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Network and Internet Access Agreement for Students

 

 

Network and Internet Access Agreement for Students

Advances in telecommunications and other related technologies have fundamentally altered the ways in which information  is accessed,  communicated,  and transferred  in society.   DCI and the School District is pleased to provide Internet services to its students.   The District’s Internet system has a limited educational  purpose. The District’s Internet system has not been established  as a public access service or a public forum.   The Board has the right to place restrictions  on its use to assure that use of the District’s Internet system is in accord with its limited educational  purpose.   Student use of the District’s computers, network and Internet services  (“Network”)  will  be  governed  by  this  policy  and  the  related  administrative  guidelines.    The  due  process  rights  of all users  will  be respected  in the  event  there  is a suspicion of inappropriate use of the Network.  Users have no right or expectation to privacy when using the Network (including, but not limited to, privacy in the content of their personal files, e-mails, and records of their online activity while on the Network).

Students  are encouraged  to use DCI’s computers and Internet  connection  (“Network”)  for educational purposes.  Use of the Network is a privilege, not a right.  When using the Network, students must conduct themselves in a responsible, efficient, ethical, and legal manner.  Users who disregard this policy may have their use privileges suspended or revoked, and disciplinary  action taken against them.   Users granted access to the Internet through the Board’s computers assume personal responsibility and liability, both civil and criminal, for uses of the Internet not authorized by this Board policy.   Parent permission is required for minors.

Smooth operation  of  the  Board’s  Network  relies  upon  users  adhering  to  the  following  guidelines.    The guidelines outlined below are not exhaustive, but are provided so that users are aware of their general responsibilities.

In exchange for the use of the Network resources, either on-site or by remote access, the user understands and agrees to the following:

  1. A. Privilege:  The use of Network is a privilege which may be revoked by the District at any time and for any reason.
  2. B. Scope of Acceptable  Use:   Network  resources  shall be used for the purposes  of (in order of priority):
  3. 1. supporting the academic program;
  4. 2. telecommunications;
  5. 3. general information.

The District periodically may make determinations  on whether other incidental non-educational uses of the Network are consistent with this Agreement.  Uses that interfere with normal District business or educational activities are prohibited and may be cause for disciplinary action at the discretion of the District.   It is within the rights of the District to periodically modify the list of acceptable use.

Pursuant  to  Federal  law,  the  Board  has  implemented  technology  protection  measures,  which protect against (e.g. filter or block) access to visual displays/depictions/materials  that are obscene, constitute child pornography, and/or are harmful to minors, as defined by the Children’s Internet Protection Act.   At the discretion of the Board or the Superintendent,  the technology protection measures may be configured to protect against access to other material considered inappropriate for students to access.  Any student who attempts to disable the technology protection measures will be subject to discipline.

The Superintendent  or his/her designee may temporarily or permanently unblock access to sites containing appropriate materials, if access to such sites has been inappropriately  blocked by the technology protection measures.   The determination of whether material is appropriate or inappropriate shall be based on the content of the material and the intended use of the material, not on the protection actions of the technology protection measures.

The  District   shall  monitor   the  user’s  online   activities,   through   direct   observation   and/or technological  means, to endeavor to ensure that users are not accessing such depictions or any other materials that are inappropriate  for the educational  setting.   To the extent practical, steps shall also be taken to promote the safety and security of users when utilizing e-mail, chat rooms, instant messaging and other forms of direct electronic communication.

Building  principals  are  responsible  for  providing  training  so  that  Internet  users  under  their supervision are knowledgeable about this policy and its accompanying guidelines.

Staff  members  shall  provide  instruction  for  their  students  regarding  the  appropriate  use  of technology and online safety and security as specified below.   Furthermore, staff members will monitor the online activities of students while at school.

Monitoring may include, but is not necessarily limited to, visual observations of online activities during class sessions; or use of specific monitoring tools to review browser history and network, server, and computer logs.

Pursuant to Federal law, students shall receive education about the following:

  1. Safety and security while using e-mail, chat rooms, social media, and other forms of direct electronic communications;
  2. The dangers inherent with the online disclosure of personally identifiable information;
  3. The consequences of unauthorized access (e.g., “hacking”)  cyberbullying  and other unlawful or inappropriate activities by students online, and
  4. Unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination  of personal  information  regarding minors
  5. Access: Selected Network resources are intended only for the use by their registered users who agree  to  abide  by  this  Agreement.    Users  shall  not  share  their  password(s)  with  others  or otherwise  allow  anyone  unauthorized  access  to  the  Network.    A  user  is  responsible  for  any violations  of this  agreement  committed  by someone  who,  with  the  user’s  express  or implied permission, accessed the network with the user’s password.  Students may use the Network only under the supervision of a staff member.

Students may use real-time  electronic  communication,  such as chat or instant messaging,  only under the direct supervision of a teacher or in moderated environments that have been established to  support  educational  activities  and  have  been  approved  by  the  Board,  Superintendent,  or building principal.

Students shall not access social media for personal use from the District’s network, but shall be permitted to access social media for educational use in accordance with their teacher’s approved plan for such use.

Students  may  not  establish  web-based  e-mail  accounts  on  commercial  services  through  the Network (e.g., Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo mail).

Preservation of Resources and Priorities of Use:  Computer resources are limited.  Because space on disk drives and bandwidth across the lines which connect the Network (both internally and externally) are limited, neither programs nor information may be stored on the system without the permission of the Chief Technology Officer.  Each student is permitted reasonable space to store e-mail, web, and personal files.   The Board reserves the right to require the purging of files in order to regain disk space.  Students who require access to the Network for class- or instruction- related activities have priority over other users.  Students not using the Network for class-related activities  may  be  “bumped”  by  any  student  requiring  access  for  class-  or  instruction-related purpose.

Non-educational game playing is not permitted at any time.

  1. Network Etiquette:   Use of the Network has great potential to enhance the productivity of the users.
  2. The Network, however, could also be abused.   User shall be held accountable  for their use or misuse of the Network.  Each user must abide by generally accepted rules of Network etiquette, which include but are not limited to:
  3. Users shall not obtain copies of, or modify files, other data, or passwords belonging to other users without express authorization.
  4. Users shall not misrepresent themselves on the Network.
  5. Users shall  not  use  the  Network  in  any  way  that  would  disrupt  the  operation  of the Network; abuse the software and/or hardware; or excessively consume limited computer, paper or telephone resources, such as through spamming, creating or forwarding mass e- mails, sending chain letters, or extensively using the Network for non-curriculum-related communications  or other purposes exceeding  the Scope Of Acceptable  Use under this agreement.
  6. Users shall not create or transmit harassing, threatening,  abusive, defamatory  or vulgar messages or materials.
  7. Users shall  not  reveal  any  personal  information  beyond  directory  information  about themselves, other students, or District employees, including social security numbers, passwords, etc.
  8. Users shall not create, transmit,  or download  any materials  (a) that are in violation  of

District  Policies  or any state  or federal  law,  including  but not limited  to confidential information, copyrighted materials, material protected by trade secrets, and any materials that  would  violate  the  District’s  Harassment  Policy;  or (b) that  include  the  design  or detailed  information  for  the  purposes  of  creating  an  explosive  device,  materials  in furtherance of criminal activities or terrorist acts, threatening materials, or pornographic, sexually explicit or obscene materials

  1. Users shall  not  use  the  Network   for  any  commercial   activities,   such  as  buying, advertising or selling goods or services, unless doing so is pre-approved by the District. The District shall not be liable for any transactions, costs, damages or fees incurred by a user through purchases of goods or services or other transactions through the Network, or for any illegal actions, including copyright violations, that a user performs through the Networ
  2. Users shall not use or install any software or program not already on district equipment unless authorized by a district administrator.
  3. Users shall  not engage  in cyberbullying.    “Cyberbullying  is the use of technology  to harass, threaten, embarrass, or target another person.” (http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/talk/cyberbullying.html)

Cyberbullying includes, but is not limited to the following:

  1. Posting slurs or rumors or other disparaging remarks  about a student on a website or blog;
  2. Sending  e-mail,   instant   messages,   or  text  messages   that  are  mean   or threatening, or so numerous as to drive up the victim’s cell phone bill;
  3. Using a  camera  or  phone  to  take  and  send  embarrassing  and/or  sexually explicit photographs/recordings of students;
  4. Pposting misleading or fake photographs of students on web
  5. Web Sites: Web sites created for school community organizations through the Network or linked to District’s web site must relate specifically  to officially sanctioned organization  activities and programs.  The District reserves the right to require that material and/or links to other sites found to be objectionable be altered or removed.

Proprietary rights in the design of websites hosted on the Board’s servers remains at all times with the Board.

  1. Service Disclaimer:  The District does not warrant that the functions of the Network will meet any  specific  requirements  the  user  may  have,  or  that  the  Network  will  be  error  free  or uninterrupted;   nor   shall   the   District   be   liable   for  any   direct   or  indirect,   incidental,   or consequential  damages  (including  lost  data,  information,  or  time)  sustained  or  incurred  in connection with the use, operation or inability to use or operate the system.
  2. Reservation Of Rights: The District administrators and/or Network managers may perform the following actions for any legitimate reason, including but not limited to for the purposes of maintaining system integrity and insuring that users are using the Network consistently with this Agreement:   monitor, inspect, copy, review, and store at any time and without prior notice any and   all   usage   of   the   Network   and   any   and   all   materials,   files,   information,   software, communications, and other content transmitted, received or stored in connection with this usage. The District reserves all rights to any material stored in files which are generally accessible  to others and will remove any materials which the District, at its sole discretion, believes may be unlawful,  obscene, pornographic,  abusive, or otherwise  objectionable.   The Network and all information, content, and files contained therein are the property of the District, and users should not have any expectation of privacy regarding those materials.
  3. File Transfers:  A user may not transfer  files, shareware  or other software  from information services and electronic bulletin boards without prior authorization of the District staff.  The user may be liable to pay the cost or fee of any unauthorized file, shareware, or software transferred, whether intentionally or accidentally.  For each file received through a file transfer, the user must check the file with a virus-detection program before opening the file for use.
  4. Vandalism:  Vandalism  is prohibited.    For the purpose  of this Agreement,  vandalism  is any malicious  attempt to harm or destroy software,  hardware,  data of another user, other Network resources,  or the  use  of the  Network  to harm  or destroy  anything  on the  Internet  or outside networks.    Vandalism  includes  but  is not  limited  to the  uploading,  downloading,  creating  or transmitting  of  computer  viruses,  worms,  Trojan  horses,  or  other  destructive  programs  or applications.    Should  the  user  cause  the  Network  to  become  infected  with  a  virus  or  other destructive program or application and the infection causes damage to the Network, the user may be liable for any and all repair costs to restore the Network to full operational status in addition to other potential disciplinary measures as determined by the District.
  5. Security:  If  a  user  identifies  a  security  problem  with  the  Network,  the  user  must  notify  a Network  administrator,   teacher,  or  building  principal  immediately.     Users  must  report  all activities that are illegal or in violation of District Policies to a teacher or building principal.  All users agree to cooperate with the District in the event of an investigation into any allegations of misuse or security breaches of the Network.
  6. Violations Of  This  Policy:    Any  violations  of  this  Policy  may  result  in  disciplinary  action, including but not limited to restriction or termination of access to the Network, other discipline in accordance  with the Student  Code  of Conduct,  referral  to legal authorities,  and/or  other legal action.   Users granted  access  to the Internet  through  the Board’s  computers  assume  personal responsibility and liability, both civil and criminal, for uses of the Internet not authorized by this Board policy and its accompanying guidelines.

DCI Staff are the administrators responsible for initiating, implementing, and enforcing this policy as it applies to students’ use of the Network.