School Safety

School Safety & Security

The information included on this page provides an overview of BSD7’s safety measures This pages also serves as a guide for parents, students, and staff should there be a school emergency or if schools are closed/cancelled due to inclement weather.

Please report any safety concerns you may have to your school principal or the SRO. If you see something, say something.

The Bozeman Public School District #7 is committed to providing a safe environment for students, staff, and visitors. We work closely with safety officials – Bozeman Police Department, Bozeman Fire Department, County Emergency Services, Gallatin City-County Health Department, Red Cross and Bozeman Deaconess Hospital - to ensure our schools are well prepared for an emergency. We have developed a comprehensive plan that covers a wide variety of situations to help staff and our public safety and community partners respond swiftly should a crisis occur in our schools.

School Messenger

We use School Messenger to not only communicate information in the event of an emergency, but also to keep parents informed of other special school events and general information. It is important to make sure your School Messenger contact information is always updated. To check/update:

1. Click on Contact Manager from the Grades and Attendance Page in your Parent Portal Account.
2. Then Click, Contacts, Edit and enter all contact information.
3. Click Save.

Communications and Picking Up Child During School Emergency

Communications During a School Emergency

During an emergency, it is critical that parents receive important information and directions from school officials before going to the school or scene of an emergency. You can be confident that accurate and timely information will be released to parents, the public, and the media during any significant emergencies. Should a significant school emergency occur, a parent can get important information and directions by doing one or all of the following:
1. Tune into the local television and radio stations for news alerts
2. Check your e-mail or cell phone if you are subscribed to School Messenger
3. Visit the BSD7 homepage

If the school building is evacuated or is locked down, how will I be able to locate my child?

Each school has a procedure for helping parents locate their child(ren). Parents will be directed to a specific location where they will be required to show proper identification. Remember, a student can only be released to an adult that is documented as an emergency contact. If you are a non-custodial parent, you must be listed with your child's emergency contact information as a guardian and show proper identification.

Emotional Support for Students During Times of Crisis

It is important that our students feel safe in our schools, especially after a crisis has occurred. Should there be a need, the District provides psychological services and support to students and staff through the use of its Crisis Response Team, which includes community partners. The crisis response team will provide assistance to students to help them understand what has happened and to help them cope with their emotions and reactions.For more information, please see the Resource guide for parents & teachers when talking with children about crisis & tragedy.

Crisis Response Team

Our team works to provide calm, well thought out responses to crisis situations that affect District students and staff. Comprised of district counselors, school psychologists, administrators and other trained staff members, the team receives professional development to be able to provide quality, research-based support during tragic events. What constitutes a crisis? There isn't one definition that fits all crisis situations. A crisis could be any of the following and more: the death of a student, the death of a staff member, the death of a community person who had contact with students and/or staff, a catastrophe of nature such as a severe storm etc. that has affected students and/or staff, a local, state, regional, national, or world-wide situation that causes alarm among students and/or staff, serious injury to a student, staff member, or community person who had contact with students and/or staff, and other situations deemed by members of the team to be of crisis nature.

As a Parent How Can You Prepare for a School Emergency?

As a parent, there are three simple steps parents can take to prepare for a school emergency.
1. Provide accurate emergency contact information to your child's school and notify the school immediately if it changes.
2. Subscribe to the District’s School Messenger system. School Messenger is an electronic notification service that sends e-mail and text messages to your personal or work device. School Messenger provides subscribers with up-to-date information about school closings and cancellations, early dismissals, and other unforeseen emergencies.
3. Communicate with your child about being prepared for emergencies. This includes taking drills, such as fire and earthquake drills, seriously. It also includes reporting when unidentified visitors are on school property or reporting anything that is out of the ordinary or unusual in the school day to an adult at school.

Reporting a Safety Concern

If you see something, say something. We highly encourage everyone to report a concern directly to a staff member or School Resource Officer. If this is a serious event, call 911 immediately.
For grades 6 - 12, if you feel the need to remain anonymous, you can file a report using Anonymous Alerts.
Anonymous Alerts Bozeman Brochure - download and scan to report
Filing a false report is against the law.
If you are concerned about bullying or harassment occurring at your school please contact a teacher, school counselor/psychologist, or principal immediately and share your concerns.
The Incident Reporting Form is used for K-12 when a report is made. Parents or students may complete the form in advance or with a staff member at the school.
We take all reports seriously and we work closely with our SROs when we believe there is a potential threat. We take immediate action to protect students when we believe the threat to be credible.

District Safety/Foundations Committee

Purpose - The purpose of the committee is to review our processes and procedures and recommend changes. The committee is comprised of school administration, local law enforcement, and county emergency response personnel. The committee makes recommendations based on current research related school safety, prevention and emergency procedures. All concerns regarding school safety procedures, from school staff, parents, or members of the community, are routed to this committee for discussion and possible recommended changes. The committee also addresses immediate versus future needs, costs of upgrading based on perceived needs in security, and balancing the atmosphere of a welcoming school versus more of a closed, locked down environment. This work is in progress and open-ended.

District Safety Meetings for the 2022-2023 school year will be held from 11:30 am – 12:30 pm via GoogleMeet.

Dates:

October 11, 2022

April 25, 2023.

For additional information or to receive a link for the meeting(s), please contact the Office of the Deputy Superintendent Instruction, 522-6003.

Goals
1. Goal 1: Alcohol use ("Have used alcohol") at BHS is around 60% and decreasing while at the middle schools it's around 30% (YRBS) and 50% (PNAS) and pretty stable over 3 years. Goal: 3-5% decrease each survey year.
2. Goal 2: E-Cigarette use ("Have used e-cigarettes") at BHS is around 40% and at about 15% at the middle schools. Trends are increasing at both grade bands. Goal: 5% decrease each survey year.
3. Goal 3: Sleep: 65% of BHS students and 40% of middle schoolers get less than 8 hours of sleep on weeknights. Trend is increasing for high school and stable at middle school over last two years. Goal: 3-5% decrease each survey year.
School Safety Committees - Each of our schools has a safety committee and has school-specific safety procedures in place to provide a safe learning environment for our students.

Safety Measures in Our Schools - Security Personnel

SRO’s - We have a joint partnership with local law enforcement to employ four School Resource Officers (SROs) who strictly serve our schools. The SROs are fully licensed and sworn police officers, who are assigned to serve in our schools. The SROs are stationed at Bozeman High School and each of our middle schools, but travel throughout the day to all our schools.
Police Drop-Ins - Due to heightened awareness around our nation regarding school safety, our local law enforcement provides drop-in visits by other uniformed officers during the school day as much as possible.
Canine Detection – In addition to local law enforcement canine detection, we have contracted with a private security company to implement a canine detection program. The Interquest Program provides canine units who routinely visit our schools to conduct searches of lockers, vehicles, and common areas. The dogs are trained to detect illegal drugs, medication (both prescription and over the counter), gunpowder, firearms, and alcohol. Please see our parent disclosure document: Announcement to parents regarding use of canine detection services at Middle Schools and High School Document .
CrimeStoppers Anonymous Reporting Line - The Bozeman Police Department and the Bozeman Public Schools partner to provide the WeTip hotline to students and their families. The CrimeStoppers hotline at 406-586-1131 or crimetips@Bozeman.net may be used by anyone to anonymously report crimes that have been committed at any of our schools or in our community. While students are always encouraged to talk with an adult at the school, students are sometimes reluctant to report crime information. CrimeStoppers provides an alternative for students and families who wish to give information and remain anonymous. Information is taken on all crimes affecting schools and the surrounding communities. CrimeStoppers takes the information and passes it on to Bozeman’s School Resource Officers who will conduct an investigation. Anyone who has information about illegal activity at a Bozeman school can connect with CrimeStoppers at 406-586-1131 or crimetips@Bozeman.net. For emergencies and in-progress crimes call 911.

Safety Measures in Our Schools - Drills/Emergency Manual

Emergency Manual - The District utilizes an Emergency Manual that is updated on an annual basis and also revised, as needed, after an incident. The Emergency Manuals are available to school staff both as hard copies and on-line.
Safety Drills - We have emergency procedures for every building. With support and guidance from the Bozeman Police Department and emergency services, we practice these procedures throughout the school year. School administration routinely conducts teacher training regarding emergency procedures. Printed copies of the emergency procedures are kept in every classroom and they are reviewed and updated frequently by the District Safety Committee.
Lockdown Drills/Armed Intruder - We practice lockdown drills throughout the school year. The district has Lockdown/Secure in Place videos for K-5 and 6-12. These videos provide direction to our staff and students as a way to teach the why a school may decide to lockdown and or to secure in place and what to do if it happens.

For more information about what a lockdown/secure in place is and the reasons for use, please see Lockdown/Secure in Place Parent Information. Once a lockdown drill has been practiced at your school we encourage you to talk to your child about the Lockdown drill itself. In a effort to help you discuss this topic we created Tips for Talking With Your Child About Lockdown/Secure in Place Drills (appropriate for elementary children) and a recent article from NPR entitled How To Talk With Kids About Terrible Things - Article from NPR.

Additionally, the district has created “Armed Intruder” videos for middle and high school students that show what to do in case of an armed intruder event. The “Armed Intruder” videos are specific to each of our middle and high schools. To view these videos, please contact your school principal.

Secure in Place- We practice Secure in place drills so that if there is a threat outside of the building (for example, an incident in the immediate neighborhood or a bear on school grounds), we know that the outside doors are locked and that the school day may go in as usual inside the building.
Tabletop Drills - "Tabletop" drills are conducted with our staff to plan for emergency contingencies that are too difficult to replicate in real life. For example, we may use a tabletop drill to discuss how we would respond to a gas leak at a school. Local law enforcement and other emergency services personnel participate with our school staff in the tabletop drills.

Safety Measures in Our Schools - Facilities

Safety Audits - Safety audits have been conducted for every school building. A safety audit is a process that examines issues such as: school access, environmental hazards and communication systems.
Limited Access - All of our school buildings have limited access during the school day with specific visitor check in procedures.
Identification Badges - School staff are required to wear identification tags throughout the day so that they will be recognized as school personnel when approaching a visitor. Visitors are required to check in at the main office or in the main lobby and wear an identification badge while in the building. Our staff are asked to stop and question those who are not wearing a badge and redirect the person to the main office.
Engagement of Visitors – All district staff are expected to engage visitors and report any suspicious activity or visitors who are in violation of check-in procedures to the office and/or law enforcement.

Social Emotional Support

Positive relationships with our students and families is a priority. Students are encouraged to tell a trusted adult at school if they have a concern about themselves or another individual. We are often able to intervene to support a student or to mediate a disagreement between students because we are provided with information by caring students. This type of communication would not happen if positive relationships were not nurtured by all in our education community. Some of the ways we have been able to foster safe, welcoming, and inclusive school communities are:

School counselors and psychologists provide universal social emotional education through the counseling curriculum as well as being available to assist students needing extra support.
We recognize the extent to which significant life events can impact a student's learning, mental health, and relationships. In order to support students cope with hardship or other social-emotional challenges, we have Student Assistance Specialists at each high school and each middle school. These specialists have specific training on trauma-informed approaches (in addition to other evidence-based therapeutic modalities) and provide a variety of services aimed at helping students feel safe, secure, and valued in the school setting.
We contract with several Comprehensive School and Community Treatment (CSCT) programs to provide school based mental health services. These CSCT providers not only work with students, but also provide family services as needed.
As part of BSD7’s efforts to create a positive school climate where students feel respected, valued, and both physically and emotionally safe, BSD7 has adopted the Second Step Bullying Prevention Unit which teaches students the specific skills to Recognize, Report, and Refuse bullying. The Second Step Bullying Prevention Unit also provides professional development and tools for staff to help them intervene when bullying occurs, support targets of bullying, and correct inappropriate social behaviors.
Signs of Suicide (SOS) program is an evidence based suicide prevention program delivered in grades 6, 8, 10, and 12. The program helps students understand signs of depression and suicide as well as dispelling myths around this very important topic. Equally important, the program encourages students to ACT - Acknowledge that a peer is struggling, show they Care about the peer, and Tell an adult in order to get help for the peer.

Professional Development

Run Lock Fight
- Our SROs conduct ongoing Run Lock Fight trainings
- All buildings in the district have been the site of at least one training
- All schools conducted regular refreshers staff meetings with their SRO
- Approximately 420 staff members have received training
As a parent, you should feel confident to know that we provide emergency and crisis management training to school administrators and staff. Each school has key staff members with assigned roles and responsibilities to perform during an emergency. The school system’s emergency response plan is modeled on the National Incident Management System (NIMS) that has been developed by the Department of Homeland Security. In addition, every school conducts emergency drills throughout the school year so that students and staff are aware of the most effective and safe emergency responses.
Staff receive professional development in the use of epi-pens and other related safety topics.

Policy

The District has in place several policies and procedures related to school safety, including procedures for Registered Sex or Violent Offenders and Relations with the Law Enforcement and Child Protective Agencies. We meet frequently with our community partners to analyze our policies and update as needed.

BSD7 Partners with Public Safety Agencies

School staff works closely with the appropriate local public safety agencies, such as police, fire, emergency medical services, and public health to effectively deal with a wide range of crises. Specifically, BSD7 partners with the Bozeman Police Department, Bozeman Fire Department, Gallatin City-County Health Department, Emergency Services, American Red Cross, and other agencies in planning and training activities to promote emergency preparedness throughout the District and the community.

Stranger Danger:

School Resource Officer Clint Anderson talks about Stranger Danger in this safety video appropriate for grades K-5. Please use this video as a start to ongoing conversations with your children to assist in protecting themselves in dangerous situations.

Officer Anderson - Stranger Danger Video

Helmet Safety:

School Resource Officer Clint Anderson is the star of this 2-minute safety video in which he talks about Helmet Safety. This video briefly touches on helmet safety - its main focus is proper fitting of a helmet. Please use this video to start to a conversation about just why wearing a helmet is important, not only when riding a bike or motorcycle but also when we ski, rock climb, skateboard, scooter, or ride a horse along, with many other activities.

Officer Anderson - Helmet Safety

Water Safety:

School Resource Officer Clint Anderson is the star of this 2-minute safety video in which he talks about Water Safety. This video briefly touches on water safety and the importance of wearing a life jacket.

Officer Anderson - Water Safety

Firearms Safety:

This short, informative video walks through basic firearms safety, including proper handling and storage of guns and ammunition and the various forms of gun locks.

Firearms Safety

Special thanks to Hawk T.V. and Bozeman Police Department in helping with these video.

Closings and Cancellations Due to Weather Conditions:

In the interest of student safety, decisions to close schools, delay school openings, or dismiss early due to inclement weather conditions are made by the Superintendent. Radio and TV stations are notified as soon as a decision is made. Please use the following resources to confirm the status of school operations should there be inclement weather conditions.

Tune into the local television and radio stations for news alerts
Check your e-mail or cell phone if you are subscribed to School Messenger
Visit the BSD7 homepage

Make-up Days

Should school be cancelled due to inclement weather or as a result of other conditions, days at the end of the annual calendar will be used.

Impact on School Programs/Activities Due to Delayed Openings, Early Dismissal, and Closings. If the normal school day hours are affected with school opening later, closing earlier or being cancelled, the regularly scheduled programs and activities that take place during the day will change. Specifically, in a delayed opening, modified kindergarten and pre-kindergarten schedules are used, and on an early dismissal schedule, after school activities are cancelled. Check with the school office or District webpage for specific with questions regarding activities or schedules on these days.

Firearms Safety and Gun Locks

Bullying and Harassment

The District is committed to a safe, welcoming, & inclusive school environment - one that is conducive to learning for all students. We work with everyone in our education community to create a culture of mutual respect.

How do I submit a report of concern?

If you are concerned about bullying or harassment occurring at your school please contact a teacher, school counselor/psychologist, or principal immediately and share your concerns.

Below is a copy of the form used for K-12 when a report is made. Parents or students may complete the form in advance or with a staff member at the school.

Incident Reporting Form
For an alternate way to report for grades 6 - 12, please use Anonymous Alerts below

Instruction and Prevention

As part of our commitment, BSD7 has employed a variety of evidence-based approaches to prevent, intervene, and respond to bullying behavior in our schools.

The Second Step Bullying Prevention Unit is one important component of BSD7’s overall approach. The Second Step program teaches all children K-5 the specific skills to help stop bullying. Students will learn how to:

Recognize when bullying is happening
Report bullying to a caring adult
Refuse to let bullying happen to themselves or others
Be a bystander who stands up and is part of the solution to bullying

For bullying prevention to work, every adult who works with students needs to be involved. All BSD7 staff K-12 will get special training in how to:

Recognize and respond to bullying
Support children who have been bullied
Correct behaviors of children who are bullying
Use strategies that support a positive school and classroom climate

The Second Step Bullying Prevention Unit provides students with the anti-bullying basics, but also the underlying social awareness and relationship skills that we continue to teach and promote through middle and high school through our counseling and health enhancement curriculum.

Get involved in making our schools safe by contacting your child’s school if you hear about bullying. Make sure your child knows to tell you or someone at school if they are being bullied. And give your child the clear message that it is never okay to bully others.

To learn more about the Second Step Bullying Prevention program, click here.

To learn more about BSD7’s bullying/harassment policies, click here.

Thank you for helping us make our schools safe, inclusive, and respectful.

Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination and is prohibited. An employee, District agent, or student engages in sexual harassment whenever that individual makes unwelcome advances, requests sexual favors, or engages in other verbal, non-verbal, or physical conduct of a sexual or sex-based nature, imposed on the basis of sex, that:

Denies or limits the provision of educational aid, benefits, services, opportunities, or treatment, or that makes such conduct a condition of a student’s academic status; or
Has the purpose or effect of:
1. Substantially interfering with a student’s educational environment;
2. Creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational environment;
3. Depriving a student of educational aid, benefits, services, opportunities, or treatment; or
4. Making submission to or rejection of such unwelcome conduct the basis for academic decisions affecting a student.

The terms "intimidating," "hostile," and "offensive" include conduct that has the effect of humiliation, embarrassment, or discomfort. Examples of sexual harassment include but are not limited to unwelcome touching, crude jokes or pictures, discussions of sexual experiences, pressure for sexual activity, intimidation by words, actions, insults, or name calling, teasing related to sexual characteristics, and spreading rumors related to a person’s alleged sexual activities.

District Policies

Sexual Harassment Policy Link - 3225
Sexual Harassment Procedure - 3225P (Bozeman School District Title IX Coordinator, Pat Strauss, (406) 522-6007)

Cybersafe

Safety and Ethics in Cyberspace

We can all be a part of helping our students become "street smart" on the Internet!

Most experiences we have on the Internet are positive but, like most endeavors, there are risks. A little knowledge about those risks can go a long way towards protecting students from exploitive, dangerous or inappropriate situations as they use the Internet at school and at home.

Students can benefit a great deal from their online experiences, but they may also access inappropriate materials; become victims of exploitation or crime; or become targets of harassment, bullying or other offensive behaviors. Children and teenagers need parental and other adult supervision and common sense advice on how to insure that their experiences in "cyberspace" are constructive and enjoyable.

What can you do?

Tips for Parents

The Internet is a great place for your children to have fun and keep in touch with family and friends. Because of the huge amount of information available online, the potential for educational benefit to your family from legitimate online sources is nearly unlimited.

On the other hand, just as you protect your children from dangers in the "real" world, you must be aware of the possible dangers that tempt naive and trusting children, especially teenagers, into dangerous situations. Becoming educated about technology and striving to open and maintain lines of communication with your children is just as critical as teaching young children to look before they cross the street and older ones to become responsible drivers. Your job to educate and protect your children supercedes any feelings they may have regarding their rights to privacy!

What are the possible dangers?
How can I help my child avoid risky situations and make sensible decisions?
What warning signs should I watch for?
What should I do if I know or think my child is being exposed to potentially risky situations?

What are the possible dangers?

Accessing inappropriate web sites. A few examples: pornography; extremist activities; hate groups; instructions for committing violent acts; drug manufacturing.
Contact with sexual predators: most common via social networking, e-mail or instant messaging. These predators take advantage of a child's insecurities to befriend them.
Bullying, harassment, and character defamation in the public arena of the Internet, by e-mail and social networking, can be cruel, vicious, degrading and very damaging to children and teens.
Scams, fraud and identity theft: Internet users may unwittingly fall victim to criminal scams that begin by asking for passwords, credit card information, social security numbers and other personal information in a way that appears to be legitimate.
Sales: While there are many ethical e-commerce sites and sellers doing business on the Internet, there are numerous fraudulent operators misrepresenting merchandise or using an e-commerce site to collect credit card information. As with television, the Internet is being use for aggressive marketing campaigns aimed at young consumers. Buyers must be very careful purchasing from Internet auction sites. If it's too good to be true, it's probably a scam.
Computer issues: Viruses, worms, spyware, adware and some peer to peer software may cause your computer or software to malfunction or compromise your security and privacy. Install and use an antivirus program and a firewall. You should also install and regularly run software that searches your computer for spyware and adware. Download and install only reputable software programs.

How can I help my child avoid risky situations and make sensible decisions?

Without overreacting, establish clear and reasonable rules for computer use in your home and outside your home. Limit the time and the hours of the day your child can participate in online activities. Make sure you create, explain and implement consequences for breaking the rules.
Place your computer in an open area of your home where you can easily supervise your child's computer activities.
Consider choosing an online service that offers parental controls. Check with your current provider to find out what services they offer. Purchase monitoring and filtering software that allows you some control over computer use.
Internet accounts and profiles should be in your name and you should control passwords and screen names. Help your child choose a screen name that is nondescript. Do not allow children to have personal profiles because these can often be easily accessed by predators.
Know who your children exchange e-mail with. If they have a "buddy list" check it often for changes.
Know your child's friends and talk to their parents about computer use in their homes. Be aware of other computers outside of your home that your child may be using.
Keep the lines of communication open with your child. Be supportive of the educational and fun uses of technology and spend time exploring the Internet with your child. Work to establish an atmosphere of trust within your family, encouraging your children to tell you about their online activities.
Help your children understand...
- what personal information is and why it should not be given.
- what is being posted on a web site or discussed online can affect a person's privacy and reputation and often cannot be deleted or removed.
- the importance of not responding to unsolicited, offensive or unpleasant e-mail or chat.
- while they may feel "alone" online, they are not. People can find out who they are and where they are by taking advantage of the natural tendencies of children and teens to be trusting and open.
- what they read or see online is not all factual or reliable. Encourage a cautious approach to online "information."
Recognize that chat rooms and social networking can be dangerous. Do not allow your child to visit chat rooms or, at the very least, restrict them to age and subject appropriate chat rooms only and monitor their activity. Chat services that provide monitors are generally safer than unmonitored chat rooms, but parental supervision is essential in any case.
Tell your children...
- to tell you immediately if they are threatened, scared or made uncomfortable by someone or something online. (Be sure you respond in a helpful and calm manner.)
- never give out their own or their friends' names, addresses, phone numbers, parents' names, school names, or other personal information.
- never agree to personally meet someone they met online.
- never send photographs online without your permission.
- never fill out forms or questionnaires online without your permission.
- not to enter areas that charge for services without your permission.

What warning signs should I watch for?

Your child spends a great deal of time on the Internet or is online late at night.
Your child changes the computer screen when you enter the room.
Your child becomes uneasy or defensive when you are close to their online activity or discussing online behavior. (If you see your child type POS this is a red flag. It means "parent over shoulder.")
There are unusual charges on credit card statements or phone bills. Be especially alert to charges with seemingly benign identification. Pornographers and con artists are careful not to attract attention by using descriptive names.
Your child has a sudden influx of cash or gifts.
You notice changes in your child's behavior or habits (secretiveness, inappropriate knowledge, changes in interests, sleeping problems, etc.).

What should I do if I know or think my child is being exposed to potentially risky situations?

Communicate with your child and be involved. Be non-judgmental as you encourage your child to answer your questions and discuss your concerns.
If your child is involved in online bullying or harassment, either as a perpetrator, victim or bystander, engage in a discussion of ethics, kindness and respect. Talk about the legal realities of criminal arrest or civil litigation in extreme cases of cyberbullying. Your child's role in the activity will determine how you respond.
If threatening or pornographic material is received by your child, save it. If you can identify the company, report the incident to the sender's Internet Service Provider (ISP). Contact your local law enforcement agency.
Report any content or activity that you suspect may be illegal to local law enforcement agencies.

CyberSafe information copied and used with permission from Boise School District

Tips for Students

There are a lot of terrific resources available to help you enjoy the Internet and all the great stuff technology puts at your fingertips. Unfortunately, you can get yourself into trouble and even dangerous situations if you're not smart about how you handle yourself. These are just a few ideas to get you started in thinking about how to avoid risky situations.

Ideas for Kids | Tips for Teens | Ethics

A Few Ideas for Kids

You've been told "don't talk to strangers." Well, people you meet on the Internet are strangers. Other than friends you know in "real life," people online are not your friends; you don't know them.
Never give out personal information about yourself or your family and friends, no matter how well you think you know your cyberpals - name, address, telephone number, where you go to school, even what city you live in. Don't send pictures of yourself either.
Never agree to meet an online friend in person. If someone asks to meet you, talk to your parents about it.
Don't lie about your age so you can go somewhere on the Internet that is for adults only.
Passwords must be kept secret from everyone but your parents.
If you get email from someone you don't know, don't open it - just delete it. If you get attachments from people you do know, always run them through an antivirus program before you open them.
Something you see on the Internet might make you uncomfortable or confused. Tell your teacher or parent right away.
Don't be a bully and don't accept bullying on the Internet. Be polite, kind and respectful. Tell your teachers or parents if someone is mean to you.
Never respond to messages that have bad words or are weird and scary.
Don't spend a lot of time on the computer. You need lots of other activities, exercise, and time playing with your friends to grow up healthy and balanced.
Grass is orange, cookies are good for you and I saw Elvis last week. Believe me? Don't believe everything you see on the Internet either. Just as in real life, on the Internet sometimes it is not easy to figure out if someone is lying to you or misleading you.
Don't do anything on the Internet that may cost money without your parent's permission. Never give out credit card information.
If you're upset or angry about something don't use the Internet to vent your feelings. Go to a friend, a relative or teacher you are comfortable talking to instead.

Some Tips for Teens

Did you know that colleges, universities and prospective employers are checking profiles and postings on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter? Also, even if you have configured your profile to be private, a skilled hacker can get behind that privacy screen.
Use hard to guess passwords and change them regularly. Don't share them with anyone, even your best friends.
Don't choose a screen name that includes part of your real name or could be considered provocative.
Never give out personal information about yourself, your family or your friends to people you meet online. Never give out information that would allow someone to find you off-line.
Never enter an area that charges for services without parental permission.
Be a cautious online consumer. Shopping online is easy and fun, but only shop at reputable, well known sites. Never give credit card information to a site that is not secure or trustworthy.
Before you open an email attachment from someone you know, run it through an antivirus program. Don't even think about opening an email or attachment from someone you don't know.
Use good sense and judgment - don't break the rules for someone and don't allow yourself to be taken in by people you meet on the Internet. Someone or something sound too good to be true? Probably is!
Let your parents or teachers know if you feel bullied, threatened or harassed in any way on the Internet. Do not reply to these types of attacks. If someone is bothering you, sign off.
If you become aware of dangerous behavior or threats made online, print the screen and tell an adult immediately.
Avoid Internet obsession. Maintain balance in your life - too much time online can mess up your real world social life and activities.
Don't believe everything you read online, be skeptical of advertisements, stories and promises and hold on to your sense of right and wrong.
Recognize that not everyone on the planet is a nice person - many of them are looking for ways of taking advantage of you and/or your wallet.

Ethics

You wouldn't walk into a store and steal a stack of CDs or DVDs, would you? Violating copyright laws is no different. Respect the creators of music, movies, games, software and other media by making legitimate purchases of these products.
Mind your manners and be nice. Don't be part of the problem by being a bully or participating in any sort of mean behavior.

CyberSafe information copied and used with permission from Boise School District

Glossary

Adware - A form of spyware that collects information about a user's browsing patterns.
Blog (weB LOG) - A journal that is available on the web. The activity of updating blog is "blogging" and someone who keeps a blog is a "blogger." Blogs are typically updated frequently using software that allows people with little or no technical background to update and maintain the blog. Entries are almost always arranged in chronological order with the most recent additions at the top.
Bookmark (Favorite) - A Web site address saved in your browser so you can access it easily later.
Browser - Software (Internet Explorer is one) used to look at various kinds of Internet resources.
Buddy List - In instant messaging (IM), or on cell phones with text display, a list of people a user wants to keep track of. The list can be used to see who is offline, online, has their phone turned on or off, or who is currently talking on their phone.
Bulletin Board (BBS) - A computerized meeting and announcement system that allows people to carry on discussions, upload and download files, and make announcements without the people being connected to the computer at the same time.
Chat rooms - An Internet service provided area where users can talk instantly with one another online by sending short messages. Different rooms may be "entered" to discuss specific topics.
Cookies - A small file placed on your computer by a Web site you visit that stores information about you. Cookies can be useful because they can allow you to skip entering information on reputable sites every time you visit. While cookies will not act maliciously on your computer system, they can compromise your privacy.
Cyberbullying - Sending or posting cruel text or images about an individual using the Internet or other digital devices such as cell phone text messaging.
Cyberspace - Used to describe the entire range of Internet resources available through service providers.
Domain Name - The unique name that identifies an Internet site. Domain Names have 2 parts, separated by a dot. The part on the left is the most specific, and the part on the right is the most general.
Download - to copy a file from a Web site or e-mail attachment onto the computer you are using.
E-mail - messages sent from one person to another via computer. Generally text, but can include attached files of documents, graphics, sounds, or videos.
Favorite (Bookmark) - A Web site address saved in your browser so you can access it easily later.
File sharing - see "Peer to Peer"
Filtering - Software that examines incoming data to ensure that only information within certain parameters is allowed.
Fishing - see "Phishing"
Flaming - Insulting or nasty remarks directed at someone through e-mail or chat rooms. A "flame war" is when an online discussion degenerates into a series of personal attacks.
FTP (File Transfer Protocol) - Software that will transfer entire files from one computer to another.
Hacker - A technically sophisticated computer user who enjoys exploring computer systems and programs. Activities can be benign or malicious.
Home page - Usually the first page of a Web site.
IM (Instant Messaging) - Technology that notifies a user when a friend is online, allowing them to "converse" by exchanging text messages. IM or text messaging has become a term associated with messaging by cell phone as well.
Internet Telephony - see "VoIP" and "Skype"
ISP (Internet Service Provider) - a company that provides customers with a connection to the Internet and may provide e-mail services. (See also OSP.)
Message Board - A section on some Web sites that displays messages posted by users.
Netiquette - The informal rules of online courtesy.
OSP (Online Service Provider) - A company that provides Internet access and other services such as shopping, news, chat rooms, and special events. AOL and MSN are OSPs.
Peer-to-Peer (or P2P) - Networks used for sharing content such as music, video, data or anything in digital format.
Phishing - An identity theft scam in which criminals send out spam that imitates legitimate correspondence. The fake messages often link to Web sites which are faked to look like the sites of respected companies. You are asked to enter personal information for authentication or confirmation purposes but in reality, you are giving personal information to criminals. Be aware that phishers also use the phone to hunt for information.
Piracy - The unauthorized copying of software, movies, recorded music, CDs, DVDs, etc.
Pop-up - A browser window that opens in addition to the main window. Frequently contain bothersome advertising and may be difficult to get rid of. Pop-ups may open automatically without input from the user and closing one may open several more unwanted windows.
Search Engine - A system, such as Google, for searching for information on the Internet.
Skype - Software that allows users to make telephone calls over the internet to other Skype users free of charge, or to landlines and cell phones for a fee.
Social networking - an online community of people who socialize with each other via a particular Web site. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Craigslist are examples of the variety of networking Web sites available to users.
Spam, spamming - Unsolicited and/or inappropriate email.
Spoofing - Pretending to be someone else.
Spyware - Software that is secretly installed on a computer and monitors use of the computer in some way without the users' consent. Most spyware tries to get the user to view advertising and/or particular web pages. Some spyware also sends information about the user to another machine over the Internet. Spyware is usually installed without a user's knowledge as part of the installation of other software, especially software such as music sharing software obtained via download.
Text messaging - see "IM"
URL (Uniform Resource Locator) - The unique address of an Internet page.
Virus - A software program or script designed to destroy, modify, or cause other problems with a computer or software program. Viruses can arrive as e-mail attachments, with software installations or on discs. Installing and keeping current an anti-virus program can greatly reduce the risks to your computer. (see Worm)
VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) - Hardware and software that enable people to use the Internet rather than the traditional telephone to transmit voice or fax. In other words, it adds telephone capabilities to a computer.
Webcam - An simple video camera that sits near your computer and sends live or recorded video as well as still photos.
Wiki - A Web site comprising the perpetual work of many authors. A wiki allows anyone to edit, delete or modify content.
Worm - A type of virus that can makes copies of itself and infect additional computers (typically by making use of network connections). Although a worm does not attach itself to additional programs, it might alter, install, or destroy files and programs. (see Virus)

Need more help? There are many great Internet sites with lists of terminology.

Start here:

NetLingo
Webopedia
WhatIs - IT Encyclopedia & Learning Center

CyberSafe information copied and used with permission from Boise School District

Ethics

Please mind your manners and don't steal other people's stuff!

It seems so simple. The Internet is free, easy to use, open 24 hours a day and has everything you need for school and personal entertainment: research materials, term papers, software, music, and videos to download. CDs are simple to duplicate and give to your friends, and your cell phone keeps you in touch with them in and out of class.

So, what is the problem? Just because something is available and easy does not make it legal or right.

Downloading or copying software, music or other media and not paying for it is no different than shoplifting.
Copying information from a web site or printed material and pretending it is yours is plagiarism.
Cheating is unethical whether you write on your hand or text message during a test.

A national survey published in Education Week found that 54% of students admitted to plagiarizing from the Internet; 74% of students admitted that at least once during the past school year they had engaged in "serious" cheating; and 47% of students believe their teachers sometimes choose to ignore students who are cheating.

Copyright Violations

It is expected that all Bozeman School District staff and students will comply with copyright and fair use laws.

Be sure a get this chart covering the basics of copyright and fair use guidelines for teachers that you can copy and distribute as needed (courtesy of TechLearning.com).

Areas of Copy Right Concerns:

Plagiarism in homework, research, and academic projects
Plagiarism: To steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own; use (another's production) without crediting the source; to commit literary theft; present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source. (Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary)

Plagiarism in any form is unacceptable. Proper credit and citation must be given whenever material is copied and/or paraphrased.
Software and media copying/piracy
A person who copies CDs, does not pay for shareware, or shares MP3 files or software with friends is stealing property. While this person might never consider shoplifting or burglary, there really is no moral, ethical or economic difference between the theft of intellectual property and that of physical property.

Economic losses due to copying and piracy are enormous. Artists and creators lose income, governments lose tax revenues and all consumers eventually get less variety and choice. Prices rise for those who do pay to compensate for the theft by those who do not.

What Parents & Teachers Can Do:

Set and enforce high standards of ethical behavior at home, at school and in the community.
Talk about ownership of intellectual property and make the ethical/moral connection to theft of physical property.
Set a good example by not violating copyright laws.
Check the computers your children and students use for new software, media files and music on a regular basis.
Use Turnitin to monitor

Cheating During Tests

How It's Done:

Camera phones: students can snap a picture of a test.
Text messaging: students use cell phones to request or provide answers during a test.
MP3 players: notes can be recorded and played back during a test.
Candy wrappers can be flattened; scanned into a computer; the ingredients section can be edited into a cheat sheet; the wrapper is printed and rewrapped around the candy.
Graphing calculators can be programmed with formulas or vocabulary lists.
Personal digital assistants may look like calculators, but they can hold notes.

What Teachers Can Do to Prevent It:

Talk to your students about cheating and make honesty a high priority.
During tests, walk around your classroom. Be watchful and vigilant.
Do not let students listen to "music" during tests.
Do not allow cell phones, PDAs and other personal electronic devices in your classroom.
Have students clear graphing calculators before tests.
Ban snacks during tests.

CyberSafe information copied and used with permission from Boise School District

Links and Resources

Table of Contents

Terminology
Protect You & Your Computer
Blocking & Filtering
Copyright & Ethics
Law Enforcement
Netiquette
Sites for:
- Everyone
- Parents
- Kids
- Teens
- Educators
- Other Resources & Tips

Terminology

Protect Yourself & Your Computer

PC Magazine's antivirus software reviews
Firewall reviews
"TopTen" Firewall reviews
Anti-Spyware Guide
Free software to protect against spyware, adware, other potential threats

Blocking & Filtering Software

SearchEngineWatch resources and links for Children's Guides and Search Engines, Filtering Options, Filtering and Blocking Software
"TopTen" Internet Filtering software reviews
"TopTen" Monitoring software reviews

Copyright, Piracy & Other Ethics Issues

Copyright Kids - geared towards young students
Cyberbee - another copyright site for elementary age
Avoiding Illegal Software
US Copyright Office Library of Congress
Copyright & Fair Use, Stanford University
Copyright & Fair Use Guidelines for Teachers - a basic chart in PDF format that can be copied and distributed as needed.

Local Law Enforcement

Bozeman Police Department - (406) 582-2000
Gallatin County Sheriff's Office - (406) 582-2100
State of Montana Attorney General - (406) 444-2026
Montana Highway Patrol - (800) 525-5555
FBI - Bozeman (406) 994-0927

Good Manners & Netiquette (How to Avoid Annoying Others)

NetManners

A few good sites for...

Everyone

A Platform for Good (PfG), has a mission to help shift the conversation away from the negative focus that so often appears in the media about youth online experience to a conversation that highlights the positive opportunities the internet has to offer. Through this approach, the Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) aims to bridge the generational digital divide by increasing adult comfort with technology and understanding of the opportunities it offers.

A Platform for Good

Parents

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children - The CyberTipline handles leads from individuals reporting the sexual exploitation of children.
Microsoft's Security at Home
Cyberbullying
On Guard On Line - Practical tips from the Federal Government and the technology industry.
On Guard On Line - Español
Microsoft - Parental Supervision and Age-Based Guidance
ParentsHome at NetSmartz
Web Wise Kids
Wired Safety - extensive information on many topics
Parental Controls

Kids

Teens

Educators

Cyberbullying
Cybersmart Curriculum
NetSmartz for Educators
Safe Teens
Wired Safety - Educators & Librarians resources

Other Resources & Tips

In your Internet Explorer browser, select Tools, then Internet Options. Using the Privacy, Security and Content tabs you can adjust numerous settings that will help control how your browser handles privacy and security issues. In Firefox, select Tools, Options and make your choices under "Security," "Web Features" and "Advanced."
Check your search engine for filter options you can set on your computer.
Encourage your children to use "kid friendly" search engines.

CyberSafe information copied and used with permission from Boise School District

Faculty and Staff Resources

Resources for Teachers & Staff

While the Internet is a unique educational resource, it is important that our students use technology in a safe and responsible manner. In our roles as teachers and support staff, we all use technology to some extent and we have a responsibility to help our students make safe and ethical decisions on the Internet, with cell phones and as they deal with other types of technology.

Be Aware...

Of the threats that online predators can pose to a child's physical and emotional safety.
Of inappropriate Internet content - pornography, violence, hate groups, drugs, extremist activities.
That privacy invasions can result from acquiring personal information about individual children, their friends and families.
That young people may use technology for harassment, intimidation and bullying.
Of aggressive marketing tactics targeted at young children and teens.

Be Involved!

Incorporate social, legal and ethical issues associated with technology use into your school environment.
Teach and reinforce the rules for behaviors that are acceptable, appropriate and effective.
Model ethical behaviors for your students in your own use of technology and adhere to copyright laws. Please visit the Ethics & Copyright page for more information.
Communicate with the appropriate administrators, counselors or parents if you have concerns about student safety.

Know the Rules, Learn More & Use Good Judgment

It is probably reasonable to assume that most of the students we come in contact with are much more educated about technology than the adults around them. This does not mean that they always exhibit good judgment in the way they use technology. We must take the lead in helping our students develop safe and legal attitudes and behaviors in their uses of technology.

Understand and enforce the District's Network Responsible Use Policy.
Know your school's policies regarding student cell phone use as well as rules, in addition to the District's Responsible Use Agreement.
If you publish to any web site, protect our students' privacy.
Our District filters inappropriate content for computers on our network. If you feel an inappropriate site needs to be blocked or that an educationally valid site is blocked and should be opened please send a request through the filter page.

Ideas for Incorporating Cybersafety & Ethics into Your Curriculum

Numerous resources are available on the Internet. We have linked a few from our Links & Resources page. You will find links to resources that clarify copyright issues as well.
Your school counselors and librarians can provide you with resources and materials.
Ask your colleagues what works for them and what resources they may have found to be especially effective.
Ask your students for help! Teenagers are experts in technology areas and many younger children know considerably more than their parents and teachers.

Educators

CyberSafe information copied and used with permission from Boise School District

Student Privacy

Bozeman School District #7 places our highest priority on safety. We recognize the importance of safeguarding student privacy and consider student privacy in all aspects of our work. Please utilize these resources to learn more about how we operate. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact your school principal.

Google Document Links:

CIPA Compliance

Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA)
The Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) was established in 2000 which was mandated by the federal law enacted by Congress to protect minors from obscene and harmful content over the internet using technology measures. The protection measures must block or filter Internet access to pictures that are: (a) obscene; (b) child pornography; or (c) harmful to minors (for computers that are accessed by minors).

CIPA Compliance
Bozeman School District #7 periodically evaluates district policy as well as continually monitors network traffic through advanced filtering to ensure student safety. In addition to monitoring online activity, Bozeman School District #7 provides instructional material to students, teachers, and staff educating them about appropriate online behavior.

CIPA District Policy and Internet Safety Update
Board Meeting
May 15, 2023
5:45PM - 8:45PM
Willson Board Room #122