the policy looks at specific parts of CIPA including protecting children from inappropriate content and educating students on cyber bullying.  Going beyond the vague specifications of the CIPA, the district’s policy includes specific examples of acceptable and unacceptable use.  The policy also goes on to dictate consequences for breaking policy for both staff and students.

    Although the policy is very clear on current use, it does not indicate much in the way of introducing new technology.  It does indicate that since available resources are constantly changing that individuals are to adhere to “the letter and spirit of the policy” in attempts to keep use safe and compliant with CIPA.  Based on past practice, the district does encourage the use of new technology as long as teachers are following the “spirit” of the policy.  In other words, as long as teachers are focused on educational materials and following the “fair use” guidelines, new technologies are encouraged.  Often new materials will be blocked or hindered by the filter, however, teachers can request for sites to be unblocked if the meet the guidelines of CIPA and the acceptable use policy.  There is no specific process other than contacting the technology department and requesting the site to be unblocked.

    The policy does not directly promote or inhibit the use of technology.  Teachers can request and are most often granted use of new technology.  On the other hand, the many blocked sites make it difficult to access material that could be incredibly useful in class.  Another issue is that teachers and students are on different networks.  This is a positive in that it allows teachers to have extended access to content and sites.  The problem is that sometimes teachers do not know an appropriate site is being blocked by the student filter until they try to use it in a lesson and the students are unable to access it.  In my opinion, the district tries to offer new technology but struggles with adhering to the very vague CIPA.

http://www.svpanthers.org/uploaded/district/815.1Acceptable_Use_of_Networks_June2012.pdf

http://www.fcc.gov/guides/childrens-internet-protection-act