Technology Department

The Wausau School District provides a personal learning device to every student because we believe that equitable access to digital tools is a prerequisite for modern excellence. Our 1:1 environment is designed to:

• Empower Student Agency: Move students from passive consumers of information to active creators of content, utilizing iPads (K-8) for multimodal expression and Chromebooks (9-12) for advanced productivity.

• Bridge the Digital Divide: Ensure every student, regardless of socioeconomic status, has a high-quality device and the necessary tools (Google Workspace for Education) to succeed.
• Personalize Instruction: Allow educators to leverage tools like Canvas and Wit and Wisdom to provide immediate feedback and differentiated pathways for every learner.
• Develop Digital Fluency: Facilitate real-world problem-solving and ensure our graduates are college and career ready; as defined by our Board Governance policies.

1. General Care & Handling:  Treat your device like a piece of high-value personal tech.

• The Golden Rule: Keep food, drinks, and magnets away from your device at all times.
• Transportation: Always carry Chromebooks closed (never by the screen) and keep iPads in their district-issued protective cases.
• Identification: Do not remove district asset tags, barcodes, or personalized labels. Avoid drawing on or putting stickers directly on the device.
• Storage: Never leave your device in extreme temperatures (like a parked car in winter or summer) as it will permanently degrade the battery.

2. Daily Readiness & Expectations

• Charge It: Bring your device to school 100% charged every single day. Power cords should stay at home unless specified.
• Digital Citizenship: The device is an educational tool. District filtering software is active both at school and at home. Expect zero privacy regarding search history or downloaded content on district-owned accounts.
• Lock It Up: Never leave your device unattended in hallways, the cafeteria, or unlocked classrooms.

3. Device-Specific Guidelines

• iPad Guidelines (Typically K-8)

  • Screen Care:  Clean with a soft, microfiber cloth. Do not press hard on the glass.

  • Power/Charging:  Use the provided Apple-certified brick and lightning/USB-C cable to prevent battery damage.

  • Apps and Software:  Only download approved apps via the district Self Service store.

• Chromebook Guidelines (Typically 9-12)

  • Screen Care:  Never close the lid with pencils, pens, or headphones left on the keyboard.

  • Power/Charging:  Plug the charger gently into the port; do not force it if it doesn't fit easily.

  • Apps and Software:  Do not install unapproved Chrome extensions or bypass filters.

4.  Damage, Loss, and Repair Protocol
Important: Do not attempt to fix a broken device yourself or take it to a third-party repair shop. This voids the district warranty.

• Report It Immediately: If a device is broken, malfunctioning, or lost, report it to your building's Media Center or Tech Help Desk right away.
• Loaner Devices: A temporary loaner device may be issued while yours is being repaired, subject to availability.
• Fees & Insurance: (Insert your district's specific fee structure here, e.g., first accidental break is covered; subsequent breaks or intentional damage may result in a $X repair fee.)

5. Digital Responsible Use Quick-List
The examples listed below are intended to provide general guidance and are not an exhaustive or limited list of all acceptable and unacceptable behaviors. Wausau School District administrators reserve the right to review, evaluate, and restrict any student activity, content, or device usage that disrupts the educational environment or compromises safety, regardless of whether it is specifically named below.

Acceptable Use (What to Do)

• Educational Intent: Using your device for classroom assignments, designated research, and utilizing district-provided apps (like Google Drive, Classroom, or Canvas).
• Digital Courtesy: Practicing good digital citizenship by collaborating respectfully on school projects and treating peer communications with kindness.
• Proactive Security: Keeping your passwords completely private to yourself and your parents/guardians. Immediately reporting any inappropriate content or safety alerts to a teacher or administrator.
• Media Integrity: Recording video or audio only when it is a direct requirement of a class project and when you have obtained explicit permission from everyone in the frame.

Unacceptable Use (What to Avoid)

• Bypassing Filters: Attempting to install Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), utilizing proxy websites, or downloading unauthorized Chrome extensions to circumvent the district internet filter.
• Commercial / Non-School Activities: Using the district hardware or network infrastructure for personal profit, commercial business, crypto-mining, digital gambling, or hosting malicious peer-to-peer networks.
• Privacy Violations: Using the camera or microphone features to secretly record, photograph, or distribute media of peers, teachers, or staff members without their expressed knowledge and consent.
• Harmful Content: Utilizing district accounts to search for, download, create, or distribute material that is sexually explicit, physically threatening, or promoting cyberbullying and harassment.
• Vandalism & Account Sharing: Attempting to log into another student's account, altering system settings to lock out tech support, or purposely defacing hardware (such as peeling off district asset barcodes and labels).

1. Responsible and Ethical AI Use
Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology is a powerful resource for enhancing learning, but it must be used responsibly and ethically. The use of generative AI tools (such as ChatGPT, Gemini, or Photomath) for academic purposes must align with classroom goals and always requires explicit teacher permission.
2. The Line Between Assistance and Plagiarism

• Allowed (With Instructor Consent): Brainstorming or refining your own ideas, developing research questions, formatting outlines, or checking grammar and writing style using tools that do not rewrite your original thoughts.
• Not Allowed (Academic Dishonesty): Submitting any AI-generated text, math solutions, or imagery and claiming it as your own original work. Using AI to write sentences, paragraphs, or full essays for assignments or discussion posts constitutes plagiarism.

Student Responsibility: Students are fully responsible for the accuracy and integrity of the work they submit. If an approved AI tool is used to assist in the research or formatting process, it must be properly cited according to school academic honesty guidelines. When in doubt, always ask your teacher before submitting.

Wausau School District provides a voluntary device protection plan to help families reduce financial risk associated with accidental damage, cracked screens, or equipment failure.

1. Unified Plan Cost and "Family Cap" Structure 

Instead of tracking varying fee structures for different hardware types, the district utilizes a flat $10 annual fee per student, with a maximum cap per household.

• 1 Student:  $10.00 Annual Insurance Fee
• 2 Students:  $20.00 Annual Insurance Fee
• 3 Students:  $30.00 Annual Insurance Fee
• 4 or More Students:  $30.00 Maximum (No additional charges after 3) 
  • Family Cap Example:  If you have four children enrolled in the district, your total insurance cost for the school year is capped at $30.00 total.  Any additional siblings are covered under the family cap at no extra cost. 

2.  Coverage Metrics and Deductibles 

Once enrolled, the insurance plan resets at the beginning of each school year and offers equal protections across both iPads and Chromebooks:

• First Break Forgiveness: $0 (Fully covered by insurance)
• Second Break Forgiveness: $0 (Fully covered by insurance)
• Subsequent Repairs (3+): Billed to the family at 50% of the actual repair cost.
• Full Device Replacement: Billed to the family at 50% of the actual replacement cost (the district retains the broken hardware).
• Included Items: The plan covers the core device, district-issued charging bricks/cables, protective cases, and any included accessories (such as Logitech Crayons for iPads).

3.  What is NOT covered?

Lost or Missing Items: Insurance does not cover completely lost or misplaced devices, cases, styluses, or power blocks.

• Theft: Stolen items are only covered if a formal police theft report is filed with the Wausau Police Department (or local law enforcement) and provided to the
• school administration.
• Intentional Abuse: The family assumes the full, un-discounted cost of any repairs or replacements caused by proven, deliberate misuse, negligence, or malicious damage.

4.  Component & Replacement Cost Matrix

To help families understand the value of the Device Protection Plan, the chart below outlines the standard, un-discounted replacement costs for devices and individual components.

• If you have insurance: Your first two accidental damages are $0, and subsequent repairs or full replacements are capped at 50% of the costs listed below.
• If you decline insurance: You are responsible for the 100% full cost of the repair or replacement up to the total value of the hardware.

iPad Components and Replacement Fees

• Full iPad Replacement:  $324.00
• Cracked Screen Repair:  $130.00
• Keyboard Case:  $82.00
• Full Charger Set (Cube + Cord):  $38.00
• Charging Cube Only:  $19.00
• Charging Cord Only:  $19.00

Chromebook Components & Replacement Fees

• Full Chromebook Replacement:  $304.00
• Replacement Screen:  $29.00
• Replacement Keyboard:  $37.00
• Replacement Motherboard:  $206.00

1.  Federal Compliance & Student Safety

The district utilizes robust hardware and software filtering measures to comply with federal laws and protect students online. Parents can learn more about these federal protections below:

• CIPA (Children’s Internet Protection Act): The district uses advanced network filtering to block inappropriate content and visually harmful material on all district-issued devices.
  • District Resource:  WSD District-Approved Apps and Tools List
  • Learn more:  FCC Children's Internet Protection Act Guide
• COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act): For students under the age of 13, the district acts as an agent for parents to provide consent for the collection of limited personal information strictly necessary to create educational accounts on approved platforms.
  • Learn more:  FTC COPPA Guide for Parents
• FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act): The district protects the privacy of student education records. Online tools and core apps used by the district are heavily vetted to ensure student data is safe, secure, and never sold.
  • Learn more:  U.S. Department of Education Parent Guide to FERPA 
• A Note on Students 13 and Older: The Federal COPPA regulations apply strictly to students under the age of 13. For students 13 and older, commercial platforms allow users to agree to their own terms of service. However, WSD continues to protect all student data via FERPA regulations and strict district-level vendor vetting. Students over 13 are restricted to using district-approved educational software and receive ongoing education on digital footprint management and data privacy.

2.  Google Workspace for Education Statement

Our district utilizes Google Workspace for Education as our core productivity and collaboration suite.

• Services Provided: Student accounts include Core Services (Gmail, Drive, Docs,Classroom, Calendar) and select, district-approved Additional Services (such as YouTube, Google Earth, and Google Maps) strictly configured for age-appropriate educational use.
• Information Collected: When a student uses their school account, Google collects account creation details (name, district email, password) as well as device data, hardware models, IP addresses, and system/interaction logs necessary to run the services securely.
• Data Privacy: Google’s Core Services do not collect or use student data for advertising purposes or target profiling.
• Monitoring & Access: Student Google accounts are monitored for safety, cyberbullying, explicit content, and self-harm indicators. District administrators retain the right to access, review, or restrict any account activity at any time.
  • Official Privacy Documentation:  Google Workspace for Education Privacy Notice

By utilizing a district-issued iPad or Chromebook, families agree to abide by all related Wausau School District Board of Education regulations. You can review the complete, official policy texts and their compliance frameworks using the links below:

Core District Policies: 

• WSD BoardDocs Public Policy Portal: The centralized, searchable platform to look up any supplementary Wausau School District Board of Education policies.
• WSD Policy 7540.03 – Student Technology Acceptable Use and Safety: The foundational rulebook governing appropriate vs. inappropriate network, internet, and device behavior for all student hardware.
• WSD Policy 5136 – Personal Communication Devices: Governs how student-owned tech (like smartphones or smartwatches) interacts with the school day and contrasts with district-managed devices.
• WSD Policy 5500 – Academic Integrity & Code of Classroom Conduct : Outlines academic expectations, details student honor codes, and establishes the strict boundaries against plagiarism and academic dishonesty (including unauthorized AI use).