Long Beach School District
Acceptable Use Computer Network Policy
Internet:
Long Beach School District is pleased to offer to its students, faculty, and staff access to the Internet and the District computers in accordance with the terms and conditions of this policy. The Internet is an electronic highway connecting hundreds of thousands of computers and millions of individual users globally. This computer technology will help propel our schools through the communication age by allowing students and staff to access and to use the many resources that are available to them.
Overview
The smooth operation of the network relies upon the proper conduct of the users who must adhere to strict guidelines. To this end, Congress has passed and President signed into law, the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA). The Long Beach School District is in compliance with CIPA.
CIPA requires that schools receiving certain federal funds, including E-Rate discounts and Title III of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, put into place Internet Safety policies. These Internet safety policies must include a technology protection measure for blocking access to “visual depictions” of obscene material, child pornography, and material that is “harmful to minors” when minors are accessing the computer. CIPA also requires that the Internet safety policy include monitoring of all online activities of minors. Additionally, the policy must address all of the following: (a) access by minors to inappropriate matter on the Internet and World Wide Web, (b) the safety and security of minors when using electronic mail, chat rooms, and other forms of direct electronic communications, (c) unauthorized access, including so-called “hacking”, and other unlawful activities by minors online, (d) unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal information regarding minors; and (e) measures designed to restrict minors’ access to materials harmful to minors. Recognizing that no filtering solution can be 100% effective, it is understood that all technology protection measures do not and will not work perfectly. In complying with CIPA, schools are expected to engage in a “good faith effort” to abide by the requirements of CIPA.
CIPA does not create a private right to action, meaning that the discovery of objectionable material on a computer cannot result in a lawsuit complaining that a school violated CIPA.
The signature(s) at the end of this document is (are) legally binding and indicates the party (parties) who signed has (have) read the terms and conditions carefully and understand(s) their significance.
Internet Terms and Conditions of Use
Personal Safety
1. User agrees not to disclose, use, disseminate or divulge personal and/or private information about himself/herself, minors or any others. This includes individually identifiable information that is collected online, on a computer or portable storage device. Such information includes, but is not limited to: name, home address, telephone number, email address, social security numbers, credit card information, hobbies, interests, etc.
2. User will immediately report to Long Beach School District authorities any attempt by other Internet users to engage in inappropriate conversations or personal contact.
Illegal Activity
1. User agrees not to access, transmit or retransmit any material(s) in furtherance of any illegal act or conspiracy to commit any illegal act in violation of United States, Mississippi, local government, or Long Beach School District laws, policies or regulations.
2. User agrees not to access, transmit, or retransmit copyrighted materials (including plagiarism), threatening, harassing, or obscene material, pornographic material, or material protected by trade secret, and/or any other material that is inappropriate to minors.
3. User agrees not to access, transmit, or retransmit any material that promotes violence or the destruction of persons or property by devices including, but not limited to, the use of firearms, explosives, fireworks, smoke bombs, incendiary devices, or other similar materials.
4. User agrees not to use the network for any illegal activity including, but not limited to, unauthorized access including hacking.
5. User agrees not to access, transmit, or retransmit language that may be considered offensive, defamatory, or abusive.
6. User agrees not to access, transmit, or retransmit information that could cause danger or disruption or engage in personal attacks, including prejudicial or discriminatory attacks.
7. User agrees not to access, transmit or retransmit information that harasses another person, bullies another person, or causes distress to another person.
System Resource Limits
1. User agrees to use the Long Beach School District network system and computers for educational and career development activities consistent with the educational objectives of Long Beach School District.
2. User agrees not to download any programs, games, freeware, movies, software, music, videos, etc.
3. User agrees not to download any attachments in email that has the potential to spread a virus, such as .vbs, .vbe, or .exe files.
4. User agrees not to post chain letters or engage in “spamming” (that is, sending an annoying or unnecessary message to large numbers of people).
5. User agrees NOT to access any chatting, blogging, instant messaging or social networking sites, such as, but not limited to, myspace, facebook, etc. User also agrees not to access or use any site that could potentially bypass the District’s technology protection measures.
6. User agrees to immediately notify his/her teacher or other school administrator should user access inappropriate information. This will assist protecting user against a claim of intentional violation of this policy.
User Rights
1. The Internet is considered a limited forum, similar to a school newspaper, and therefore Long Beach School District may restrict user’s right to free speech for valid educational reasons. Long Beach School District will not restrict user’s right to free speech on the basis of disagreement with the opinions expressed by user.
2. User shall have the responsibility to use computer resources for academic purposes only. Therefore, as mandated by CIPA, filtering will be utilized on all computers accessing the Internet. The only exception will be for academic research by a staff member with the approval of school administration.
3. All users of the district’s network should assume that files stored on the district’s servers and/or computers to be in the public domain, not as personal files for private purposes.
4. User should not expect files stored on network capable devices to remain private. Authorized staff will periodically inspect folders and logs of network usage. Routine review and maintenance of the system may indicate that user has violated this policy, school codes, municipal law, state law or federal law. Parents of minor users shall have the right to inspect the contents of user’s files.
5. Long Beach School District will fully cooperate with local, state and/or federal officials in any investigation related to illegal activities conducted through the user’s Internet account.
Security
1. User agrees not to attempt to access any websites or software on a computer that is not directly related to their classroom assignment or work assignment.
2. All users must use their own login and password. No user is allowed to use another user’s login. NEVER TELL ANYONE YOUR PASSWORD.
3. Users may be monitored while on district computers through tracking software.
4. Any diskette, CD, DVD, flash drive or portable storage device content to be used in or on a computer and/or the network, shall be approved by the proper authority, such as teacher, supervisor, principal, superintendent, etc.
5. User agrees not to browse and/or scan through other user’s files on a hard drive, network, portable storage device, or use any other method of viewing files.
6. Student users agree not to send mass-mails.
7. User agrees not to change any computer settings, including, but not limited to, the display settings.
8. Users may not, at any time, or for any reason, possess a copy of the system password file, or any portion thereof. Attempts to log in as any other user or as a system administrator will result in severe disciplinary action and cancellation of user privileges.
9. Unauthorized computer systems will be denied access to the network.
10. User agrees not to download unauthorized files to portable storage devices, such as movies, music, videos, sporting events, etc.
11. User agrees not to purchase goods or services via the Internet, unless the purchase or service is for District purposes only and the District has an established Internet account with the company.
12. User agrees not to respond to unsolicited online contact.
13. Cracking, hacking, or otherwise breaking into accounts that users do not have full authorized access to, on this system or any other, possessing and/or running encryption/decryption/cracking/security analysis scripts or binaries, and/or other tools used to expedite the process of information on this network will not be permitted.
14. User agrees not to insert, use, or attach non-approved computers, communication and/or technology devices into the District’s network.
15. User agrees not to download or install any software which requires making a file, without approval from the Technology Department. All software installed on district computers must be performed by the Technology Department after the proper licenses or authorizations for use have been acquired and verified.
16. All network capable devices used on the LBSD network and/or on District property must abide by this Acceptable Use Computer Network Policy.
Liability –
The school district will not be liable for:
1. Information stored on school district diskette, CD, DVD, portable storage devices, hard drives or servers.
2. Information retrieved through school district computers, network, or online resources.
3. Personal property used to access school district computers, networks or online resources.
4. Unauthorized financial obligations resulting from use of school district resources and accounts to access the Internet.
Vandalism will result in cancellation of privileges and disciplinary action. Vandalism is defined as any malicious attempt to harm or destroy data of another user or other networks connected with the Long Beach School District. This includes, but is not limited to, the uploading or creations of computer viruses. Vandalism also includes damage to any District hardware.
Violations of Acceptable Use Computer Network Policy
Violation of this Acceptable Use Computer Network Policy may result in the denial, suspension or cancellation of the user’s privileges, as well as other disciplinary and/or legal action deemed appropriate and imposed by the school administration, district administration and/or local, state or federal law enforcement officials. Other actions not specified above may include but are not limited to monetary restitution, school suspension or expulsion, detention or any other actions deemed appropriate by the administrative authorities.
At the discretion of the Long Beach School District, law enforcement authorities may be involved and any violations of state and/or federal law may result in criminal or civil prosecution.
It may seem as though these policies could be easily broken and that the user would not get caught violating the terms of this policy. This is not true. Electronic footprints are left behind on a machine each time it is used, and the potential for apprehension always exists.
Long Beach School District Acceptable Use Computer Network Policy Contract
****Please tear this sheet out of the handbook after you have read and signed all areas where indicated. It is essential that this be returned to school immediately in order that your child be able to benefit from all areas of the curriculum.
Individual schools within the
district may create additional guidelines and procedures consistent with this
policy. Such guidelines and procedures will be appropriate for the electronic
information resources being used and the students served at the school.
Users: Students, Staff, Substitutes, Community Users:
School _________________Grade ________Homeroom Teacher_______________
User Printed Full Name _________________________ I accept and agree to abide by the Long Beach School District Acceptable Use Computer Network Policy.
I release the Long Beach School System and all other organizations related to the Long Beach School District Internet connection from any liability or damages that may result from the use of the Internet connection. In addition, I will accept full responsibility and liability for the results of my actions with regards to the use of the Internet. I release the school and related organizations from any liability relating to consequences resulting from use of the Internet.
Date: ________________________
Signed: ______________________
(User Signature)
Parent Printed Full Name _______________________ I, the parent/guardian of the above, give permission for my son/daughter to use the Internet services provided by the Long Beach School District, and agree to accept all financial and legal liabilities which may result from my son/daughter’s use of the Long Beach School District ‘s computers and Internet connection.
Date: ________________________
Signed: ______________________
(Parent/Guardian Signature)
Updated 2009 by Karen McManus