507 Computer and Email Usage

Computers, computer files, the email system, and software furnished to Employees are Catalyst Schools property and intended for business use. An Employee should not use a password, access a file, or retrieve any stored communication without authorization. To ensure compliance with this policy, computer and email usage will be monitored.

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Catalyst Schools strives to maintain a workplace free of harassment and sensitive to the diversity of its Employees. Therefore, Catalyst Schools prohibits the use of computers and the email system in ways that are disruptive, offensive to others or harmful to morale.

Catalyst Schools purchases and licenses the use of various computer software for business purposes and does not own the copyright to this software or its related documentation. Unless authorized by the software developer, Catalyst Schools does not have the right to reproduce such software for use on more than one (1) computer.

An Employee may only use software on local area networks or on multiple machines according to the software license agreement. Catalyst Schools prohibits the illegal duplication of software and its related documentation.

An Employee should notify his/her Supervisor, the Director of Information Technology, the Director of Administration or any member of management upon learning of violations of this policy. An Employee who violates this policy will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.

508 Internet Usage

Internet access is provided by Catalyst Schools to assist Employees in obtaining work-related data and technology. The following guidelines have been established to help ensure responsible and productive Internet usage.

All Internet data that is composed, transmitted or received via Catalyst Schools computer communications systems is considered to be part of the official records of Catalyst Schools and, as such, is subject to disclosure to law enforcement or other third parties. Consequently, an Employee should always ensure that the business information contained in Internet email messages and other transmissions are accurate, appropriate, ethical, and lawful. The equipment, services, and technology provided to access the Internet remain at all times the property of Catalyst Schools. As such, Catalyst Schools reserves the right to monitor Internet traffic, and retrieve and read any data composed, sent or received through our online connections and stored in our computer systems.

Data that is composed, transmitted, accessed or received via the Internet must not contain content that could be considered discriminatory, offensive, obscene, threatening, harassing, intimidating or disruptive to any employee or other person.

The unauthorized use, installation, copying or distribution of copyrighted, trademarked or patented material on the Internet is expressly prohibited. As a general rule, if an Employee did not create material, does not own the rights to it or has not gotten authorization for its use, it should not be put on the Internet. An Employee is also responsible for ensuring that the person sending any material over the Internet has the appropriate distribution rights.

Abuse of Internet access provided by Catalyst Schools or the violation of Catalyst policies will result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment. An Employee may also be held personally liable for any violations of this policy.

509 Workplace Monitoring

Workplace monitoring may be conducted by Catalyst Schools to ensure Employee and Scholar safety and security. Email, cell phones, equipment and services, internet services, technology and other forms of electronic communication provided by Catalyst Schools, as well as all Catalyst Schools’ records are not private – they belong to Catalyst Schools and not the Employee.

Employees have no reasonable expectation of privacy concerning the use of email, cell phones, equipment and services, internet services, technology, and other forms of electronic communication provided by Catalyst Schools and, as such, Catalyst Schools may access or monitor these systems and equipment.

Catalyst Schools will not:​

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• Ask, require or coerce Employees or applicants to provide passwords or other related account information for accessing their personal online accounts.

 

• Demand access to Employees’ and applicant's personal online accounts.

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• Ask, require or coerce Employees and applicants to authenticate or access their personal online accounts.

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• Require or coerce Employees and applicants to invite Catalyst Schools to join groups affiliated with their personal online accounts.

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• Require or coerce Employees and applicants to join Catalyst Schools’ online accounts or add Catalyst Schools to contact lists for their personal online accounts.

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• Retaliate against an Employee or applicant for refusing any of the above activities.

510 Personal Technology and Social Media; Usage and Conduct

Definitions
Social media - Media for social interaction, using highly accessible communication techniques through the use of web-based and mobile technologies to turn communication into interactive dialogue. This includes, but is not limited to, services such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube.

Personal technology - Any device that is not owned or leased by Catalyst Schools or otherwise authorized for Catalyst Schools’ use and: (1) transmits sounds, images, text, messages, videos, or electronic information, (2) electronically records, plays, or stores information, or (3) accesses the Internet, or private communication or information networks. This includes laptop computers (e.g., laptops, Ultrabooks, and Chromebooks), tablets (e.g., iPads®, Kindle®, Microsoft Surface®, and other Android® platform or Windows® devices), smartphones (e.g., iPhone®, BlackBerry®, Android® platform phones, and Windows Phone®), and other devices (e.g., iPod®).

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In general, Catalyst Schools views websites, web logs and other information published on mediums accessible by the public by its Employees positively, and it respects the right of Employees to use them as a medium of self-expression. If an Employee chooses to identify himself/herself as a Catalyst Schools Employee or to discuss matters related to Catalyst Schools, please bear in mind that although the information published by the Employee will generally be viewed as a medium of personal expression, some readers may nonetheless view him/her as a de facto spokesperson for Catalyst Schools.

In light of this possibility the following guidelines must be followed:

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• The use of school equipment, including computers and electronic systems, is for Catalyst Schools’ purposes only.

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• Employees should choose a Catalyst Schools provided or supported method whenever possible to communicate with students and their parents/guardians.

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• Employees must adhere to the high standards for appropriate school relationships required by Policy 107, Code of Ethics, at all times, regardless of the ever-changing social media and personal technology platforms available. This includes Employees posting 
  images or private information about themselves or others in a manner readily accessible to students and other Employees that is inappropriate.

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• Personal technology and social media may not be used to share, publish, or transmit information about or images of students and/or Catalyst Schools’ Employees without proper approval.

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• Employees must not interfere with or disrupt the educational or working environment, or the delivery of education or educational support services.​

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• An Employee is not permitted to disclose confidential or proprietary information. He/she must at all times abide by all non-disclosure and confidentiality policies.

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• If an Employee blogs or otherwise publishes information about Catalyst Schools, she/he must clearly and conspicuously disclose his/her relationship with Catalyst Schools and must make it clear to his/her readers that the views expressed are his/her opinion alone and do not represent the views of Catalyst Schools.

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• An Employee is not permitted to use any school logo or graphics without first obtaining written permission from the Director of Administration.

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• An Employee may only use personal technology and social media for personal purposes only during non-work times or hours. Any duty-free use must occur during times and places that the use will not interfere with job duties or otherwise be disruptive to the school environment or its operation.

 

• An Employee assumes all responsibility and liability for his/her public statements and all risks associated with the use of personal technology and social media at school or school- sponsored activities, including students’ viewing of inappropriate Internet materials through the Employee’s personal technology or social media. Catalyst Schools expressly disclaims any responsibility for imposing content filters, blocking lists, or monitoring of its Employees’ personal technology and social media.

Employees are subject to remedial and any other appropriate disciplinary action for violations of this policy ranging from prohibiting the Employee from possessing or using any personal technology or social media at school to dismissal and/or indemnification of Catalyst Schools for any losses, costs, or damages, including reasonable attorney fees, incurred by Catalyst Schools relating to, or arising out of, any violation of this policy.