Technology & Social Media Acceptable Use Policy
Our Technology and Social Media Acceptable Use Policy applies to all technology resources used by our students. It applies but is not limited to computers, iPads, phones, smart watches, video equipment, copy machines, information storage devices, email addresses, social media, AI software, and personal devices.
Burroughs provides students with access to its technology resources for academic purposes only. As such, the school reserves the right to access and monitor all aspects of its technology systems and devices, and students should not expect any information stored on school equipment or systems to be private. Students may, of course, use personal devices for non-school-related reasons but only during non-school hours. Students may face disciplinary action for unauthorized use of a personal device during school hours, and/or for creating or promoting content that is in violation of this policy.
—Adopted June 1995/Last Modified August 2024
Any failure to follow the rules listed below is considered a violation of the school’s Technology and Social Media Acceptable Use Policy:
1. Students are to use on-campus internet access for strictly academic purposes. Examples of internet sites that may not be visited outside of academic use at JBS include but are not limited to the following:
a. non-academic or personal use of social media sites, apps and streaming platforms
b. gaming or gambling sites
c. pornographic or otherwise sexually explicit sites
d. sites promoting “how-to” documents encouraging violence or illegal acts
e. sites that promote racism or hate speech or other hateful behavior
2. Students may not use cell phones during the school day unless they are being used for an academic purpose with the express permission of a faculty member in a designated area. During school hours, phones should be turned off and stored, ideally in a student’s backpack or locker. Students should expect phones that are not stored out of sight will be taken, even if they are not in use.
3. Students may not use Airpods/earbuds during the school day unless they are being used in the library or with the express permission of a faculty member in a designated area. Earbud use is never allowed in transitional or pedestrian spaces or in the dining room. Students in grades 9 through 12 are allowed these devices after the end of 8th period, but they must refrain from their use in academic areas.
4. The use of laptops/tablets/iPads is allowed in common spaces during the school day, when used for academic purposes. Their use is not allowed in classrooms without the teacher’s express permission.
5. Students should remove smart watches while testing. At any other time, teachers may request that students remove smart watches that are being used for communication or are distracting the student or others.
6. Students are expected to review their JBS email daily. Faculty and administrators use email to communicate with students and for official notices.
7. Students may not use technology to bully or harass others.
8. Students may not use AI technology beyond the scope of what their teacher has specifically permitted and should acknowledge when they use AI as a resource.
9. All students must respect the privacy of others. Any attempt to access private files, phones, or email messages is considered theft. Impersonation of Burroughs, another student, or a Burroughs employee online is illegal and falls under the 1998 US Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act.
10. Students may not in any way vandalize equipment or software that belongs to Burroughs or any other organization to which JBS has access. Examples of unacceptable behavior include but are not limited to the following:
a. damaging, hacking, or destroying networks, computer hardware or software
b. physical abuse to equipment
c. the creation or intentional use of malicious programs
11. Students may never share their Burroughs email password with anyone else. Stolen or lost passwords can create significant problems for the student and for the school.
12. Students may not transmit, retrieve, or store communications of an obscene, discriminatory, offensive or harassing nature or containing derogatory, disrespectful or inflammatory language. If students encounter such communications, they should immediately report it to their principal.
13. Students may not use JBS technological systems for any purpose that is illegal and/or violates school rules and must respect copyright and fair use guidelines.
14. Students may not misuse JBS or personal distribution lists or discussion groups for sending irrelevant messages.
15. Students may not use JBS technological systems or devices for private gain or any commercial purpose.
16. Students must always adhere to the license agreements for installing/copying software that is purchased by the school.
17. Students are not allowed to create personal social media accounts that suggest they are official Burroughs-sanctioned accounts. Students who wish to create social media accounts for clubs or other organizations must work with their club sponsor to apply through Congress. When participating in approved school-based social media for clubs or other organizations, students are expected to create and promote an atmosphere of honesty, respect, and consideration. Students are personally responsible for the content they publish online and must keep in mind that posts created and/or promoted by Burroughs staff and students reflect upon the entire school community.
18. When participating in personal social media, students must comply with the School’s non-discrimination and harassment policies as detailed within the Major School Rules section of the JBS Family Handbook (pp. 40-41). The misuse of personal social media, depending on its potential effect on the health, safety and welfare of students/others and the sanctity of the educational setting on campus, may result in referral to the principal, head of school, Student Court, and/or law enforcement.
The consequences of violating any of these policies will result in referral to the school’s disciplinary system. For violations, access to technology may be revoked for a period of time in addition to disciplinary warnings, probation, suspension, expulsion from school, or a referral to law enforcement depending on the gravity of the action.