YFSD Website Design and Publication Guidelines

Definition of Terms | Appropriate Content | WebMaster Duties and Responsibilities
Technology Director Duties and Responsibilities

Definition of Terms

  1. Web Server: The physical computer which contains all published web pages. These computers are responsible for responding to Internet and Intranet requests for page viewing, know as ‘serving pages’. This machine is maintained by the Technology Director and the District Internet Service Provider (currently DRS), who are responsible for all security measures and software updates.
  2. Internet: The public Internet.
  3. Home Page: Home page will be defined as the default web page presented to Internet visitors upon connecting a YFSD WebServer
  4. WebSite: a short, or familiar term which can be used interchangeably with "web" and "site".
  5. Living WebSite: A website that is consistently updated. New content added and old or outdated content removed. Living websites will be updated multiple times in a month.
  6. Dead WebSite: A website that has gone without updates for a long period of time, usually more than six months, the content of which is date-sensitive.
  7. Static WebSite: A website that is intended to be published and stay the same for long periods of time, as the information does not change on a regular basis.
  8. Short-Term WebSite: A website that is intended to be published, live for a short period of time (normally less than one year), with or without consistent updates, and then removed.
  9. Page, WebPage: A single ‘page’ in a given website. A website may contain any number of individual pages, organized in any way that the webmaster feels is appropriate to their content. A page is physically contained in a single ‘html’ file, and may reference other pages, other websites, and may contain graphic images.
  10. Content: The text and informational images of a website. Content refers to the information provided in a website.
  11. Design: The visual layout of a website. Design refers to the colors, fonts and common images (buttons, horizontal lines and other graphical elements) that are used in a given website. Design may be changed independently of content.
  12. Theme: A theme is a predefined design that may be applied to a website. A theme normally controls the colors of text and graphic design elements (such as buttons, bars, bullet points, etc.), as well as the fonts of a website.
  13. Content Provider: Anyone who has information of any type that they would like to have published in a site on YFSD’s webserver(s) for public Internet or private Intranet view. Content providers must work with Webmasters to have this information included in a web and published to a site.
  14. Webmaster: A staff member or student who has been through training in the production of webpages.

Appropriate Content

General Guidelines

  • No website may contain content that does not conform to Federal, State and Local laws.
  • No website may contain content that is in violation of the Appropriate Use Policy of GCI, YFSD’s Internet Service Provider.
  • Advertising of any kind will not be allowed, except for very specific circumstances. Any plan to advertise anything for any reason must be approved by the District Office prior to publication on the private or public webservers.
  • No website may contain content that is not appropriate for viewing by children under 12 years of age.
  • No public internet website may contain content that may violate a student’s right to privacy, or the student’s family’s rights of privacy.
  • Webmasters are expected to use discretion, common sense and good judgment regarding all content that they intend to post to their websites, and in the posting of hyperlinks to other, non-school websites.
  • All school-supported websites should at least minimally conform to Alaska State ADA requirements for accessibility.

Specific Guidelines

  • A Students full name may never be published to a school-supported public internet website, with or without the students or parents permission. There are no exceptions to this rule.
  • Information that will provide the out-of-district location of a student or students at a specific time and place should not be published to a public internet website, except after the fact.
  • The school’s websites are not a forum for advancement of any specific agenda, either religious, political, or secular. This isn’t your personal soapbox, folks.

Technical Guidelines

  • The default web page of any website will always be a file named " index.htm " or " index.html ".
  • Any WebMaster who wishes to publish a ‘script’ or similar programming feature must clear it with the Technology Director before publication to a school webserver.

WebMaster Duties and Responsibilities

Duties

  • Create and maintain the content of their websites.
    Ensure that the content of their website(s) adhere to YFSDs’ Policy and Guidelines.
  • Provide updates to their site(s) in a timely manner.
    Correct content problems with their sites according to YFSD policy and the Technology Director’s advice or requirements.
  • Create and maintain websites for individuals, classes or departments upon request, using content provided by the requestor. WebMaster is responsible to post any provided information in a timely manner - but is not responsible to generate or research content for these sites. All needed content is to be provided by the requesting individual, class and/or department authorities
  • Plan content and organization of a site, as well as links from their site(s) to other sites.
  • Develop the graphic and organizational design of their site(s).
  • Periodically check their website(s) for 'dead' links, outdated information and other problems.

Responsibilities

  • The WebMaster is responsible for the content of any site that they are developing or publishing.
  • The WebMaster is responsible to ensure than any sites they maintain adhere to YFSD's Policies and Guidelines.
  • The WebMaster should maintain familiarity with YFSDs’ Web Site Design and Publication Guidelines (this document).

Technology Director Duties and Responsibilities

Duties

  • Maintain the YFSD Home page
  • Maintain the physical web server against physical or software problems or hackers, in cooperation with the district Internet Service Provider.
  • Provide and maintain website accounts and passwords for WebMasters.
  • Periodically review sites published to the web server for problems or content violations.
  • Advise WebMasters on technical and policy issues.

Responsibilities

  • Technology Director is responsible for any technical issues, and for supporting the other WebMasters.
  • Technology Director is indirectly responsible for all content of all websites on district webservers.
  • Provide requested accounts and websites within a reasonable timeframe.
  • Maintain the integrity of the physical web server and its’ data

Authorities

  • Computer Services may subcontract maintenance and design of the YFSD Home page to an outside company.
    Computer Services may shutdown or delete any district site for any reason, but will be expected to provide justification for any such action.
  • Computer Services may make minor changes to any website if it feels it is necessary to correct a problem, such as fixing broken hyperlinks, and so on – but must provide notice of any changes to the affected WebMaster(s).