INSTRUCTIONAL
SERVICES Regulation
6320
Internet Usage
Access
to electronic research requires students and employees to maintain consistently
high levels of personal responsibility. The existing rules found in the District’s
Behavioral Expectations policy (Board Policy/Regulation 2610) as well as
employee handbooks clearly apply to students and employees conducting
electronic research or communication.
One
fundamental need for acceptable student and employee use of District electronic
resources is respect for, and protection of, password/account code security, as
well as restricted databases files, and information banks. Personal passwords/account codes may be
created to protect students and employees utilizing electronic resources to
conduct research or complete work.
These
passwords/account codes shall not be shared with others; nor shall students or
employees use another party’s password except in the authorized maintenance and
monitoring of the network. The
maintenance of strict control of passwords/account codes protects employees and
students from wrongful accusation of misuse of electronic resources or
violation of District policy, state or federal law. Students or employees who misuse electronic
resources or who violate laws will be disciplined at a level appropriate to the
seriousness of the misuse.
The
use of the District technology and electronic resources is a privilege, which
may be revoked at any time.
Staff and students are only allowed to conduct
electronic network-based activities which are classroom or workplace related.
Behaviors which shall result in revocation of access shall include, but will
not be limited to: damage to or theft of system hardware or software;
alteration of system hardware or software; placement of unlawful information,
computer viruses or harmful programs on, or through the computer system; entry
into restricted information on systems or network files in violation of
password/account code restrictions; violation of other users’ rights to
privacy; unauthorized disclosure, use or dissemination of personal information
regarding minors; using another person’s name/password/account to send or
receive messages on the network; sending or receiving personal messages on the
network; and use of the network for personal gain, commercial purposes, or to
engage in political activity.
Students and employees may not claim personal
copyright privileges over files, data or materials developed in the scope of
their employment, nor may students or employees use
copyrighted materials without the permission of the copyright holder. The Internet allows access to a wide variety
of media. Even though it is possible to
download most of these materials, students and staff shall not create or
maintain archival copies of these materials unless the source indicates that
the materials are in the public domain.
Access
to electronic mail (E-mail) is a privilege and designed to assist students and
employees in the acquisition of knowledge and in efficiently communicating with
others. The District E-mail system is
designed solely for educational and work related purposes. E-mail files are subject to review by
District and school personnel.
Chain letters, “chat rooms” or Multiple User Dimensions (MUDs) are not
allowed, with the exception of those bulletin boards or “chat” groups that are
created by teachers for specific instructional purposes or employees for
specific work related communication.
Students
or employees who engage in “hacking” are subject to loss of privileges and
District discipline, as well as the enforcement of any District policy, state
and/or federal laws that may have been violated. Hacking may be described as the unauthorized
review, duplication, dissemination, removal, damage, or alteration of files,
passwords, computer systems, or programs, or other property of the District, a
business, or any other governmental agency obtained through unauthorized means.
To
the maximum extent permitted by law, students and employees are not permitted
to obtain, download, view or otherwise gain access to “inappropriate matter”
which includes materials that may be
deemed inappropriate to minors, unlawful, abusive, obscene, pornographic,
descriptive of destructive devices, or otherwise objectionable under current
District policy or legal definitions.
The
District and school administration reserve the right to remove files, limit or
deny access, and refer staff or students violating the Board policy to
appropriate authorities or for other disciplinary action.
The use of District technology and electronic
resources is a privilege, not a right, and inappropriate use will result in the
cancellation of those privileges. All
staff members and students who receive a password/account code will participate
in an orientation or training course regarding proper behavior and use of the
network. The password/account code may
be suspended or closed upon the finding of user misuse of the technology system
or its resources.
Students and employees are expected to
abide by the generally accepted rules of electronic network etiquette. These include, but are not limited to, the
following:
1. System users are expected to be
polite. They may not send abusive,
insulting, harassing, or threatening messages to others.
2. System users are expected to use
appropriate language; language that uses vulgarities or obscenities, libels
others, or uses other inappropriate references is prohibited.
3. System users may not reveal their
personal addresses, their telephone numbers or the addresses or telephone
numbers of students, employees, or other individuals during E-mail
transmissions.
4. System users may not use the District’s
electronic network in such a manner that would damage, disrupt, or prohibit the
use of the network by other users.
5. System users should assume that all communications
and information is public when transmitted via the network and may be viewed by
other users. The system administrators
may access and read E-mail on a random basis.
6. Use of the District’s electronic
network for unlawful purposes will not be tolerated and is prohibited.
While the District is providing
access to electronic resources, it makes no warranties, whether expressed or
implied, for these services. The
District may not be held responsible for any damages including loss of data as
a result of delays, non-delivery or service interruptions caused by the
information system or the user’s errors or omissions. The use or distribution of any information
that is obtained through the information system is at the user’s own risk. The District specifically denies any
responsibility for the accuracy of information obtained through Internet
services.
The Board recognizes that
security on the District’s electronic network is an extremely high
priority. Security poses challenges for
collective and individual users. Any
intrusion into secure areas by those not permitted such privileges creates a
risk for all users of the information system.
The account codes/passwords
provided to each user are intended for the exclusive use of that
person. Any problems, which arise from the user
sharing his/her account code/password, are the responsibility of the account
holder. Any misuse may result in the
suspension or revocation
of
account privileges. The use of an
account by someone other than the registered holder will be grounds for loss of
access privileges to the information system.
Users are required to report immediately
any abnormality in the system as soon as they observe it. Abnormalities should be reported to the
classroom teacher or system administrator.
The District shall use filtering,
blocking or other technology to protect students and staff from accessing
internet sites that contain visual depictions that are obscene, child
pornography or harmful to minors. The
District shall comply with the applicable provisions of the Children’s Internet
Protection Act (CIPA), and the Neighborhood Internet Protection Act
(NCIPA). Student Internet access is only
permitted through the Gasconade County R-II Schools “Guest” wireless network,
using any other wireless provider is prohibited.
Vandalism is defined as any
malicious attempt to alter, harm, or destroy equipment or data of another user,
the District information service, or the other networks that are connected to
the Internet. This includes, but is not
limited to the uploading or the creation of computer viruses, the alteration of
data, or the theft of restricted information.
Any vandalism of the District electronic network or technology system
will result in the immediate loss of computer service, disciplinary action and,
if appropriate, referral to law enforcement officials.
The consequences for violating the
District’s Acceptable Use Policy include, but are not limited to, one or more
of the following:
1. Suspension
of District Network privileges;
2. Revocation
of Network privileges;
3. Suspension
of Internet access;
4. Revocation
of Internet access;
5. Suspension
of computer access;
6. Revocation
of computer access;
7. School
suspension;
8. Expulsion;
or
9. Employee
disciplinary action up to and including dismissal.