Policy 6177.2 – Student E-Mail
The District expects the use of electronic mail by students for instructional and communication purposes that are consistent with the goals and policies of the District. As necessary, access to electronic mail accounts shall be provided to all students.
Electronic mail messages are subject to many of the same statutes and legal requirements as other forms of communication. All such documents are generally considered to be public records and are subject to public inspection. To the greatest extent possible in a public setting individuals' privacy shall be preserved. However, there is no expectation of privacy or confidentiality for documents and messages stored on District-owned equipment. Although the District does not make a practice of monitoring individual messages, the Superintendent/designee reserves the right to retrieve the content for legitimate reasons, such as to find lost messages, to comply with investigations of wrongful acts or to recover from system failure. The District shall take appropriate corrective action or disciplinary action against a student based upon information obtained from monitoring or inspecting his or her electronic mail communications.
Users of electronic mail systems shall be aware that, in addition to being subject to authorized access, electronic mail in its present form cannot be secured and is, therefore, vulnerable to unauthorized access and modification by third parties. Receivers of electronic mail documents shall check with the purported sender if there is any doubt about the identity of the sender or the authenticity of the contents, as they would with print documents. Users of the District's electronic mail services shall be aware that even though the sender and recipient have discarded their copies of an electronic mail record, there may be back-up copies of such electronic mail that can be retrieved.
Students are permitted to use electronic mail for personal communications but shall not interfere with or conflict with instruction or District business. Students shall exercise good judgment regarding the reasonableness of personal use.
Students shall use electronic mail responsibly. Among the practices they will not engage in are as follows:
- Use electronic mail for commercial purposes;
- Send obscene, harassing or patently offensive electronic mail;
- Intercept, disrupt, or alter an electronic mail communication without proper authorization;
- Access, copy, send, or modify electronic mail messages from or within the electronic files or records of another without permission;
- Allow another to use one's electronic mail account for fraudulent purposes;
- Use of electronic mail to intentionally transmit malicious items such as viruses or worms;
- Use electronic mail to interfere with the ability of others to conduct District business;
- Send unsolicited "junk" electronic mail or mass electronic mailings without a legitimate District purpose or without prior authorization of the Superintendent/designee;
- Reproduce or distribute copyrighted materials without appropriate authorization;
- Use electronic mail in unauthorized areas;
- Use electronic mail in such a way that violates District policy, state law, or federal law.
The District shall not be liable for a student's inappropriate use of the electronic mail system or violations of copyright restrictions, users' mistakes or negligence, or costs incurred by users. The District shall not be responsible for ensuring the accuracy or usability of any information sent during electronic communications.
The District shall cooperate fully with local, state, or federal officials in any investigation concerning or relating to misuse of the District's electronic communication's system.
If a parent/guardian chooses to deny access to District provided email for their child, an Email Opt-Out form may be obtained at the school office and must be completed yearly and returned to the school office. Where possible, students shall be provided access to alternative educational materials if parents do not permit access to a District email account for their child.
The right of a person to be admitted to any school in the District, and to participate fully in and enjoy the benefits of any curricular, extracurricular, pupil services, recreational or other programs or activities will not be abridged or impaired because of discrimination based upon the person's sex, race, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation or physical, mental, emotional or learning disability. Sex shall not be utilized as a determinant for participation in a program except when sex is a bona fide qualification.
The District encourages informal resolution of complaints under this policy. However, if any person believes that the District or any part of the school organization has failed to follow the law and rules of s. 118.13, Wis. Stats., and PI 9, Wis. Admin. Code, or in some way discriminates against persons on the bases listed above, he/she may bring or send a written complaint to the following address: Assistant Superintendent for Educational Services, School District of Elmbrook, 13780 Hope Street, P.O. Box 1830, Brookfield,
WI 53008-1830. Telephone No. 262-781-3030.
Wis. Stats. 19.35
Adopted -- March 11, 2003
Revised -- 4/2007