Frankton-Lapel Community Schools

Computer Safety

How FLCS Ensures Computer Safety

Years ago, the use of computers in school districts was merely a concept to be debated about in the coming world of electronic education. The past several years have witnessed explosive growth in technology - especially regarding technology in the classroom. Today, schools are learning how to combine global connectivity with curriculum. Networked computers/Chromebooks with Internet access provide students limitless opportunities for learning, but also bring with it a set of responsibilities that students, parents, and teachers must understand and address.

Frankton-Lapel Community Schools is committed to providing a secure and safe environment for all of its users. This environment includes a secure network that provides:

• Available services. Users can locate files, access programs/services, and utilize the Internet.
• Protection. Shields against viruses, trojans, worms, intrusion, and inappropriate content are in place, working, and continuously being updated.
• Access to stored files. These files are protected via backup from loss or unauthorized access.
• Intrusion Detection. Assurance that our network cannot be used to attack or invade other computer users.
• Continuous improvements. The network and its services are managed and updated to ensure complete security and reliability.

The following outline provides a brief list of measures taken by FLCS to ensure our computer network is secure and to ensure your child uses these computers in a safe environment.

Firewall
When connecting to outside sources like the Internet, computers can be exposed to threats. Some of these threats include viruses and other forms of harmful programs. Outside threats such as hackers may try to access, modify, or delete stored files. A dedicated appliance, called a firewall, connects to the Internet on one side and to the network servers on the other side. This firewall blocks these external threats. FLCS utilizes a next generation firewall (NGFW) installed to protect the users and their data. This firewall is required in order to maintain the privacy and security of student-related data such as personal information, medical information, as well as grades and attendance data.

Antivirus Software
User activities such as sending and receiving email and saving/loading files using USB devices or downloads make a network vulnerable. FLCS uses antivirus software that includes automatic updates on servers and workstations multiple times during each day. This software is a requirement in order to maintain the security and reliability of our network.

Protecting Students
Web filtering is one of the most critical elements to a child-safe network. Students could find inappropriate material via the Internet whether it be accidental or intentional. All internet access within the FLCS network is filtered of inappropriate material, and all access is logged. These logs provide specific details about what sites each computer and user visits throughout the day, and are periodically visually inspected for any inappropriate sites that the filter may not have blocked so that it may be modified to correct the situation.

Technology Team and Policies
FLCS maintains a group of network professionals with specialized skills and experience. They maintain over 500 workstations and 3000 Chromebooks, as well as multiple servers, networking equipment, printers, backup appliances, filters, software, cameras, VoIP phone systems, and much more.

Responsible Use
The FLCS Responsible Use Policy (RUP) for both staff and students may be obtained here.

We hope this brief overview provides you with the assurance that FLCS is providing an up-to-date, reliable, and secure computer network as part of your child's education. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact your child's teacher or building principal.

The Frankton Lapel Community Schools (FLCS) website exists to inform the community about and to engage it in our joint mission to provide a quality education to all children. We use the site to publish as much information about FLCS as possible and to enhance communication between the district and community. Your privacy is important to us. Please take a moment to become familiar with our privacy statement.

Management
The corporation website is hosted and managed by FLCS Technology Department. Both Jr/Sr high schools sites are maintained by students in the web classes. Both Elementary schools sites are maintained by teachers.

Gathering of Your Personal Information
FLCS does not gather personal information about any of our visitors.

Links to Other Sites
The FLCS site links to many web resources considered educationally valuable. Each school may also choose to link to external sites, but these sites must have an educational purpose.

Children
Our site does not directly solicit or collect information from children. If a child wishes to share information via a form, we recommend that he/she obtain parent permission and that the parent supervise the activity.

Security
Our site does encrypt for both InformationNOW and LunchBox. e~Funds for Schools provides their own encryption.

Contact Information
As the site evolves, FLCS may update this privacy statement. We will note the change on our home page to alert you to the modifications.