South Country Central School District

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District Technology Acceptable Use Policy

SOUTH COUNTRY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
DISTRICT POLICY ON THE ACCEPTABLE USE OF
COMPUTERIZED INFORMATION RESOURCES (AUP)

INTRODUCTION

The Board of Education will provide staff and students with access to various computerized information resources through South Country’s computer system (“SCCS” hereafter) consisting of software, hardware, computer networks and electronic communication systems. This may include access to electronic mail, so-called “on-line services” and the “Internet”. It may also include the opportunity for some staff or students to have independent access to the SCCS from their home or other remote locations. All use of the SCCS, including independent use off school premises, shall be subject to this policy and accompanying regulations. Further, all such use must be in support of education or research and consistent with the goals and purposes of the South Country School District.

All users of the SCCS shall also adhere to the laws, policies and rules governing computers including, but not limited to, copyright laws, rights of software publishers, license agreement, and rights of privacy created by federal and state laws.

The Superintendent or his/her designee is authorized to establish regulations as necessary to implement the terms of this policy.

The South Country School District makes no guarantees of any kind for the quality of service provided. Nor will the District be responsible for loss of data from delays, non-deliveries, mis-deliveries, or service interruptions caused by its own negligence or the user’s errors or omissions. Use of any information obtained from the Internet is at the user’s own risk. The District specifically denies any responsibility for the accuracy or quality of information obtained through its service from the Internet. It is, therefore, the responsibility of each user to verify the integrity and authenticity of the information that is used.

STAFF USE OF COMPUTERIZED INFORMATION RESOURCES

The Board of Education encourages staff to make use of the SCCS to explore educational topics, conduct research and contact others in the educational world. The Board anticipates that staff access to various computerized information resources will both expedite and enhance the performance of tasks associated with their positions and assignments. Toward that end, the Board directs the Superintendent or his/her designee(s) to provide staff with training in the proper and effective use of the SCCS.

Staff use of the SCCS is conditioned upon written agreement by staff member that use of the SCCS will conform to the requirements of this policy and any regulations adopted to insure acceptable use of the SCCS. All such agreements shall be kept on file in the District.

Generally, the same standards of acceptable staff conduct which apply to any aspect of job performance shall apply to use of the SCCS. Employees are expected to communicate in a professional manner consistent with applicable District policies and regulations governing the behavior of school staff. Electronic mail and telecommunications are not to be utilized to share confidential information about students or other employees.

This policy does not attempt to articulate all required and/or acceptable uses of the SCCS; nor is it the intention of this policy to define all inappropriate usage. Administrative regulations will further define general guidelines of appropriate staff conduct and use as well as proscribed behavior.

Staff members who engage in unacceptable use may lose access to the SCCS and may be subject to further discipline under the law and in accordance with applicable collective bargaining agreements. Legal action may be initiated against a staff member who willfully, maliciously or unlawfully damages or destroys the system or related property of the District.

Staff data files and electronic storage areas shall remain District property, subject to District control and inspection. The computer system administrator may, with reasonable suspicion that a file contains data that violates district rules, policy or the law, access all such files and communications to insure system integrity and that users are complying with requirements of this policy and accompanying regulations. Staff should NOT expect that information stored on the SCCS would be private.

The Board will limit access to staff files and e-mail by the computer system administrator to circumstances where reasonable suspicion exists to believe that some violation of the policy, regulations or the law has occurred.

STUDENT USE OF COMPUTERIZED INFORMATION RESOURCES

One purpose of this policy is to provide notice to students and parents/legal guardians that, unlike most traditional instructional or library media materials, the SCCS sill allow student access to external computer networks not controlled by the School District where it may be impossible for the District to screen or review all of the available materials. Some of the available materials may be deemed unsuitable by parents/legal guardians for student use or access. This policy is intended to establish general guidelines for acceptable student use. However, despite the existence of such District policy and accompanying guidelines and regulations, it may not be possible to completely prevent access to computerized information that is inappropriate for students. Furthermore, students may have the ability to access such information from their home or other locations off school premises. Parents/legal guardians of students must be willing to set and convey standards for appropriate and acceptable use to their children when using the SCCS or any other electronic media or communications.

Student use of the SCCS is conditioned upon written agreement by all students and their parents/legal guardians that student use of the SCCS will conform to the requirements of this policy and any regulations adopted to insure acceptable use of the SCCS. All such agreements shall be kept on file in the District Office.

Generally, the same standards of acceptable student conduct which apply to any school activity shall apply to use of the SCCS. This policy does not attempt to articulate all required and/or acceptable uses of the SCCS; nor is it the intention of this policy to define all inappropriate usage. Administrative regulations will further define general guidelines of appropriate student conduct and use, as well as proscribed behavior.

Students who engage in unacceptable use may lose access to the SCCS and may be subject to further discipline under the District’s school conduct and discipline policies. The District reserves the right to pursue legal action against a student who willfully, maliciously or unlawfully damages or destroys property of the District or causes a negative impact on system resources. Further, the District may bring suit in civil court against the parents/legal guardians of any student who willfully, maliciously or unlawfully damages or destroys District property.

Student data files and other electronic storage areas will be treated like school lockers. This means that such areas shall be considered to be School District property subject to control and inspection. The computer system administrator or his/her designee may access all such files and communications to insure system integrity and that users are complying with the requirements of this policy and accompanying regulations. Students should NOT expect that information stored on the SCCS would be private.

USE OF COMPUTERIZED INFORMATION RESOURCES REGULATION

Administration:

The following comprise the rules and regulations relating to the use of the district’s computer network system:

The Superintendent of Schools shall designate a computer system administrator to oversee the district’s computer network.
The computer system administrator or his/her designee shall monitor and examine all network activities as deemed appropriate to ensure proper use of the system.
He/She shall disseminate and interpret district policy and regulations governing use of the district’s network at the building level with all network users.
He/She shall provide employee training for proper use of the network and will ensure that staff supervising students using the district’s network provide similar training to their students, including copies of district policy and regulations governing use of the district’s network.
He/She shall ensure that all disks and software loaded onto the computer network have been scanned for computer viruses.
All staff and student agreements to abide by district policy and regulations shall be kept on file in the district.

System Access:

The following individuals may be designated as members with access to the computer network system:

Middle and secondary students may be granted an account for up to one academic year at a time.
Teachers may apply for a class and/or individual account.
Other district employees as deemed necessary or desirable.
Community members as deemed necessary or desirable.

PROCEDURES FOR PROPER USE

The district’s computer network shall be used only for educational purposes consistent with the district’s mission and goals.
The individual in whose name an account is issued is responsible at all times for its proper use.
Network users will be issued a login name and password. Passwords must be changed every 90 days. Only those network users with written permission from the designated computer system administrator may access the district’s system from off-site (e.g. from home).
Network users identifying a security problem on the district’s system must notify the appropriate teacher, building administrator or system administrator. The problem should not be demonstrated to anyone else.
Copyrighted material may not be placed on any computer connected to the district’s network without the author’s written permission. Only staff specifically authorized by system administrator may upload copyrighted material to the network.
Network users may download copyrighted material for their own use. Copyrighted material shall be used in accordance with the fair use doctrine and district policy and regulation 8350.
Any network user identified as a security risk, or having a history of violations of district computer use guidelines, may be denied access to the district’s network.
All instructional materials must be reviewed for consistency with the district’s system and approved by the District Computer System Administrator of his/her designee before being loaded on the District network and machines.

PROHIBITIONS

The following is a list of prohibited actions concerning use of the District’s computer network. Violation of any of these prohibitions may result in suspension or revocation of a user’s access to the network, or may result in further penalties consistent with the disciplinary policies of the District.
There must be no sharing of passwords without written permission from the teacher/administrator or computer system administrator, as appropriate.
Attempts to read, delete, copy or modify the electronic files of other system users is prohibited as is deliberate interference with the ability of their system users to send/receive electronic mail. Forgery or attempted forgery of electronic mail messages is prohibited.
No personal software or disks may be loaded onto the district’s computers and/or network, without permission of the computer system administrator.
Attempts by a student to log on to the district’s system in the name of another individual, with or without the individual’s password, are prohibited.
System users shall not encourage the use of tobacco, alcohol or controlled substances or otherwise promote any other activity prohibited by district policy, state or federal law.
Use of computer access to data and access to secure areas other than for educational purposes is prohibited.
System users shall not evade, change or exceed resource quotas as set by the administration. A user who continues to violate disk space quotas after seven calendar days of notification may have his/her file removed by the system administrator. Such quotas may be exceeded only by requesting to the appropriate administrator or system administrator that disk quotas be increased and stating the need for the increase.
Transmission of material, information or software in violation of any district policy or regulation, local, state or federal law or regulation is prohibited.
Use of the system for commercial purposes is prohibited.
Users are prohibited from using the system to plagiarize the work of others.
The system constitutes public facilities and may not be used to support or oppose political candidates or ballot measures.
Hate mail, harassment, discriminatory remarks and other antisocial communications are prohibited on the network.
Users are prohibited from using the system in any manner that is obscene, libelous, causes disruption of school activities or jeopardizes the health and safety of others.
Vandalism will result in cancellation of system use privileges or further penalties consistent with the discipline policies of the District. Vandalism is defined as a malicious attempt to harm or destroy district equipment or materials, including software and related print material, data of another user of the district’s system or any of the agencies or other networks that are connected to Internet. This includes, but is not limited to, the uploading, downloading or creating of computer viruses.
Tampering with, or misuse of, the computer system or taking any other action inconsistent with this policy and regulation will be viewed as a security violation.

MY RULES FOR ONLINE SAFETY

I will not give out personal information such as my address, telephone number, parents’ work address/telephone number, or the name and location of my school without my parents’ permission.
I will tell my parents/teacher right away if I come across any information that makes me feel uncomfortable.
I will never agree to get together with someone I “meet” online without first checking with my parents. If my parents agree to the meeting, I will make sure that it is in a public place and bring my mother or father along.
I will never send a person my picture or anything else without first checking with my parents.
I will not respond to any messages that are mean or in any way make me feel uncomfortable. It is not my fault if I get a message like that. If I do I will tell my parents/teacher right away so that they can contact the online service.
I will talk with my parents/teacher so that we can set up rules for going online. We will decide upon the time of day that I can be online, the length of time I can be online, and appropriate areas for me to visit. I will not access other areas or break these rules without their permission.

STAFF AGREEMENT:

I understand and will abide by the District Policy On The Acceptable Use of Computerized Information Resources and agree to take appropriate measures to insure that all students are made aware of the guidelines and their responsibilities and are instructed on acceptable use of the computers and networks. Because the student may use the network for individual work or in the context of other classes, I cannot be held responsible for the student use of the network. I further understand that any violation of the regulations is unethical and may constitute a criminal offense. Should I commit a violation, my access privileges may be revoked and school disciplinary and/or appropriate legal actions may be taken.

STUDENT/PARENT OR GUARDIAN AGREEMENT:

I understand and will abide by the District Policy On The Acceptable Use of Computerized Information Resources. I further understand that any violation of the regulations is unethical and may constitute a criminal offense. Should I commit a violation, my access privileges may be revoked and school disciplinary and/or appropriate legal actions may be taken.

As the parent or guardian of this student, I have read the District Policy On The Acceptable Use of Computerized Information Resources. I understand that this access is designed for educational purposes. However, I also recognize it is impossible for the South Country Central School District; its Board of Education; agents; administrators; and staff to restrict access to all controversial materials and, accordingly, I will not hold it (them) responsible for materials my child may access on the network. Further, I accept full responsibility for supervision if and when my child’s use is not in a school setting. I hereby give permission to the South Country Central School District to issue an account for my child and certify that the information contained on this form is correct.