District Announcement

 

General Monitoring of School-Issued Devices

Northmont City Schools is providing this annual notice to its parents and guardians regarding the monitoring of school-issued devices used by students. School-issued devices include any hardware, software, or accounts provided to students for instructional use.

Students should have no expectation of privacy when using school-issued devices. Northmont City Schools and its technology providers can electronically access or monitor these devices under specific legal conditions. 

For example, to comply with the requirements of the Federal E-Rate funding programs, Northmont filters all student internet access in alignment with Board policy. This includes filtering materials that are obscene, objectionable, inappropriate, and/or harmful to minors. School administrators may be alerted to questionable content for review. They can also receive information on possible self-harm indicators on student devices, and a parent will be contacted if it is determined to be a threat to life or safety.

Reasons for Monitoring School-Issued Devices

Throughout the school year, there are a limited number of situations in which the District and its technology providers may electronically access and monitor your student’s school-issued device. These reasons are:

1. For educational purposes for instruction, technical support or exam proctoring by school staff;

2. If required by a court order;

3. If the device is reported lost or stolen;

4. To respond to a threat to life or safety;

5. To comply with federal or state laws; and

6. As required by federal or state funding programs.

 

Notification to Parents and Guardians

For reason number one above, the District is providing you with advance notice that it and/or one of its technology providers intend to electronically access or monitor your student’s school-issued devices for non-commercial educational purposes for instruction, technical support or exam proctoring by school district employees or staff. It shall not be done for any reason other than educational purposes as outlined.

For reasons 2-6 listed above, the District or school will notify parents and guardians in writing about what was electronically accessed and why within 72 hours of the monitoring. If providing notice is a threat to life or safety, the notice will be provided within 72 hours after the threat has ended.