Every year teachers are disciplined for not following the Acceptable Use Policy that is agreed upon for access to Interact. It is important for teachers to be aware of the District’s policy to avoid being disciplined regarding this issue. The Acceptable Use Policy provides that Interact should only be used for “educational and professional purposes.” Based upon this general language, the District disciplines teachers in various situations.
Teachers have been disciplined for sending “inappropriate” e-mails through Interact to other employees either because it is rude, unprofessional and/or obscene. As a matter of course, all communications via Interact should be courteous, professional and work-related. Of course, this is easier said than done. Interact is a useful means of communicating a yard sale, baby shower, etc. Although I have not seen a teacher “disciplined” for that action, teachers have been warned to refrain from using Interact for personal purposes. If you have received written documentation to refrain from using Interact for personal use, it is imperative that you follow such directive to avoid being disciplined for insubordination in addition to inappropriate use of district resources.
You may also receive unsolicited e-mails from co-workers, parents, friends, etc. which may be inappropriate unbeknownst to you. You may open the e-mail only to find a nude picture of a woman or some suggestive sexual act. Keep in mind that almost any nudity is deemed pornographic and/or obscene to the District. If after opening it you determine that the e-mail is inappropriate, you should delete it. The District’s position is that a teacher is required to reply to the sender of the e-mail notifying the sender to refrain from sending obscene/inappropriate e-mails through Interact. The teacher is also required to notify their supervisor that they received an inappropriate e-mail. Thus, the procedure to avoid discipline according to the District for receiving an inappropriate e-mail is:
- respond to sender not to forward inappropriate e-mails through Interact;
- delete the e-mail; and
- notify supervisor.
This is expected even if the Interact e-mail was opened at home.
Once the District is made aware of an e-mail, which it deems inappropriate, “obscene” and/or “pornographic,” the District will run a history of the e-mail and determine where it originated, who opened it, who forwarded it, etc. If the above steps were not followed, each teacher will be disciplined in various degrees, up to and including suspension.
In order to avoid being disciplined for inappropriate use of Interact, Interact usage should be limited to professional and work-related communications. If and when you receive a questionable e-mail, use common sense.