DISTRICT NETWORK AND INTERNET ACCESS FOR STUDENTS

All student use of the Internet and the District’s internal network, shall be consistent with the District’s goal of promoting educational excellence by facilitating educational resource sharing, electronic communication, and improving methods for learning and research. This authorization includes examples of rules about the District’s internal network and Internet use. It does not attempt to state all that may be required of users, or proscribed behavior. The failure of any user to follow the terms and conditions of District Network and Internet access will result in the loss of those privileges, and may result in disciplinary action. Student misuse of computers, networks, or the Internet may result in legal liability of the student and/or his or her parents.

The purposes of providing Network and Internet access in the school environment is to provide access to new means to gather information, provide research experiences, and to teach responsible use of computers, networks and the Internet. To that end the District reserves the right to limit access by students, and to prohibit student access to network resources, Internet files, information or sites which are not appropriate to the educational activity assigned or permitted.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1. Acceptable Use – Access to the District’s internal network and the Internet must be for the purpose of education or research, and be consistent with the educational objectives of the school.
2. Privileges – The use of the District’s internal network, electronic mail (E-mail) and the Internet is a privilege, not a right, and inappropriate use will result in a cancellation of those privileges. School personnel responsible for providing networking services and school certificated employees have the right to make all decisions regarding whether or not a student has violated applicable rules, and may deny, revoke, or suspend student access at any time. Such decisions are final.
3. Unacceptable Use – A student is personally responsible for his or her actions and activities involving school computers, the District’s internal network, electronic mail (E-mail) or the Internet. The Board of Education, Administration, and individual teachers may make additional rules at any time regarding student use of school computers, the District’s internal network, electronic mail (E-mail) or the Internet. Some examples of unacceptable uses of school computers, the District’s internal network, electronic mail (E-mail) or the Internet are:

1. Any illegal activity.
2. Violation of copyright, intellectual property rights, or unauthorized use of property of others.
3. Downloading of a file without authorization, regardless of whether the file is software or data, or whether it is copyrighted or devirused.
4. Using or downloading a file for a purpose other than that authorized.
5. Use for private financial or commercial gain.
6. Wastefully using resources such as file space, processor time or network time, including any use that hinders, delays or obstructs others in their use of school computers, the District’s internal networks or the Internet.
7. Gaining or attempting to gain unauthorized access to any resources, including but not limited to the District’s computers, networks, databases, and files, or information contained therein.
8. Invading the privacy of others.
9. Using or attempting to use another’s account or password or other identification.
10. Posting material authored or created by another without his or her consent.
11. Posting anonymous messages.
12. Use for commercial or private advertising.
13. Submitting, posting, publishing or displaying any material which is defamatory, intentionally inaccurate, abusive, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, threatening, racially offensive or harassing, or accessing material which is obscene, profane, or sexually oriented.
14. Use or attempted use while access privileges are suspended or revoked.
15. Failure to follow network security rules.
16. Incurring telephone charges, long-distance charges, per-minute surcharges, and/or equipment or line costs or other access charges without written permission of the District.
17. Attempted or actual use, possession or creation of any computer virus or other software, or physical or electronic device intended to or capable of causing damage to any computer, network or file. Computer and network vandalism is prohibited. Vandalism is defined as any act of a user which intentionally or recklessly causes damage or attempts to cause damage to any person, entity, computer, computer component, file, or network.
18. Use of computing facilities knowingly to disrupt the work of another student, faculty member, school official or any other person or entity.
19. Use of computing facilities knowingly to disrupt normal operation of any computing system.
20. Posting of messages or material under a false name, or corrupting or changing any data or material of any other person without consent.
21. These rules may be supplemented at any time in the discretion of the District. Any supplemental rules will immediately be binding upon students.
22. Use of the District’s computers, internal network or the Internet to engage in any theft or fraud.

1. Network Etiquette – While using the District’s computers, internal network or the Internet, students are required to abide by the generally accepted rules of network etiquette. These rules include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:

1. Be polite. Do not become abusive in your messages to others.
2. Use appropriate language. Do not swear or use vulgarities, or any other inappropriate language.
3. Do not reveal the identification, password, personal addresses, photographs, or telephone numbers of others.
4. Recognize that electronic mail (E-mail) is not private. People who operate the system have access to all mail. Messages relating to or in support of violations of school rules may result in discipline, and those relating to illegal activities may also be reported to law enforcement authorities.
5. Do not use the network in any way that would disrupt its use by other users.
6. Consider all communications and information accessible via the network to be private property.

1. No Warranties – The school makes no warranties of any kind, whether expressed or implied, regarding the use and availability of computers, the network, the Internet, or the accuracy, correctness, completeness or reliability of any information, files or software. The school is not responsible for any damages for any of the foregoing, including loss of data, non-deliveries, missed-deliveries, or service interruptions, whether caused by its negligence, user errors or omissions, or other defects. Use of any information obtained via the Internet is at the user’s own risk. The District specifically denies any responsibility for the accuracy or quality of information obtained through use of the network, or the Internet.
2. Indemnification – The parent or guardian, by signing below, in consideration of the District providing his/her student with network and Internet access agrees to indemnify the District for any losses, costs, or damages, including reasonable attorney fees, incurred by the District relating to, or arising out of, any breach of these or other School Rules by the student in using computers, the network, or the Internet.
3. Security – Network security is a high priority. If a student identifies a security problem or failure on the school computers, the District’s internal network or the Internet, the student is required to notify the Building Principal or his/her designee. The following rules apply to network security:

1. Students must not demonstrate any security problem or security defeating technique to any other users.
2. Students must keep accounts and passwords confidential. A student providing an account or a password to another, or using or attempting to use another individual’s account or password violates this rule.
3. Attempting to log onto or use school computers, the internal network or the Internet using any other person’s account, password or identification is a violation of these rules.

1. Telephone Charges – The School assumes no responsibility for any unauthorized charges or fees, including telephone charges, long-distance charges, per-minute surcharges, and/or equipment or line costs. Ordinary Internet and school network access and use will incur no such charges. Any such charges are the responsibility of the Parent or Guardian signing below.
2. Privacy – Electronic communications and downloaded material may be monitored or read by School officials.
3. Students and parent(s)/guardian(s) need only sign the Authorization for District Network and Internet Access once while enrolled in the District Schools.

11. Internet Entrance Exam - Before a student can have access to the Internet he or she must pass an entrance exam. The student will only be required to pass the exam once while attending the Argenta-Oreana school district. The following are examples of exam questions:

Questions for students in grades K-6.

1. The Internet is made up of lots of computers hooked together.
2. The Internet lets us send electronic mail to other people.
3. If I see something on the Internet that isn't nice, I should tell my teachers.
4. My mail on the Internet is private because no one else can see it.

Questions for students in grades 7-12.

1. The Internet is a collection of computers around the world.
2. If you have an Internet e-mail account, you may write anything in your e-mail because no one else will know.
3. If you download inappropriate materials from the Internet, you could lose your Internet access.
4. Your password should never be given to anyone.

ADOPTED: 2/9/98

The signature(s) of parent(s) or guardians and student(s) are not required to attend District schools, or for limited supervised Internet access. Such signatures are required for unsupervised use, and constitute:

1. Authorization by parent(s) or guardian(s) allowing their student(s) access to the network and the Internet, and
2. Agreement that the student is bound by the rules set forth in this authorization, and any other rules adopted by the school from time to time in respect to District computers, network or Internet, and
3. Agreement by the parent(s) or guardian(s) to be bound by the terms of this authorization and agreement.

I understand and will abide by all rules contained in this Authorization for District Network and Internet Access, and any other rules of computer, network, E-mail or Internet use adopted from time to time. I further understand that should I commit any violation, my access privileges may be revoked, and school disciplinary action and/or appropriate legal action may be taken against me.

DATE: _________________

USER'S SIGNATURE

I have read this Authorization for District Network and Internet Access. I understand that access is designed for educational purposes and that the school does not authorize, and attempts to bar access by students to certain material which is not in furtherance of educational purposes. However, I also recognize it is impossible for the school to restrict access to all controversial and inappropriate materials. I will hold harmless the District and its employees and agents from any cause of action related to my child obtaining access to materials or software which are inappropriate. I accept full responsibility for supervision of my child if and when my child’s use is not in a school setting. I have discussed the terms of this authorization with my child. I hereby request that my child be allowed access to the District’s Network, and the Internet.

DATE: ________________

PARENT/GUARDIAN (Please Print)

SIGNATURE

Back