FAQS Internet

  • What categories of sites are blocked for staff and students?

    All users:
    Anonymizers, P2P/File Sharing, Pornography

    Students:
    Bandwidth Categories: Media Sharing, Streaming Media
    Communication Categories: Chat, Forum/Bulletin Boards, Online Communities, Web-Email, Web Phone, Shareware/Freeware
    Liability Categories: Weapons, Violence, Tobacco, School Cheating Information, Obscene/Tasteless, Nudity, Mature Content, Illegal Drugs, Hate/Discrimination, Hacking/Computer Crimes, Gambling, Dubious, Criminal Activities, Alcohol 
    Security Categories: Botnet, Malicious, Parked Domain, Personal Network Storage, Phishing, Remote Access, Spam URLS, Spyware/Adaware 

    Staff:
    Media Sharing, Hacking/Computer Crime, Phishing, Remote Access, Spyware/Adware

    How can I tell if a site falls into a blocked category?
    Visit this website and enter the URL to determine the classification of a website:      http://www.microsoft.com/security/portal/mrs/default.aspx  Then reference the categories above.

    Why do you block our internet sites at all?

    The #1 reason we must filter and block certain internet sites is to remain in CIPA (Children’s Internet Protection Act) compliance. Not only could we face legal issues, but we would lose tens of thousands of dollars in funding from sources such as E-rate. Click here for more info on CIPA.

     

    But I’m not a student, why am I still blocked?

    Inappropriate content has to be blocked across all user accounts in our district. Some sites are additionally blocked to protect our computers and network from negative side effects such as viruses, malware, hacking, and high bandwidth use.

     

    What are you talking about…viruses, malware, hacking, and high bandwidth use?…. I don’t do those things.

    It would be wonderful if everything was labeled as good or bad, but it isn’t. The truth is, you could be doing these things without even knowing it. Some sites are not necessarily bad, but have certain side effects that can be bad. Such as…..Netflix, for example. It is not a bad site, but when five people in one school are on Netflix and the remaining twenty staff members have a slow or non-working internet connection, it’s bad.

     

    Ok, fair enough, but what about sites you block that I need? You are preventing me from doing my job.

    Our job is to make sure you have the access you need to get your job done. As stated above, internet filtering has a very positive intention: to maintain the integrity of our network and internet connections so that when you need a connection, it is there! There are millions of sites on the internet today; it will always be a possibility that a legitimate site may get blocked from time to time. This is simply an oversight, so please work with us to help remedy this issue by reporting it by submitting a work order.

     

    How do you know what websites I go to anyway?

    All internet activity from within the school district can be monitored and logged.

     

    So are you or others spying on me?

    Internet activity reports of students and staff are available upon request from any school principal, director or superintendent only. You can also request a report of your own internet activity as well; however, these requests are fulfilled as time allows.

     

    I have an important event coming up and I want to make sure I have the access I need. What do I do?

    This is what we’re here for. Just let us know by submitting a work order and we will be more than glad to assist you in testing or evaluating your setup requirements to include guest network access, if necessary. If you let us know in advance, we can likely address the issue before it is time to use the resource.


    What if a site is allowed for students, and I think the students should not be on that site?

    The district blocks by category. If a category is allowed and you find a website within that category that you believe is inappropriate, please direct students to not go to that website. Here's a common example. The district does not block games since many are educational in nature. If there is a game site that passes through that you think it inappropriate, tell the students to refrain from visiting that site.

     

    What if a category for students is blocked (such as Online Communities), and I find a useful site that I want to use with my students?

    Turn in a work order. If the site is reviewed and found to be of an educational nature, we can override that domain for students. As with all online communities used by students, please make sure that you read the Terms of Service found on many of these sites.  For example, read the  Edmodo Terms of Service.  Notice that this site requires signed parent consent and requires the teacher to provide parents with a copy of the privacy policy. Also be sure to follow the age restrictions recommended on these sites. According to the District Social Media Guidelines for Teachers, you must also get the approval of your principal. Please note that it is a district decision to block Facebook for students at this time since there are alternative online communities designed to be used educationally by teachers and students.