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Approval Date: February 11, 2020

DMA- Employee Responsible Use of Electronic Devices

Purpose

District employees’ job responsibilities may require them to use electronic devices or may be more efficiently and effectively fulfilled by use of such devices. District employees may also wish to use electronic devices for personal purposes during work time. However, electronic devices are subject to misuse and in some circumstances can have the effect of distracting and disrupting the employee and others in the school setting and may also lead to the disruption of the educational process. The purpose of this policy is to vest in school and District administrators the authority to enforce reasonable rules relating to electronic devices in the workplace and to establish the framework for acceptable use of such devices.

Definitions

1. “Electronic device” means a device that is used for audio, video, or text communication or any other type of computer or computer-like instrument including a:
   1. smart phone
   2. smart or electronic watch;
   3. tablet; or
   4. virtual reality device.
2. “Guest” means an individual who is not a student, employee, or designated volunteer of a District school who is on school property or at the site of a school-sponsored activity or event.
3. “Inappropriate matter” means pornographic or indecent material as defined in Utah Code § 76-10-1235(1)(a) and Utah Code § 53G-10-103.
   Utah Admin. Rules R277-495-2(2), (3), (4) (December 11, 2023)
   Utah Admin. Rules R277-495-4(1)(a) (December 11, 2023)

General requirements for acceptable use of electronic devices

Employee use of electronic devices must comply with any and all other applicable District policies. Certified employee use of electronic devices must also comply with the Utah Educator Standards. Employees shall not use electronic devices in any way which violates applicable statutes or regulations. Employees shall not use electronic devices in ways that bully, humiliate, harass, or intimidate school-related individuals including students, employees, and guests.

Utah Admin. Rules R277-495-4

Employee use of an electronic device on school premises to access inappropriate or pornographic images is illegal, may have criminal consequences, shall be reported to law enforcement, and may have adverse employment consequences including termination from employment.

Utah Admin. Rules R277-495-4

Electronic devices must be used in an ethical and responsible manner and must not be used to invade others’ reasonable expectations of privacy. Students and others in the public schools should not be subject to video or audio capture, recording, or transmission of their words or images by any employee without express prior notice and explicit consent for the capture, recording, or transmission of such words or images. There are certain situations where the possession or use of electronic communication devices and cameras is absolutely prohibited within the public school, including locker rooms, counseling sessions, washrooms, and dressing areas.

Utah Admin. Rules R277-495-4

Electronic devices must not be used in hacking (obtaining unauthorized access to or disrupting in any way) any District network or any District electronic device.
Utah Admin. Rules R277-495-4(1)(f) (December 11, 2023)

Personally owned electronic communication devices

Employees may carry and use personally owned electronic communication devices on school property subject to this policy and any additional rules and regulations promulgated by the Board of Education. Employees who violate this policy may be subject to disciplinary action.

Personal electronic communication devices should not be used to send or receive messages of a personal nature during the employee’s normal duty time to send, except in emergency situations or with pre-approval from the superintendent or school principal or designee. This includes all times when the employee has direct supervisory responsibility for students or school activities, including after regular school hours (such as at evening school-sponsored events). Personal use of an electronic communication device is allowable during normal break times, lunch times, preparation times, and outside of regular school hours when the employee does not have direct supervisory responsibility. Personal electronic communication devices should not be used during instructional time or at school-sponsored programs, meetings, in-services, conferences with parents or guardians, or any other time where there would be a reasonable expectation of quiet attentiveness.

Personal electronic devices should not be used while operating a District motor vehicle except as permitted by governing motor vehicle or other laws and then only when that can be done safely.

Training

Each school shall, within the first 45 days of each school year, provide school-wide or in-classroom training to employees that covers:

1. The District’s internet and electronic device policies (Policies DMA, DMB, FGAB, and EEB);
2. The importance of digital citizenship;
3. The District and school’s student conduct and discipline policies;
4. The benefits of connecting to the internet and using the school’s internet filters while on school premises; and
5. The discipline related consequences of violating internet and electronic device policies.
   Utah Admin. Rules R277-495-5 (December 11, 2023)

Notice of Policy

Copies of the District’s internet and electronic device policies shall be available on the District’s website in the same location as the District’s data governance plan and shall also be available at the District office, at school administration offices.
Utah Admin. Rules R277-495-3(4) (December 11, 2023)

Consequences for Violating Policy

Violation of this policy or of Policies DMB or EEB may result in disciplinary action against the employee up to and including termination of employment.
Utah Admin. Rules R277-495-4(4)© (December 11, 2023)