Information Technology Services

Our Mission

Infrastructure: The foundation of any Enterprise is a stable, secure infrastructure, capable of handling the daily tasks required of both today and tomorrow.

Technical Support: A computer is only a useful tool when it works properly. Our goal is to respond to helpdesk tickets in a timely manner so impacts are minimal. We proactively replace equipment to limit downtime and use documented standard operating procedures (SOPs) to address every contingency.

Application & Integration: Only relevant applications designed around end-user needs will be deployed, with emphasis on best practice and industry standard norms. We will follow benchmarks to ensure users have a consistent experience that enhances productivity, not detracts from it.

Information Cognizance: We live in the information age and believe that all end-users should have the necessary skills to gather viable, reliable information across many different resources in an ethical, safe manner.

Email

Synchronous and Asynchronous Online Communication and Social Networking Applications

Student users shall not access or use online synchronous or asynchronous communication applications such as email, chat, blogs, wikis or social networking website functions (i.e., discussion threads, document posting, RSS feeds, etc.) while at school. These restrictions apply unless:

this access and use takes place within a teacher moderated online environment
the online activities are being used for legitimate instructional purposes
the applications and/or systems are provided by the District

Communications and Access

Parents or guardians should instruct their student user(s) if there is material that they think would be inappropriate for them to access (in addition to material already blocked by the District firewall and content filter). The District fully expects that student users will follow these instructions. Students shall inform a teacher if they mistakenly access inappropriate information or content.

Classroom Guidelines

The use of electronic devices in the academic setting is with the expressed consent of the teacher for instructional purposes only. Students may not make any recordings (still, video, or audio) without the explicit permission of the teacher or individual. Personal devices fall within the District’s established Code of Conduct, and must be used properly. Improper purposes include, but are not limited to:

Sending any form of harassing, threatening, or intimidating message, at any time, to any person (such communication may also be a crime)
Seeking to gain access to or damage technology resources: i.e. attempting to illicitly obtain passwords or usernames, attempting to gain access to secure areas of the network, introducing computer viruses, or accessing or altering educational records
Accessing or attempting to access any material that is obscene or contains pornography
Using a device to violate any school rule or taking any action prohibited by Federal and State law

Responsibility for Privately Owned Technological Devices

West Hartford Public Schools is not responsible for the theft of a device, nor are they responsible for any damage done to the device while at school. Students are responsible for the safety and use of their privately owned devices. Any time a theft occurs, you should contact a school administrator to make him/her aware of the offense. Bringing your own devices to school can be useful; however, some risks are involved as well. It is always a good idea to record the device’s serial number to have in case of theft.

BOE Policy 4090 Employee Use of Technology

Use of Social Media

Use of Graphics on Web Sites and Blogs

Graphics include a variety of picture images: photographs, illustrations, charts, maps, diagrams and posters. Section 106 of the copyright law provides the copyright owner with the following rights:

Reproduction
Adaptation
Distribution
Performance
Display
Digital audio transmission

Students and staff of the West Hartford Public Schools must have permission to use the graphics displayed on web pages and blogs. Photographs require permission from both the photographer and any recognizable person in the photograph.

Alternatives to using copyrighted images include:

Using images with Creative Commons licensing with proper credit
Creating your own images
Using copyright free images

Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) & Content Filtering

The Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) is a federal law enacted by Congress to address concerns about access to offensive content over the Internet on school and library computers. CIPA imposes certain types of requirements on any school or library that receives funding for Internet access or internal connections from the E-rate program – a program that makes certain communications technology more affordable for eligible schools and libraries.

What is an Internet Filter?
An “Internet filter” is a type of software that controls the content users are exposed to when interacting with the Internet.

Our Approach to Filtering
WHPS aims to provide a safe and secure educational environment in which our educators and students can utilize dynamic and collaborative online learning tools. One method that ensures our students are safe while learning is with the use of an Internet filter. The internet filter applies to all devices that use our network; it helps to protect students from material that is deemed harmful or inappropriate. Our approach to internet filtering at WHPS is guided by the Children’s Internet Protection Act and the Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act. At WHPS, our educational leaders collaborate with our technology department regarding decisions on what is blocked and what is allowed. The content filter we currently utilize at WHPS is called iBoss. Below is some summary information on how this filter impacts the student experience.

Example Key Web Categories Blocked:

Gambling, Entertainment
Web Proxies, File Sharing
Private Websites
Adult Content
Chat Apps
Social Media (Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram, etc.).

Example Key Web Categories Enabled:

Education, Dictionary
Business, Finance
Art, Food, News

Enforced Features:

Safe Search Engine Search is forced on, and keywords not blocked by the search engine are further screened by iBoss.)

Device Policies

In addition to blocking/allowing categories, WHPS administration can allow/block URLs and certain keywords. The filter and restriction policies that are put in place on WHPS devices are established and approved by WHPS administrators and guided by FERPA, CIPA, and COPPA.

YouTube Access for Teachers

The district recognizes that YouTube can be a valuable resource to support teaching and learning. As professionals we know that privileges are balanced with responsibilities.

Staff must always preview and evaluate resources that are to be used with students prior to showing them in class.
On-the-spot searching of YouTube is not be done while students can view the results as content may be unpredictable.
Do not allow students to use your network login.
Staff computers must never be left logged on and unsupervised.
In order to efficiently use bandwidth, staff will limit the use of any media streaming to school purposes only.