As schools become familiar with the Internet and its many uses, they may want to create their own school web sites, to establish their presence on the World Wide Web. Web sites make information about your school available to your school community as well as to the public worldwide. Such web sites are an excellent means to inform viewers about your school. Visitors from around the world will view school web sites. It is important that all school web sites should reflect the Catholic nature and educational aims upheld by the Board. To that end, these guidelines are being put in place, to ensure that the information contained on school web sites is accurate and appropriate for the London District Catholic School Board.
 
 

1. The principal is responsible for the content of the school web site. Any school creating a web site shall have a webmaster appointed by the principal. The webmaster shall assist the principal in ensuring that these guidelines are adhered to and that the content of the school web pages meets the principal's approval.
 

2. The school web site and related sites shall be located on the London District Catholic School Board server.
 

3. The content of the school web site and associated links must be consistent with the spiritual and educational aims of the London District Catholic School Board.
 

4. School web pages shall not contain any commercial or promotional advertising. School web pages may contain small acknowledgements of school partnerships or sponsorships which are in accordance with the written approval of the Director.
 

5. All school web sites must contain a link back to the London District Catholic School Board home page (http://ldcsb.on.ca). This link must be prominent and displayed on the school's main page.
 

6. No school page content should provide the means for people to contact any student directly. If communication back to the school is needed, it should be directed to the appropriate staff member.
 

7. Pictures of students included on school web pages must NOT include student names. Similarly, schools should not use filenames for pages and images which include student names. First names can be used for samples of student work.
 

8. When using pictures of persons on the school web site, the school should obtain written permission on the form provided.
 

9. Personal home pages for students or staff members are not permitted.
 

10. School web pages must not use copyrighted materials without permission.
 

11. The principal must be clearly identified on the main page with the principal's E-mail address prominently displayed. All correspondence to the site should go to the Principal. Where a teacher has a curriculum project which requires E-mail responses, the principal can authorize the listing of the teacher's E-mail address and not receive copies of the responses.
 

12. The date of the last update must be clearly identified on the main page.
 

13. To encourage currency of school pages, each school web page on the Board site will be disabled if the date on the school main page is more than four months old, and information is out of date. Schools will be contacted prior to disabling the page.
 

PRINCIPAL'S GUIDELINES FOR SELECTING A SCHOOL WEBMASTER
 

The School Webmaster must be a staff member who can facilitate or develop the ability to do the following if required for the school's web site. System support will be available:
 

1. Use a web editor

2. Create and edit .gif and .jpg pictures

3. Create transparent gifs

4. Use html (basic fluency)

5. Use the generally accepted principles of good web page design

6. Assess strengths and weaknesses of current web implementation
 

The school webmaster will:
 

1. In cooperation with the school principal, know and apply the London District Catholic School Board's policy "Guidelines for School Web Sites" in relation to the school's web site.
 

2. Be responsible for ensuring the school's web site is posted to the Board's server.
 

3. Ensure the schools's Web Page is updated at least every four months or inform the Board's webmaster that an update is not needed.
 

4. Coordinate the following:

Quality control of content and design the school's web site

Incorporation of new ideas and technologies into the site as the resources become available

Periodic check of links to ensure they are current and still meet "Guidelines for School Web Sites" and, if needed, make appropriate changes

Identification of web page bugs and problems and development of strategies to correct these problems.
 

5. Use the "Principal's Guidelines for Selecting a School Webmaster" as a point of reference to further develop one's skill