Internet Filtering in the Olympia School District
A primary goal of the Technology Department is to provide rich resources through a robust and safe network to support teaching and learning. To ensure safe content, all Internet traffic passes through a filter system that checks each requested site for in-appropriate content and/or images before allowing the request to be delivered. The filter system is managed by the Technology Department and is set to block individual sites and categories of sites that are not appropriate for classroom usage.
The system determines appropriateness by identifying key words or expressions and occasionally an appropriate site will be blocked because of this method. Likewise, the system may not always block sites that have no educational value. However, any site that is deemed appropriate or inappropriate by a teacher or administrator may be unblocked or blocked through their request to the Technology Help Desk.
Requests made to the Help Desk for unblocking or blocking a site may be reviewed by the Technology Department staff and if the educational value of the site is unclear the requestor will be asked for clarification. In most cases the site will be unblocked or blocked immediately. If a disagreement exists about the appropriate nature of a site the request will proceed to a review that will include the requestor, the building administrator, and the Technology Director.
Although the filtering system is very effective it may not block all inappropriate sites. It is the district's expectation that all Internet activity by students will be monitored, and that all users will practice "responsible use" as defined by the district’s Acceptable Use Procedures. Any inappropriate site that may have been allowed by the filtering system should be reported to the Technology Help Desk.
[ Back to top ]