TECHNOLOGY PROTECTION PUBLIC MEETING to EXPLAIN and DISCUSS TECHNOLOGY PROTECTION and INTERNET SAFETY

TECHNOLOGY PROTECTION MEASURES The School District of Aiken County currently utilizes technology protection serving to establish a firewall for all resources in the Local Area Network. We contract with the Total Traffic Control Company (TTC) and use their Lightspeed © filtering system. This system is CIPA compliant. It is a total solutions type of product, and has been successfully employed within the network for almost seven years. In addition to other features for web filtering, which was provided by the original system in this District, it is designed to remove spam from email traffic – a function the original firewall filter did not have. The District has employed internet web filtering from the time of first application for e-rate discounts (around 1996 or 1997).

REQUIRED INCLUSIONS IN THE INTERNET SAFETY POLICY Our existing Acceptable Use Policy – originated in 1996 – included various safety features for student use. However, it was a “notice” type policy relative to “do’s” and “don’ts” as well possible disciplinary consequences for misuse. It also applied across the board to employees (and still does). The new regulations require more orientation-type training standards for internet conduct to be passed along to students on an annual basis. Such measures and features for “safety” include Access to inappropriate matter on the internet Safety and security of minors when using electronic mail and other social media [non-school concerns] Electronic communications, whether allowed at school or not Unauthorized access and hacking online Technology matters to restrict access (as discussed) Education about conduct and interactions with others – social media. Unauthorized disclosure of personal information online

OTHER MEASURES FOLLOWED . . . . Internet Acceptable use policy acknowledgment – signed by all new employees – applies to all areas of operations and use of web and email Internet Acceptable use policy acknowledgment – appendix in Code of Student Conduct – applies to all instructionally-related uses of technology, software, hardware, web access, etc. Separate agreement and consequences document for all equipment used by staff or students, or brought on campus by anyone, that has internal capability of accessing the internet without going through the Districts LAN and firewall. New training: State Department of Education requires “band levels” for appropriate age group orientation. This will be incorporated into early school year student orientations.