New Internet and Electronic Rules at Oak Ridge Schools

The new Oak Ridge Schools Code of Conduct has many additions for the use and maintenance of electronic devices provided to students. The code of conduct deals with obscene material, cyberbullying – and even what to do if a bedbug is found on one of the tablets or laptops.

Electronic devices, provided to all students at Oak Ridge Schools, include tablets and laptops that can access the Internet for classroom work.

Oak Ridge Board of Education member Ben Stephens brought forward the motion to approve the new disciplinary code of conduct, presented by staff to Board, and Laura McLean, Board Member, seconded. It was adopted unanimously at the June school board meeting.

Oak Ridge Schools has purchased electronics for all students in the school system, the latest set of which, a group of iPads for kindergarten and first graders, was approved by the Board of Education last year. using federal funds.

Here are some highlights of the new rules.

• The rules prohibit students from using email on these devices “to harass others, including, but not limited to, the use of vulgar or offensive terms and conditions.” They prohibit students from sharing “sexually explicit” material, language or images that “advocate violence or discrimination or threaten the safety of others,” “stories of jokes or other material based on insults or stereotypes linked to race, sex, ethnic origin, nationality. religion or sexual orientation ”, or chain letters“ that would cause congestion ”.
• Some homework may involve social media sites, but “all activities are limited to use in conjunction with Oak Ridge Schools activities” and “inappropriate speech for the classroom is not appropriate on social media tools . Users are expected to treat others and their ideas with respect.
• The school system will use filtering software “or other technology to prevent students from accessing visual representations that are obscene, pornographic or harmful to minors.”
• No student-created web page added to the Oak Ridge Schools website may be used “for personal financial gain, to express personal or political views, or to write an editorial.”
• Students should not lend their devices to others.
• Devices should be stored at room temperature and should not be left in hot cars “for long periods”.
• Students cannot write, draw, or add stickers to the devices.
• “In the event that a bed bug is found on a student’s device, the device will be retrieved from the student and handed over to a school technician for treatment.”
• The policy covers many types of damages. For “non-avoidable damage” such as car accidents and house fires, the student will receive a new computer, and for “minor damage due to wear and tear depending on use required”, there is no will have no penalty. However, for other types of damage to devices or bags, the rules provide for various replacement costs that students or parents must pay.

The new rules and the student code of conduct are available online on the school board’s agenda page for the June 21 meeting, available at ortn.edu.

Ben Pounds is a reporter for The Oak Ridger. Call him at (865) 441-2317 and follow him on Twitter @Bpoundsjournal.