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Series 5000.5T
STUDENTS
USE OF PRIVATE TECHNOLOGY DEVICES BY STUDENTS
Students may possess privately-owned technological devices on school property and/or
during school-sponsored activities, in accordance with the mandates of this policy and
any applicable administrative regulations as may be developed by the Superintendent of
Schools.
Definitions
Board Technology Resources
For the purposes of this policy, “Board Technology Resources” refers to the Board’s
computers and instructional technologies; communications and data management
systems; informational technologies and the Internet; and any other technology
resources owned and/or used by the school district and accessible by students.
Privately Owned Technological Devices
for the purposes of the this policy, “Privately Owned Technological Devices” refers to
privately owned desktop computers, wireless and/or portable electronic hand-held
equipment that can be used for word processing, wireless Internet access, image
capture and recording, sound recording, information transmitting and/or receiving,
storing, etc. These devices may include, but are not limited to, desktops, personal
laptops, Smartphones, network access devices, Kindles, Nooks, cellular telephones,
radios, personal audio players, I-Pads or other tablet computers, walkie-talkies,
Blackberries, personal data assistants, I-Phones, Androids and other electronic signaling
devices.
Use of Privately-Owned Technological Devices
Privately-owned technological devices may not be used during instructional time, except
as specifically permitted by instructional staff or unless necessary for a student to access
the district’s digital learning platform or otherwise engage in remote learning during the
COVID-19 pandemic.
On school property, at a school-sponsored activity, while in use for a remote learning
activity, or while being used to access or utilize the Board’s technology resources, the
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use of any such device for an improper purpose is prohibited. Improper purposes
include, but are not limited to:
● Sending any form of harassing, threatening, or intimidating message, at
any time, to any person (such communications may also be a crime);
● Gaining or seeking to gain unauthorized access to Board technology
resources;
● Damaging Board technology resources;
● Accessing or attempting to access any material that is obscene or
contains pornography;
● Cyberbullying;
● Using such device to violate any school rule, including the unauthorized
recording (photographic, video, or audio) of another individual without
the permission of the individual or a school staff member; or
● Taking any action prohibited by any Federal or State law.
Search of Privately Owned Technological Devices
A student’s privately owned technological device may be searched if the device is on
Board property or in a student’s possession at a school-sponsored activity and if there
are reasonable grounds for suspecting that the search will turn up evidence that the
student has violated or is violating either the law or the rules of the school. Any such
search shall be reasonably related to the objectives of the search and not excessively
intrusive in light of the age and sex of the student and the nature of the infraction.
Responsibility for Privately Owned Technological Devices
Students are responsible for the safety and use of their privately owned technological
devices. If a privately owned technology device is stolen, lost, or damaged while the
device is on school property or during a school-sponsored activity, a report should be
made to the building principal, who will investigate the loss in a manner consistent with
procedures for stolen or damaged personal property. Students and parents should be
aware that the Board is not liable for any privately-owned technological device that is
stolen, lost, or damaged while at school or during a school-sponsored activity. For that
reason, students are advised not to share or loan their privately-owned technological
devices with other students.
Disciplinary Action
Misuse of the Board’s technology resources and/or the use of privately-owned
technological devices to access or utilize the Board’s technology resources in an
inappropriate manner or the use of such devices in any manner inconsistent with this
policy will not be tolerated and will result in disciplinary action. For students, a violation
of this policy may result in loss of access privileges, a prohibition on the use and/or
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possession of privately-owned technological devices on school property or at
school-sponsored activities, and/or suspension or expulsion in accordance with the
Board’s policies related to student discipline.
Access to Board Technology Resources
The Colchester Board of Education may permit students, using their privately owned
technology devices, to access the Board’s computers and instructional technologies;
communications and data management systems; informational technologies and the
Internet; and any other technology resources used by the school district and accessible
by students. Additionally, it is the expectation of the Board of Education that students
who access these resources while using privately-owned technology devices will act at
all times appropriately in ways which are fully in accord with applicable policies
concerning technology use as well as all local, state, and federal laws.
Through the publication and dissemination of this policy statement and others related
to use of the Board’s computer systems, as well as other instructional means, the Board
educates students about the Board’s expectations for technology users.
The Board technology resources shall only be used to access educational information
and to promote learning activities both at home and at school. Students are expected to
act at all times appropriately in ways which are fully in accord with applicable policies
concerning technology use as well as all local, state, and federal laws when using the
Board technology resources. Failure to do so will result in the consequences outlined
herein and in other applicable policies (including, but not limited to, the Safe School
Climate Plan, the Student Discipline Policy and the Use of Computers Policy).
Students must abide by the procedures outlined in this policy and all policies and
applicable regulations outlined in the Board’s computer use and other applicable
policies. Students will be given specific information for log-on and access procedures for
using school accounts. No user may deviate from these log-on/access procedures.
Students are advised that the Board’s network administrators have the capability to
identify users and to monitor all privately-owned technological devices while they are
logged on to the network. Students must understand that the Board has reserved the
right to conduct monitoring of Board technology resources and can do so despite the
assignment to individual users of passwords for system security. Any password systems
implemented by the Board are designed solely to provide system security from
unauthorized users, not to provide privacy to the individual system user. The system's
security aspects, message delete function and personal passwords can be bypassed for
monitoring purposes. Therefore, students should be aware that they should not have
any expectation of personal privacy in the use of privately owned technological devices
to access Board technology resources. This provision applies to any and all uses of the
Board’s technology resources and any privately-owned technological devices that access
the same.
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Harm to Board Technology Resources
Any act by a student using a privately-owned technological device that harms the
Board’s technology resources or otherwise interferes with or compromises the integrity
of Board technology resources will be considered vandalism and will be subject to
discipline and/or appropriate criminal or civil action.
Closed Forum
This policy shall not be construed to establish a public forum or a limited open forum.
Legal References:
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-233j
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 31-48d
Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 53a-182; 53a-183; 53a-250, et seq.
Electronic Communication Privacy Act of 1986, Public Law 99-508, codified at
28 U.S.C. §§ 2510 through 2520
TEMPORARY POLICY ADOPTED: December 8, 2020
COLCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Colchester, Connecticut
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