The Knox County Schools provides access to the Internet as an instructional resource and to accomplish the Board’s mission. The Board understands that staff and students need reasonable access to various information formats and believes it incumbent upon the staff and students to use this privilege in an appropriate and responsible manner. The Knox County Schools Internet Safety and Acceptable Use Policy is intended to prevent unauthorized access and unlawful activities by users online, prevent unauthorized disclosure of or access to sensitive information, and to comply with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA). This policy applies to all Knox County Schools (KCS) students and employees, as well as volunteers, interns and contractor personnel, whose access to, or use of, Internet and/or e-mail services is provided by the Knox County Schools. 

CIPA COMPLIANCE

The Director of Schools, or their designee, will develop and maintain procedures for the appropriate use of the Internet by staff and students. Internet safety measures will include:

1. Controls for access to inappropriate matter by minors on the Internet and the World Wide Web;
2. Provide a safe and secure environment for minors when using electronic mail, chat rooms, and other forms of direct electronic communications;
3. Prevention of unauthorized access, including “hacking” and other unlawful activities online;
4. Prevent the unauthorized disclosure, use and dissemination of personal information of minors;
5. Use of technology to block or filter Internet access to material that is obscene or harmful to minors; and
6. Monitor the online activities of minors.

STUDENT INTERNET SAFETY

Students will receive instruction in the safe and responsible use of the Internet as a part of any instruction using devices that provide access to the Internet. Internet Safety instruction for students will include but not be limited to appropriate online behavior, interaction with others while using social networking websites or chat rooms, and awareness of the impact and consequences of cyber-bullying.

Students must abide by all laws, the Acceptable Use Policy, and all district security policies when using the district network.

If creation of a social media account is necessary for instruction, students must have parental consent upon creation of the account.³

EXPECTATIONS AND ACCEPTABLE USE OF INTERNET

The Guidelines for Acceptable Use of Electronic Media (KCS Publication MC-108) apply to all Knox County Schools students and employees as well as volunteers, interns and contractor personnel, whose access to, or use of, Internet, devices, and/or online software services, including e-mail, is provided by or through Knox County Schools. All users shall act in a responsible, ethical, and lawful manner when using the school district’s resources.

1. All users shall act in a responsible, ethical, and lawful manner when using the school district’s resources.
2. Users observing any illegal activities shall report these activities to the appropriate school district administrator.
3. Staff members who supervise students, control electronic equipment, or otherwise have occasion to observe student use of said equipment online shall monitor the use of this equipment to assure that it conforms to the mission and goals of the Knox County School District.
   • Parents/legal guardians wishing to deny independent access to electronic media involving district technological resources may do so by returning a signed right of refusal form supplied by the school. This document shall be kept on file as a legal, binding document. (In order to modify or rescind the agreement, the user's parent/legal guardian must provide the Principal with a written request.)
4. Employees shall sign Acceptable Use of Electronic Media Agreement (KCS Publication MC108). Even without signature, all users shall follow this policy and report any misuse of the
   network or Internet to a teacher, supervisor, or other appropriate District personnel.

UNACCEPTABLE USES OF THE COMPUTER NETWORK OR INTERNET

The District reserves the right to take immediate action regarding activities on its network or device that (1) create security and/or safety issues for the District, students, employees, schools, network, or computer resources, or (2) other activities as determined by the District as inappropriate. The following are examples of inappropriate activity on the District network:

1. Violating any state, federal, or municipal ordinance, such as: accessing or transmitting pornography of any kind, obscene depictions, harmful materials, materials that encourage others to violate the law, confidential information, or copyrighted materials
2. Criminal activities that can be punished under law
3. Selling or purchasing illegal items or substances
4. Causing harm to others, damage to property, or interruption of services such as:
   1. Using profane, abusive language; threatening, harassing, or making damaging or false statements about others or accessing, transmitting, or downloading offensive, harassing, or disparaging materials
   2. Deleting, copying, modifying, or forging other users’ names, emails, files, or data; impersonating other users, or sending anonymous email;
   3. Damaging computer equipment, files, data, or the network in any way, including intentionally accessing, transmitting, or downloading computer viruses or other harmful files or programs, or disrupting any computer system performance;
   4. Using any computer or other electronic device to pursue “hacking”, internal or external to the District, or attempting to access information protected by privacy laws;
5. Using the network, device or Internet for Commercial purposes, such as:
   1. Using the network or device for personal financial gain
   2. Using the network or device for personal advertising, promotion, or
   3. Conducting for-profit business activities and/or engaging in non-government related fundraising or public relations activities such as solicitation for religious purposes, lobbying for personal political purposes.

INTERNET FILTERING

The District will use technology protection measures on all district networks and student devices to block or filter the access of material that is obscene, pornographic, and harmful to minors. The District reserves the right to monitor users’ online activities and to access, review, copy, and store or delete any electronic communication or files and disclose them to others as it deems necessary. Users should have no expectation of privacy regarding their use of District property, network and/or Internet access or files, including e-mail.

The categories of material considered inappropriate and to which access will be blocked will include, but not be limited to nudity/pornography; images or descriptions of sexual acts; promotion of violence, illegal use of weapons, drug use, discrimination, or participation in hate groups; instructions for performing criminal acts, copyright infringement, and online gambling.

The Director of Schools or the Director’s designee will consider requests from users who wish to use a blocked site for bona fide research or other lawful purposes. This permission will be granted for a specific period of time and internet activity will be logged and reported to the Chief Technology Officer, or their designee, during this period.

PENALTIES FOR IMPROPER USE

Any violation of District technology resources or violation of this policy by students may lead to disciplinary and/or legal action including, but not limited to, suspension or expulsion.

Any violation of District technology resources or violation of this policy by staff may lead to reprimand, suspension, dismissal from District employment, or criminal prosecution by government authorities.

Any violation of access to pornography, obscenity, and/or age- or audience-inappropriate material by a provider of digital or online resources contracting with Knox County Schools is to be reported to the school principal and the district Information Technology Department to investigate the alleged violation and take action as appropriate.²

PARENTAL RESOURCES

Parents and students will be given access to materials to raise awareness of the potential dangers posed by Internet use and manners in which the Internet may be used safely.

Parents of students in the Knox County School District shall also be provided with the following documents:

1. Refusal of Access to Electronic Media (for Students) (MC-107).
2. Guidelines for Acceptable Use of Electronic Media (MC-108). 

Legal References:

1. T.C.A. § 49-1-221(a).
2. T.C.A. § 49-1-221(c).
3. T.C.A. § 47-18-5701, et seq.

Approved as to Legal Form
By Knox County Law Department 8/16/2024
/Gary T. Dupler/Deputy Law Director