The technology staff is available to help staff and students with any issues involving computers, phones, printers and other complex machinery that affects every day work routines. MISD staff should contact their designated campus IT person at the first sign of a problem.

For other problems, please see the links below that are more common troubleshooting problems.

Internet

The world wide web is a helpful resource to students and teachers. MISD considers using the internet a privilege, but must protect users from harmful sites that do not enhance the learning experience while in the classroom. For this reason, a web filter (see next paragraph) is used. Parents can be rest assured that students can "surf" authorized web pages to learn, and not be distracted from the assignment at hand.

Web Filter
MISD is committed to technology in the classroom. With this commitment there is a responsibility to students, teachers and parents.

The Technology Staff has installed a filter to discourage surfers from sites that are detrimental. Parents can feel safe that students using the internet can do so without interference from harmful sites that their child might come across. This leads to smoother and controlled classrooms by the teacher in order that the learning process never stalls.

The filter software used is by St. Bernard. It's purpose is to scan the background description and information before a web page is loaded in a browser. Only the technology staff has rights to control the filter.

The district has distributed the Acceptable Users Agreement to ensure appropriate use. Teachers, staff and students have read and submitted their forms and understood the use of computers and the internet in the classroom. In addition, any students using the internet under teacher supervision will continue to be monitored. No Internet filter is 100% guaranteed to restrict access to inappropriate content. However, this proactive approach to Internet filtering will significantly reduce the opportunity to inadvertently reach an inappropriate site and bring comfort to teachers using the web in their instructional activities.

Midlothian ISD Online
Midlothian ISD's web site is created and hosted internally, with no help from outside internet hosting companies or web designers. The webmaster is responsible for web page construction, graphic design as well as maintaining and updating pages. All information on the web site comes from various sources including MISD staff, parents and students.

PowerSchool
This unique software database helps teachers and staff keep track of vital student information, everything from home address and contact information to grades and attendance, and more. Access to PowerSchool is available through the MISD website for parents and teachers. Any problems or questions can be sent to PowerSupport@midlothian-isd.net. To receive ID and password information, please call 972-723-4328.

Web Pages and Images
The software to create the pages and images that make up the MISD are the same used in the professional industry. The web site is created and maintained through Macromedia's Dreamweaver MX. The images, logos and photos on the site are made through Adobe's Illustrator and Photoshop, as well as Macromedia's Fireworks and Flash (MX versions).

School Web Pages
Campus web pages are updated and maintained by the district webmaster. Information is provided to the webmaster from a designated campus contact person or persons to help keep the community informed of news or fun events. Some campuses have a secondary site that is controlled by teachers who voluntarily work and update as they are needed.

Search Engine
The MISD Technology Department has spent numerous hours each week blocking inappropriate sites and e-mail that occasionally slip past policies and filters. Not to mention all the irrelevant sites that come up during a simple search. With these issues in mind, a new search engine has been added for our staff, students and parents. NetTrekker.com is an educationally safe search engine that has been purchased to utilize in the District. In school, staff and students have free access to safe content pertinent to education. If parents and/or students would like to use this useful tool from home, a simple registration is available.

MISD IntraNet
Midlothian ISD uses a specialized intranet software package called FirstClass. Among its versatile features are e-mail, posting boards (known as conferences) and integrates into the district's web site One of its main uses, other than e-mail, is giving staff and teachers the power to post information to the MISD web. Our Homework Online, School News, Student Activities and Announcements are some of the useful and relied sources of information for parents and students.

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