FILE: EFA
Cf: IFBGA
ELECTRONIC MAIL AND INTERNET POLICY -- EMPLOYEES
The Ascension Parish School Board respects the individual privacy of its employees. However, employee privacy does not extend to the employee's work-related conduct or to the use of the School Board's equipment or supplies. The following guidelines may affect privacy in the workplace.
MANAGEMENT'S RIGHT TO ACCESS INFORMATION
The electronic mail system has been installed by the School Board to facilitate business communications. Although each employee has an individual password to access this system, all data belongs to the School Board and the contents of electronic mail communications are accessible at all times by management for any business purpose.
Internet web access has been provided to certain individuals within this office for research purposes. Audit reports are generated which reports each individual's activity while on the Internet. This audit trail is accessible to management and may be reviewed to ensure compliance with this policy regarding its use.
The office data systems may be subject to periodic unannounced inspections, and should be treated like other shared filing systems. All system passwords must be available to management, and employees may not install non-standard security or encryption programs without turning over appropriate passwords or encryption keys to the Administrator.
All electronic mail messages are School Board records. The contents of electronic mail, properly obtained for legitimate business purposes, may be disclosed within the office without the employee's permission. Therefore employees should not assume that messages are confidential.
PERSONAL USE OF ELECTRONIC MAIL
Because the School Board provides the electronic mail system to assist employees in the performance of their jobs, they should use it for official business only. Incidental and occasional personal use of electronic mail is permitted, but these messages will be treated the same as other messages. The School Board reserves the right to access and disclose as necessary all messages sent over its electronic mail system, without regard to content.
Since personal messages can be accessed by management without prior notice, employees should not use electronic mail to transmit any messages they would not want read by a third party. Moreover, employees shall not use these systems for such purposes as soliciting or proselytizing for commercial ventures, or personal causes, outside organizations or other similar, non-job-related solicitations.
Any persons misusing the electronic mail system may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination.
PERSONAL USE OF INTERNET ACCESS
The School Board provides Internet web access to select individuals for particular job related needs. This access should be used for business research purposes only. Occasional personal use of Internet access is permitted. However, the School Board reserves the right to monitor use of Internet access to ensure that it complies with all stated polices and professional conduct standards.
Any persons misusing Internet access will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination.
FORBIDDEN CONTENT OF EMAIL COMMUNICATIONS AND INTERNET WEB ACCESS
Employees may not use the electronic mail system or Internet web access in any way that may be seen as insulting, disruptive or offensive by other persons, or harmful to morale. Examples of forbidden content for E-mail transmissions or Internet web sites include sexually-explicit pictures, cartoons, or jokes; unwelcome propositions or love letters; ethnic or racial slurs; or any other messages or data that could be construed to be harassment or disparagement of others based on their sex, race, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, or religious or political beliefs.
Use of the electronic mail system or Internet access in violation of these guidelines may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination.
By using the School Board's electronic mail system or Internet web access, an employee is agreeing to adhere to the electronic mail and internal policy as set forth above. A copy of this policy will be included in the Employee Handbook.
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §17:81, 17:100.7
Ascension Parish School Board