The General Context

In order to use E-mail you must have an E-mail address. This address itself can reveal identifying personal information. Moreover, identifying information is often required in order to create the E-mail account, because each E-mail address is unique

The Issues

Obtaining an E-mail Address | Creating Batch E-mail Addresses | Location of E-mail Accounts |

Obtaining an E-mail Address

An E-mail address can be obtained from many sources, some of which are outside the school board's jurisdiction.

Creating Batch E-mail Addresses

Using an existing database, it is possible to create personal E-mail codes automatically. For example, a school board database can be used to generate E-mail addresses for all the teachers, the students, etc. Users must give their consent in order for a database not originally created for this purpose to be used in this way.

This commonly used feature simplifies the creation of e-mail addresses or codes. Since an E-mail code contains personal information, as we have seen earlier, parents must give their consent before the first name, family name and E-mail address of elementary students and other information about them can be made available in a directory. At the secondary level, student authorization must be obtained and parents must be notified.

Location of E-mail Accounts

E-mail accounts and addresses are stored on a server that may or may not be under the responsibility of the school board. In the latter case there is no absolute guarantee that the service provider will respect privacy and personal information.