District Online Safety Measures
Bark for Schools+
Bark for Schools+ is installed as an extension of Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Chat for all secondary students. It is a content monitoring tool that leverages powerful artificial intelligence technology to help detect potentially dangerous or inappropriate situations that students may be facing both in and out of school.
If potential digital concerns arise on school-issued accounts, Bark for Schools+ can send designated school representatives specialized alerts to ensure they can address the situation in a timely manner. These alerts serve a dual purpose by addressing the specific situation and providing valuable insights that contribute to the overall well-being and safety of our student body.
Both the District and Bark are fully committed to safeguarding student privacy. It is essential to clarify that the student safety app serves solely as a resource to identify or signal when situations arise. The District's intention is to prioritize student safety, and therefore, will not use this tool to monitor communications beyond what is flagged in the specified categories.
For more information on the Bark for Schools+ software solution itself, please feel free to visit their website at bark.us.
Security:
Google Accounts
Each student is provided with a Northside ISD student Google account. This account in managed to ensure that only nisd.net and approved sites can send communication to students. Additionally, the District has chosen the following to maintain protection and academic integrity with the account:
- Google Chats are not allowed for Elementary & Middle School students
- Google Meetings and Zoom require internal, NISD accounts to join
Directory Information
FERPA and the Texas Public Information Act designate certain student information as directory information, which may be shared as part of district-approved asynchronous lessons. This includes names, addresses, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, and academic achievements.
Acceptable Use Policies
Access to NISD's network and Internet resources is governed by acceptable use policies, which outline responsible and ethical usage. These policies, detailed in the student handbooks, extend to parents, community members, vendors, and visitors through specific agreements.