Board studies iPad rules

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A 15-page "Acceptable Use" policy concerning iPads for next year high school students will be a work in progress.

The policy, approved by the McCook School Board Monday night at the regular meeting, was compiled by McCook School District Information Technology personnel Joel Bedner and Scott Johnson, based on successful 1:1 initiatives at other school districts in Nebraska.

The policy will probably be tweaked by the school board in the future, acknowledged Superintendent Grant Norgaard, when new or undiscovered issues unfold. The school board was under no pressure to approve it Monday night, Norgaard emphasized, and could wait until the May meeting to do so.

The board felt comfortable enough with the policy Monday night to approve it unanimously, with board member Shane Messersmith commenting, "This is a learning experience for us....we can change it or add to it if we need to later."

The policy was being revised as late as Monday afternoon, Bedner told the board Monday night. The policy, which be viewed online at www.mccookbison.org, must be signed by parents and students at a July "bootcamp," before the ipads will be handed out. Bednar said he will be contacting parents about the bootcamp in the near future.

A $40 annual usage fee will be required before the iPads, case and charger can be taken home. Board member Teresa Thomas asked that that those who qualified for free or reduced lunches have the fee waived, as stated in an initial policy discussed previously in the Policy committee.

Board president Tom Bredvick commented that the usage fee was fairly inexpensive and asked if it would cover replacement fees.

Norgaard responded that the fee was close to what other schools charge, but if in the future the fees do not cover costs, it can be changed. Kids generally do a good job of taking care of the devices, he continued, when using the case the school will provide.

Some points made Bedner concerning the policy include:

* The iPads have been registered by serial number to the school district and will be rendered useless once the device is reported lost or stolen by the student or parent, Bedner said. This means the devices cannot be resold.

* personal iPads will not be allowed in replacement of a school-issued iPad. If a student has an iPad at home, they will use a school-issued iPad during the school day and can use their personal iPad off school grounds if they choose not to pay the usage fee.

* personal apps and music are allowed on the iPads, as long as it doesn't impede memory space for classroom apps, projects, and/or the iPads performance. Apps such as Snapchat will not be allowed. A message will be sent to the student on the device if inappropriate apps are discovered, with the student given 24 hours to delete the app.

* students' iPads will be filtered through the school's Internet content filter. Electronic mail, network usage and all files stored on the the iPads may be monitored at any time by designated McCook Public Schools staff.

* the only e-mail account students are allowed to access while using the school-issued iPad the student's McCook Public Schools Google account. Exceptions to this will be made to graduating seniors for scholarship application process and for college coursework, such as classes at McCook Community College.

Board member Loretta Hauxwell said she appreciated the "Parent Responsibilities and Terms" in the policy. This clause encourages parents to look at their child's apps, messages, photos, Internet history and class projects on the device and also states that parents have full authority to set rules and boundaries concerning using the iPads at home.

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