Policies

To view the full policy on Staff and Student Electronic/Digital Communications,click the link below.

Staff and Student Electronic/Digital Communications Policy

The Western Technology Center Board of Education hereby adheres to Oklahoma law providing that outdoor areas of campuses of public institutions of higher education, which include technology center schools overseen by the State Board of Career and Technology Education, are public forums for the campus community.

Any person who wishes to engage in noncommercial expressive activity on campus shall be permitted to do so freely as long the conduct is not unlawful and does not materially and substantially disrupt the functioning of the Western Technology Center campus or the provision of educational services.  Students will not be allowed to engage in expressive activities during instructional time as such expression would materially and substantially interfere with the educational content provided to students in the course of instruction. 

Members of the campus community may spontaneously and contemporaneously assemble and distribute literature in common areas that are open to the public so long as such distribution allows students and staff to enter and exit facilities without being intimidated or forced to take literature.  Such distribution shall be passive and shall not be done in a manner that would materially and substantially disrupt career technology center classes, activities, or operations.

Western Technology Center may establish a table for passive distribution of materials in each student center.  Such table shall not be manned and will afford students and members of the campus community the opportunity to share information.  Materials placed for distribution will not violate the student code of conduct and the table shall include a sign that designates the table as a means for the campus community to share information and express views.  The information on the tables is not endorsed, supported, or approved by Western Technology Center in any way. 

If a group has rented space from the technology center for a specific purpose, that area shall not be deemed to be an area wherein noncommercial expressive activity may occur during the duration of time that the group has exclusive use or control of that space. 

Administrators, campus police officers, instructors, and others charged with the discipline or education of students shall be provided with information and training to understand Western Technology Center’s policies, regulations and duties regarding freedom of expression so that they may understand the noncommercial expressive activity that is allowed on campus consistent with this policy. 

Western Technology Center will publicly post on its website, as well as submit to the Governor and Legislature annually by December 31, a report that details the course of action implemented to follow the requirements of Oklahoma law.  The report shall include:

1.      A description of any barriers or incidents of disruption of free expression that occurred on campus which would include any attempts to block or prohibit speakers and investigations into student or student organizations for their speech.  The description shall include the nature of each barrier or incident, as well as what disciplinary action, if any, was taken against members of the campus community determined to be responsible for those specific barriers or incidents involving students without revealing those students’ personally identifiable information; and

2.      Any other information that Western Technology Center deems valuable for the public to evaluate whether free expression rights for all members of the campus community have been equally protected and enforced consistent with Oklahoma law. 

If Western Technology Center is sued for an alleged violation of First Amendment rights, a supplementary report with a copy of the complaint or amended complaint, shall be submitted to the Governor and the Legislature within thirty (30) days. 

 

LEGAL REFERENCE:  70 O.S. § 2120

 

 

 

 

The board of education hereby directs that neither the district, nor any employee of the district shall teach or include in a course for students or employees the following discriminatory principles:

(1)      One race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex,

(2)      An individual, by virtue of his or her race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist or oppressive,     whether consciously or unconsciously,

(3)      An individual should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment solely or partly         because of his or her race or sex,        

(4)      Members of one race or sex cannot and should not attempt to treat others without respect           to race or sex,

(5)      An individual’s moral character is necessarily determined by his or her race or sex,

(6)      An individual, by virtue of his or her race or sex, bears responsibility for actions committed      in the past by other members of the same race or sex,

(7)      Any individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish or any other form of psychological   distress on account of his or her race or sex, or

(8)      Meritocracy or traits such as a hard work ethic are racist or sexist or were created by       members of a particular race to oppress members of another race.

A “course” shall include any forum where instruction or activities tied to the instruction are provided, including training, seminars, professional development, lectures, sessions, coaching, tutoring, or any other class. 

Any individual may file a complaint alleging that a violation has occurred of enumerated items 1-8 above.  In order for a complaint to be accepted for investigation, it must:

(A)      Be submitted in writing, signed and dated by the complainant, including complaints           submitted through electronic mail that include electronic signatures;

(B)      Identify the dates the alleged discriminatory act occurred; 

(C)      Explain the alleged violation and/or discriminatory conduct and how enumerated items 1-8        above have been violated; 

(D)      Include relevant information that would enable a public school to investigate the alleged           violation; and

(E)      Identify witnesses the school may interview.  The school will not dismiss a complaint for   failure to identify witnesses. 

The district hereby designates Jeff Lewallen as the employee responsible for receiving complaints.  Complaints may be provided via telephone at 580.562.3181 and via email to jlewallen@westtech.edu.  This contact information shall also be accessible on the school district’s website. 

Upon receipt of a complaint, the complainant shall receive notification from the designated employee that the complaint has been received and whether it will be investigated within ten (10) days of receipt.

The school district shall investigate all legally sufficient complaints and decide as to whether a violation occurred.  The school district shall receive, process and investigate complaints in the same manner as all other complaints of discrimination. The investigation process shall be completed within ninety (90) days of receipt of a claim.  Within thirty (30) days of resolution of the complaint, the designated employee shall report the resolution to the State Department of Education. 

No individual shall be retaliated against for (1) filing a complaint; or (2) the purpose of interfering with any right or privilege secured by federal civil rights laws and regulations.  Any school employee who retaliates against a complainant may be subject to disciplinary action by the school district or by the State Board of Education. 

Any teacher who files a complaint or otherwise discloses information that the teacher reasonably believes is a violation of the prohibited concepts listed above shall be entitled to Whistleblower Protections. 

Any teacher or other school employee who, willfully, knowingly, and without probable cause makes a false report may be subject to disciplinary action by the school district or by the State Board of Education.  

The School Board of Western Technology Center has adopted and will enforce a policy of Internet Safety and Acceptable Use that incorporates the use of technology designed to block or filter inappropriate access for minors and adults to certain web sites.  In addition, all users must accept the terms of this policy and conduct themselves accordingly while connected to WTC’s network.
To view the full policy, click the link heading "Network and Internet Acceptable Use".

Network and Internet Acceptable Use

 Click the link to view the Copyright Infringement Law, Sanctions and Peer to Peer File Sharing Policy copyrightinfringementlaw.pdf