No. 815 SECTION: OPERATIONS TITLE: ACCEPTABLE USE OF COMPUTER
NETWORK ADOPTED: FEBRUARY 21, 2006 REVISED:
SPRING COVE SCHOOL DISTRICT
815. ACCEPTABLE USE OF COMPUTER NETWORK
1. Purpose
The Board supports use of the Internet and other computer
networks in the district's instructional and operational
programs in order to facilitate learning, teaching and daily
operations through interpersonal communications and access
to information, research and collaboration.
For instructional purposes, the use of network facilities shall be consistent with
the curriculum adopted by the district as well as the varied instructional needs,
learning styles, abilities, and developmental levels of students.
2. Authority
The electronic information available to students, staff and
guests does not imply endorsement by the district of the
content, nor does the district guarantee the accuracy of
information received. The district shall not be responsible for
any information that may be lost, damaged or unavailable
when using the network or for any information that is retrieved
via the Internet.
The district shall not be responsible for any unauthorized charges or fees resulting
from access to the Internet.
The district reserves the right to log network use and to monitor fileserver space
utilization by district users.
The Board establishes that network use is a privilege, not a right. Inappropriate,
unauthorized and illegal use will result in cancellation of those privileges and may
be subject to legal action.
P.L. 106-554
Sec. 1732
The Board shall establish a list of materials, in addition to
those stated in law, that are inappropriate for access by minors.
3. Delegation of
Responsibility
The district shall make every effort to ensure that all users use
this resource responsibly.
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Students, staff and guests have a professional responsibility to work together to
help students develop the intellectual skills necessary to discriminate among
information sources, to identify information appropriate to their age and
developmental levels, and to evaluate and use the information to meet their
educational goals.
Students, staff and guests have the responsibility to respect and protect the rights
of every other user in the district and on the Internet.
The building administrator, working with the Technology Administrator, shall
have the authority to determine what is inappropriate use.
P.L. 106-
554
Sec. 1711,
1721
The Technology Administrator shall be responsible for
implementing technology and procedures to determine whether the
district's computers are being used for purposes prohibited by law,
for accessing sexually explicit materials, or are detrimental to the
network and/or its users. The procedure shall include but not be
limited to:
1. Utilizing a technology protection measure that blocks or filters Internet
access for minors and adults to certain visual/audible depictions that are obscene,
child pornography, harmful to minors with respect to use by minors, or
determined inappropriate for use by minors by the Board.
2. Maintaining and securing a usage log.
3. Monitoring online activities.
4. Usage
Guidelines
Only the authorized owner of the account shall use network
accounts for their approved purpose. All communications and
information accessible via the network should be assumed to be
confidential and shall not be disclosed.
Access
1. Users are given their own personal ID. This ID and their password
gives them access to disk space in their home directory. Users are responsible for
maintaining the privacy of their passwords. Users are responsible for their
individual accounts and should take reasonable precautions to prevent others from
using their account. Users must log off or lock the computer when finished or
when leaving their work place.
2. Students can read, write, create, delete, modify, and access data of their
own creation in their home directory. The owner must maintain home directories
by deleting any files that are no longer needed.
3. Students are only to sign on to the network with the ID assigned to
them. Users will represent only themselves on the network and will only attempt
to modify
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files or passwords belonging to them. Misuse of passwords, unauthorized
copying of other's work, and attempting to access files maintained by others is
forbidden.
4. Staff has access to shared drives, which must be maintained by the
author. Large files should be created on CD's and not stored on the network.
Personal files are not permitted to be on the network.
5. Guest accounts may be acquired and must be used for the intent of
permission given to use such accounts. Adult visitors are given temporary
accounts and these accounts are not to be shared with any other users unless the
Technology Administrator grants permission.
6. The level of access is determined by the Technology Administrator
based on the users job requirements and needs.
7. When a user is no longer working with the district, their account will be
deleted or suspended. Special circumstances may be approved by the Technology
Administrator for accounts to be maintained for a defined period.
Prohibitions
Students, staff and guests are expected to act in a responsible, ethical and legal
manner in accordance with district policy, accepted rules of network etiquette,
and federal and state law. Specifically, users are prohibited from using the district
network for:
1. Facilitating illegal activity.
2. Non-work or non-school related work, except in communication of
incidental personal use.
3. Product advertisement or political lobbying.
4. Access to obscene or pornographic material or child pornography.
5. Access by students and minors to material that is harmful to minors or
is determined inappropriate for minors in accordance with Board policy.
6. Intentional obtaining or modifying of files, passwords, and data
belonging to other users.
7. Impersonation of another user, anonymity, and pseudonyms.
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8. Loading or using of unauthorized games, programs, files, or other
electronic media. Network users will not download files unless instructed to do so
by a teacher and authorized by the network administrator or designee.
9. Disruption of the work of other users and/or district systems.
10. Destruction, modification, abuse or unauthorized access to network
hardware, software and files.
11. Quoting of personal communications in a public forum without the
original author's prior consent.
12. Communicate about non-work or non-school related communications
unless the employee's use comports with this policy's definition of incidental
personal use.
13. Access or transmit material likely to be offensive or objectionable to
recipients including, but not limited to, that which may be defamatory, inaccurate,
obscene, sexually explicit, lewd, hateful, harassing, discriminatory (as it pertains
to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, marital status, age, sexual
orientations, political beliefs, receipt of financial aid, or disability), violent,
vulgar, rude, inflammatory, threatening, profane, pornographic, offensive,
terroristic, and/or illegal.
14. Cyber bullying another individual.
15. Access or transmit gambling, pools for money, including but not
limited to, basketball and football, or any other betting or games of chance.
16. Participate in discussion or news groups that cover inappropriate
and/or objectionable topics or materials, including those that conform to the
definition of inappropriate matter in this policy.
17. Send terroristic threats, hateful mail, harassing communications,
discriminatory remarks, and offensive or inflammatory communications.
18. Participate in unauthorized Internet Relay Chats, instant messaging
communications and Internet voice communications (on-line, real-time
conversations) that are not for school-related purposes or required for employees
to perform their job duties.
19. Communicate through e-mail for non-educational purposes or
activities, unless it is for an incidental personal use as defined in this policy. The
use of e-mail to mass mail non-educational or non-work related information is
expressly prohibited (i.e., the use of the "everyone" distribution list, building
level
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distribution lists, or other e-mail distribution lists to offer personal items
for sale).
20. Engage in commercial, for-profit or any business purpose (except
where such activities are otherwise permitted or authorized under applicable
district policies); conduct unauthorized fundraising or advertising on behalf of the
district and non-school organizations; resell of district computer resources to
individuals or organizations, who are not related to the district; or use the
district's name in any unauthorized manner that would reflect negatively on the
district, its employees, or students. "Commercial purposes" are defined as
offering or providing goods or services or purchasing goods or services for
personal use. District acquisition policies will be followed for district purchase of
goods or supplies through the district system.
21. Install, distribute, reproduce or use copyrighted software on district
computers, or copy district software to unauthorized computer systems,
intentionally infringing upon the intellectual property rights of others or violating
a copyright.
22. Encrypt messages using encryption software that is not authorized by
the district from any access point on district equipment or district property.
Employees and students must use district-approved encryption to protect the
confidentiality of sensitive or critical information in the district's approved
manner.
23. Access, interfere, possess, or distribute confidential or private
information without permission of the district administration, i.e., accessing other
students' accounts to obtain their grades.
24. Violate the privacy or security of electronic information.
25. Use the system to send any district information to another party,
except in the ordinary course of business as necessary or appropriate for the
advancement of the district's business or educational interest.
26. Sending unsolicited commercial electronic mail messages, also known
as spam.
27. Posting personal or professional web pages without administrative
approval.
28. Posting anonymous messages.
Operational Prohibitions
The following operational activities and behaviors are prohibited:
1. Interference with or disruption of the district systems, network
accounts, services or equipment of other, including but not limited to, the
propagation of computer
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"worms" and "viruses", Trojan Horse and trapdoor program code, the
sending of electronic chain mail, distasteful jokes, and the inappropriate sending
of "broadcast" messages to large numbers of individuals or hosts. The user may
not hack or crack the network or others' computers, whether by parasiteware or
spyware designed to steal information, or viruses and worms or other hardware or
software designed to damage the district systems, or any component of the
network, or strip or harvest information, or completely take over a person's
computer, or to "looking around."
2. Altering or attempting to alter files, system security software or the
systems without authorization.
3. Unauthorized scanning of the district systems for security
vulnerabilities.
4. Attempting to alter any district computing or networking components
(including but not limited to fileservers, bridges, routers or hubs) without
authorization or beyond one's level of authorization.
5. Unauthorized wiring, including attempts to create unauthorized network
connections, or any unauthorized extension or retransmission of any computer,
electronic communications systems, or network services, whether wired, wireless,
cable, or by other means.
6. Connecting unauthorized hardware and devices to the district systems.
7. Loading, downloading, or use of unauthorized software, games,
programs, files, or other electronic media, including but not limited to
downloading music files.
8. Damaging the district systems, networking equipment through the
user's negligence or deliberate act.
9. Failing to comply with requests from appropriate teachers or district
administrators to discontinue activities that threaten the operation or integrity of
the district systems.
5. Content
Guidelines
Information Published Electronically
1. Published documents including but not limited to, audio and video clips
or conferences, may not include a child's phone number, street address, or box
number, name (other than first name) or the names of other family members
without parental consent.
2. Documents, web pages, electronic communications, or
videoconferences may not include personally identifiable information that
indicates the physical location of a student at a given time without parental
consent.
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3. Documents, web pages, electronic communications, or
videoconferences may not contain objectionable materials or point directly or
indirectly to objectionable materials.
4. Documents, web pages and electronic communications must conform to
all district policies and guidelines including the copyright policy.
5. Documents or data to be published on the Internet or district systems
must be edited and approved according to district procedures prior to publication.
6. Users may be granted educational web space. Web content is the
property of the district and must be used for educational purposes.
7. Administrator must approve student access and web content creation
each year.
8. Teacher, Advisor or Coach must approve student content before it is
posted to the web.
9. Administrators have access to all content and may remove any material
that they feel is in violation of our policies.
10. Administrator must approve non-staff authority rights to web pages.
11. Users must abide by the parent consent forms for allowing student
pictures on the web site.
12. Last names or any other personal information may not be associated
with pictures.
13. With parental permission, first and last names may be used to display
student work or accomplishments.
Other Communications
Other communications include but are not limited to e-mail, chatrooms,
discussion boards, blogging, instant messages, journaling or any other
communication tool.
1. Users may be granted district e-mail accounts for work related and
incidental personal use.
2. Incidental personal use of school computers is permitted as long as such
use does not interfere with the user's job duties and performance, with the system
operations, or other system users. "Incidental personal use" is defined as use by
and individual employee for occasional personal communications. Users are
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reminded that such personal use must comply with this policy and all
other applicable policies, procedures, and rules.
3. Electronic communication is subject to district review at any time.
4. E-mail, other than the approved district e-mail program, is prohibited on
the network. If conducting school-related correspondence, the district user's e-
mail account must be used.
5. Other types of communication programs are to be used for educational
purposes and must be connected to the curriculum and reviewed by the
Technology Department.
Selection of Resource Material
Board policies on the selection of resource material will govern use of the district
technology systems.
Due Process
The district will cooperate with the district's ISP, local, state, and federal officials
to the extent legally required in investigations concerning or relating to any illegal
activities conducted through the district's systems.
If students or employees possess due process rights for discipline resulting from
the violation of this policy, they will be provided such rights.
The district may terminate the account privileges by providing notice to the user.
Search and Seizure
Violations of this policy, any other district policy, or the law may be discovered
by routine maintenance and monitoring of the district system, or any method
stated in this policy, or pursuant to any legal means.
The district reserves the right to monitor, track, log and access any electronic
communications, including but not limited to, Internet access and e-mails, at any
time for any reason. Users should not have the expectation of privacy in their use
of the district systems, and other district technology, even when used for personal
reasons. Further, the district reserves the right, but not the obligation, to access
any personal technology device of users brought onto the district's premises or at
district events, or connected to the district network, containing district programs
or district or student data (including images, files, and other information) in
ensure compliance with this policy and other district policies, to protect the
district's resources, and to comply with the law.
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Everything that users place in their personal files should be written as if a third
party will review it.
Copyright Infringement and Plagiarism
Federal laws, cases, and guidelines pertaining to copyright will govern the use of
material accessed through the district resources. Users will make a standard
practice of requesting permission from the holder of the work and complying with
license agreements. Employees will instruct students to respect copyrights,
request permission when appropriate, and comply with license agreements and
employees will respect and comply as well.
Violations of copyright law can be a felony and the law allows a court to hold
individuals personally responsible for infringing the law. The district does not
permit illegal acts pertaining to the copyright law. Therefore, any user violating
the copyright law does so at their own risk and assumes all liability.
Violations of copyright law include, but are not limited to, the making of
unauthorized copies of any copyrighted material (such as commercial software,
text, graphic images, audio and video recording), distributing copyrighted
materials over computer networks, and deep-linking and framing into the content
of others' web sites. Further, the illegal installation of copyrighted software or
files for use on the district's computers is expressly prohibited. This includes all
forms of licensed software -- shrinkwrap, clickwrap, browsewrap, and electronic
software downloaded from the Internet.
District guidelines on plagiarism will govern use of material accessed through the
district systems. Users will not plagiarize works that they find. Teachers will
instruct students in appropriate research and citation practices.
Security
System security is protected through the use of passwords. Failure to adequately
protect or update passwords could result in unauthorized access to personal or
district files. To protect the integrity of the system, the following guidelines shall
be followed:
1. Students, staff and guests shall not reveal their passwords to another
individual.
2. Users are not to use a computer that has been logged in under another
user.
3. Any user identified as a security risk or having a history of problems
with other computer systems may be denied access to the network.
4. The district's technology department has authority to request users
passwords for troubleshooting or any other technical services.
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Consequences For Inappropriate Use
The network user shall be responsible for damages to the equipment, systems, and
software resulting from deliberate or willful acts.
Illegal use of the network; intentional deletion or damage to files of data
belonging to others; copyright violations; and theft of services will be reported to
the appropriate legal authorities for possible prosecution.
General rules for behavior and communications apply when using the Internet, in
addition to the stipulations of this policy. Loss of access and other disciplinary
actions shall be consequences for inappropriate use.
Vandalism will result in cancellation of access privileges. Vandalism is defined as
any malicious attempt to harm or destroy hardware, software and data. The user
will be responsible for the damages.
Copyright
P.L. 94-
553
Sec. 107
Pol. 814
The illegal use of copyrighted software by students, staff and guests is
prohibited. Any data uploaded to or downloaded from the network
shall be subject to fair use guidelines.
Safety
To the greatest extent possible, users of the network will be protected from
harassment and unwanted or unsolicited communication. Any network user who
receives threatening or unwelcome communications shall report such immediately
to a teacher or administrator. Network users shall not reveal personal information
to other users on the network, including chat rooms, e-mail, Internet, etc.
Any district computer/server utilized by students, staff and guests shall be
equipped with Internet blocking/filtering software.
Student users will not agree to meet with someone they met online without
parental knowledge or participation.
P.L.
106-554
Sec.
1732
Internet safety measures shall effectively address the following:
1. Control of access to inappropriate matter on the Internet and World
Wide Web.
2. Safety and security when using electronic mail, chat rooms, and other
forms of direct electronic communications.
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3. Prevention of unauthorized online access, including "hacking" and
other unlawful activities.
4. Unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal
information regarding minors.
5. Restriction of access to harmful materials.
Along with the use of this resource come certain responsibilities. Though all
training in the use of the district's telecommunications network will emphasize the
ethical use of this resource, it is possible that a student, employee or guest may
come across some material that they or a parent/guardian may find objectionable.
While the district will take reasonable steps to preclude access to such material
through electronic filtering and classroom management, it is not possible for the
district to guarantee that it can completely prevent such access.
6.
Definitions
Access to the Internet
A computer shall be considered to have access to the Internet if the
computer is equipped with a modem or is connected to a network
that has access to the Internet, whether by wire, wireless, cable, or
any other means.
Child Pornography
Any visual/audible depiction, including any photograph, film, video, picture, or
computer or computer-generated image or picture, whether made or produced by
electronic, mechanical, or other means, of sexually explicit conduct, where:
a. The production of such visual/audible depiction involves the use of a
minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct;
b. Such visual/audible depiction is a digital image, computer image, or
computer -generated image that is, or is indistinguishable from, that of a
minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct; or
c. Such visual/audible depiction has been created, adapted, or modified to
appear that an identifiable minor is engaging in sexually explicit
conduct.
District Systems
Includes any district owned, leased or licensed or employee, student and guest
owned personal hardware, software, or other technology used on district premises
or at district events, connected to the district network, containing district
programs or district data (including images, files, and other information) attached
or connected to, installed in, or otherwise used in connection with a computer.
Computer includes, but is not limited to, district, employee, students and guest:
desktop, notebook,
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powerbook, tablet PC or laptop computers, printers, cables, modems, and other
peripherals; specialized electronic equipment used for students' special
educational purposes; global positioning system (GPS) equipment; personal
digital assistants (PDA's); cell phones, with or without Internet access and/or
recording and/or camera and other capabilities, mobile phones, or wireless
devices; beepers; paging devices, and two-way radios/telephones: laser pointers
and attachments, and any other such technology developed.
Electronic Communications Systems
Any messaging, collaboration, publishing, broadcast, or distribution system that
depends on electronic communications resources to create, send, forward, reply
to, transmit, store, hold, copy, download, display, view, read, or print electronic
records for purposes of communication across electronic communications
network systems between or among individuals or groups, that is either explicitly
denoted as a system for electronic communications or is implicitly used for such
purposes. Further, an electronic communications system means any wire, radio,
electromagnetic, photo optical or photo electronic facilities for the transmission of
wire or electronic communications, and any computer facilities or related
electronic equipment for the electronic storage of such communications.
Examples include, but are not limited to, the Internet, intranet, electronic mail
services, global positioning systems, personal digital assistants, facsimile
machines, cell phones with or without Internet access and/or electronic mail
and/or recording devices, cameras, and other capabilities.
Educational Purpose
Includes use of the systems for classroom activities, professional or career
development, and to support the district's curriculum, policy and mission
statement.
Harmful to Minors
Any picture, image, graphic image file or other visual/audible depictions that:
a. Taken as a whole, with respect to minors, appeals to the prurient interest
in nudity and sex,
b. Depicts, describes, or represents in a patently offensive way with respect
to what is suitable for minors, an actual or simulated sexual act or sexual
content, actual or simulated normal or perverted sexual acts, or lewd
exhibition of the genitals, and
c. Taken as a whole lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific
value as to minors.
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Incidental Personal Use
Use of district systems by an individual employee for occasional personal
communications is permitted. Personal use must comply with this policy and all
other district policies, procedures and rules, as well as Internet Service Provider
(ISP), local, state and federal laws and may not interfere with the employee's job
duties and performance, with system operations, or with other system users, and
must not damage the district's systems. Under no circumstances should the
employee believe their use is private. The district reserves the right to monitor,
track, access, and log the use of its systems at any time.
Minor
For purposes of compliance with the Children's Internet Protection Act ("CIPA"),
an individual who has not yet attained the age of seventeen. For other purposes,
minor shall mean the age of minority as defined in the relevant law.
Network
A system that links two or more computer systems, including all components
necessary to effect the operation, including, but not limited to: computers, copper
and fiber cabling, wireless communications and links, equipment closets and
enclosures, network electronics, telephone lines, printers and other peripherals,
storage media, software, and other computers and/or networks to which the
district network may be connected, such as the Internet, the Internet2, or those of
other institutions.
Obscene
Analysis of the material meets the following elements:
a. Whether the average person, applying contemporary community
standards, would find that the material, taken as a whole, appeals to the
prurient interest;
b. Whether the work depicts or describes, in a patently offensive way,
sexual conduct specifically designed by the applicable state or federal
law to be obscene; and
c. Whether the work taken as a whole lacks serious literary, artistic,
political, or scientific value.
Sexual Act and Sexual Contact
As defined at 18 U.S.C. � 2246(2), and at 18 U.S.C. � 2246(3), 18 Pa.C.S.A. �
5903.
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Technology Protection Measure(s)
A specific technology that blocks or filters Internet access to visual/audible depictions that are
obscene, child pornography or harmful to minors.
Visual/Audible Depictions
Undeveloped film and videotape and data stored on computer disk or by electronic means, which is
capable of conversion into a visual/audible image but does not include mere words.
User
Student, staff or guest.
Guest
A person receiving a temporary ID and password for network access; i.e., parents, adult education
classes, substitutes, student teachers, community members.
P.L. 94-553
Sec. 107
P.L. 106-554
Sec. 1711, 1721, 1732
20 U.S.C.
Sec. 6777
PA Code
Title 22
Sec. 403.1
Board Policy
814