Scope and Definitions - This policy applies to all employees, contractors, volunteers, students, and third parties who access LCS-owned technology or LCS data. “Sensitive data” includes FERPA-protected education records, health/medical records, social security numbers, financial account numbers, and any data requiring heightened protection under applicable law.

Cloud and Third-Party Services Use of cloud services or third-party platforms to store school data requires IT review and approval, including contractual protections for student data and encryption guarantees.

Generative AI and Automated Tools Use of generative AI (text, image, audio, or code) for school materials, instruction, or official communications must follow LCS guidelines: staff must verify outputs for accuracy and appropriateness; AI must not be used to generate or infer personal student data without express administrative approval; outputs must respect copyright and attribution requirements.

Incident Reporting All suspected security incidents, data breaches, or policy violations must be reported immediately to the IT director and the principal. IT will coordinate incident response, documentation, and notification consistent with legal obligations.

TECHNOLOGY POLICY
All technology owned or provided by Lakeway Christian Schools is to be used in a manner consistent with the mission and established policies of LCS. The primary purpose of all information technology resources is to support LCS academic and administrative functions. The use of LCS technology for functions not clearly related to LCS is discouraged and may be prohibited.

Technology is to be used in a way that honors God by:

• Maintaining it as a resource for others, respecting their rights and privileges.
• Obtaining and creating materials that are positive and do not offend others or cause them to falter in their walks, and by using those materials in an ethical, moral, and legal manner.
• Creating materials and using resources that are positive and do not hinder operation of systems for which we are stewards on God’s behalf.

CELL PHONES
Cell phone usage by employees should be limited to before/after school hours or designated breaks. All cell phones should be silenced during classroom instruction and student supervision times unless being used as a teaching aide for students. Photos and/or videos of students should not be transmitted to non-employees of LCS or posted on any social media outlet. Use of personal electronic communication devices to contact students for personal and/or inappropriate reasons shall be grounds for discipline up to and including termination of employment.

EMAIL
LCS reserves the right to view any and all email sent to or by LCS employees. Any email, which was sent or received by employees that LCS, believes, in its sole and absolute discretion, to be inappropriate will be deleted and the appropriate employee disciplined. Email is to be sent and received using only the email accounts approved by LCS. It is suggested that, when possible, teachers check their email during the school day as well. All messages from parents must be responded to within 24 hours, preferably the same school day. Email system is provided for professional use. The system is not designed to broadcast emails that are not job related.

Related
5.35 Student Information Technology Usage Policy

GENERAL ORGANIZATION TECHNOLOGY POLICY STATEMENTS
 
All technology devices owned or provided by Lakeway Christian Schools (LCS) are to be used in a manner consistent with the mission and established policies of LCS. The primary purpose of all information technology is to support LCS academic and administrative functions. The use of LCS technology for functions not clearly related to LCS is discouraged and may be prohibited. LCS technology is to be used in a way that honors God.
 

• User Accounts - Users are assigned network accounts enabling access to the LCS network and designated resources.  Passwords are to be kept confidential and network accounts are not to be shared with anyone.  Users should always logoff when they are done using a computer.  All users are assigned unique, auditable accounts. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is required for all staff accounts and for any accounts that access or administer sensitive or student data. Passwords must meet complexity rules set by IT and privileged accounts will be monitored and subject to more frequent review. Account sharing is prohibited. If credentials are suspected compromised, the user must report immediately to IT.
• Personal Files / E-mail - Files not related to LCS should not be stored on LCS computing resources. All files and e-mail messages stored on LCS computing resources are considered property of LCS.  When a student withdraws from LCS or an employee is terminated, the network/e-mail account of that user will be disabled or deleted.   Any remaining files and e-mail messages of former students or employees will be reviewed and are subject to being deleted or re-assigned to another LCS user at the discretion of the principal. LCS systems automatically archive email and electronic records according to the school’s retention schedule. Staff must not store sensitive student or staff personal data (e.g., SSNs, medical records, financial information) in personal cloud accounts or on unapproved external services. Transmission of sensitive information must use school-approved encrypted channels.
• Internet usage policies - All Internet usage is filtered, logged, and monitored in accordance with the standards set forth in this policy. Users are not permitted to visit chat rooms or social networking sites while using LCS computers unless specifically approved by the appropriate supervisor. Users are not permitted to access sites that advocate anarchy, racism, hatred, or violence; sites that contain pornography; or sites that provide information used to support destructive activities (e.g., how to make weapons, etc.). If a user enters a site prohibited by this policy that was not blocked by LCS’s filtering system, the situation will be dealt with at the discretion of the teacher and the principal. Users must never provide personal information online that would enable someone to identify or locate them.  All Internet traffic may be logged and inspected for security or compliance reasons. Use of social networking or chat services on school devices or networks requires supervisor approval and, where student data are involved, IT approval. Users must not post confidential or personally identifiable information online.
• Exclusivity of LCS name - No internet site is to be setup under the LCS name or any associated school or organization. (including web sites, social networking sites, etc.) 
• Christian Witness - All LCS faculty, staff, and students are responsible for the way they represent LCS at all times.  As such, no pictures, no information, etc. may be posted on the internet that adversely affects the Christian witness, image, and/or mission of LCS. 
• Care for LCS Property - Potentially damaging actions to LCS technology such as eating or drinking near technology resources, mishandling cables or removable media, or physical abuse such as hitting or dropping a computing component are to be avoided. Any user of LCS property damaged through neglect or intentional action will be required to pay for a replacement or repair. 
• Theft – Any LCS property that is lost or stolen is the responsibility of the user. 
• Software - No software is to be installed on a LCS computer unless the software is specifically licensed to LCS. Software licensed to LCS is not to be pirated. 
• Plagiarism and Copyrights - Plagiarizing any document, image, or program is considered a violation of student conduct. In addition, all copyright restrictions all are to be followed. 
• Software and Programs - Creation or distribution of programs (viruses, worms, etc.) that are designed to inhibit the functioning or use of individual or multiple computers is prohibited. Participation in the illegal distribution (including known receipt) of commercially licensed software or copyrighted materials including music, pictures, and video is prohibited. Unauthorized installation of any software, including commercially licensed software, shareware, or freeware, on LCS computers is prohibited. 
• Cyber Bullying - Supportive communication of "hate" topics including racism, sexism, nationalism, religious bigotry, or the intentional pursuit or creation of pornographic images or sexually explicit communication through Internet web browsers, e-mail, chat rooms, etc., is prohibited. Use of any system to abuse (harass, coerce, threat, disrespect, or intimidate) any other person is prohibited. Use of any system to mass-mail (spam) others on campus or off campus, and the use of any system in a manner that would intentionally communicate false information, such as virus hoaxes is not allowed. Harassment, cyberbullying, doxxing, or targeted abuse using school resources or in school-affiliated online spaces is prohibited and will be subject to disciplinary action.
• Privacy - All aspects of Internet and computer usage are both logged and monitored.  All files and e-mail created, received, or stored on LCS computer equipment, regardless of location, are subject to being monitored/searched at the discretion of the principal and, as such, no rights to privacy are granted.  LCS reserves the right to inspect files or e-mail of any employee or student in order to obtain evidence of violation of any of these policies. LCS monitors and logs use of its systems for security, compliance, and operational purposes. Users should have no expectation of privacy on school-owned systems. Where monitoring or access to personally identifiable student records is required, LCS will comply with applicable law, including FERPA and state student privacy laws.
• Violations - Anyone caught in violation of this policy will be subject to appropriate penalties.  Such penalties will be determined by the principal and may include the loss of the privilege of using LCS technology resources. 
• Exceptions - If, in the interest of authentic academic or administrative work, there is a need for a student or employee to perform any of the actions specifically prohibited in this policy, the need must be documented in advance by the student and his/her teacher or by the LCS faculty/staff member and submitted to the principal.  Each request will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.