6141.321(a)

 

 

 

Instruction

 

Computers: Acceptable Use of the Internet, Other Computer Networks and Internet Safety

 

 

The School District is pleased to make available to students access to interconnected com­puter systems within the District and to the Internet, the worldwide network that provides various means of accessing significant educational materials and opportunities.

 

In order for the school district to be able to continue to make its computer network and Internet access available, all students must take responsibility for appropriate and lawful use of this access. Students must understand that one student's misuse of the network and Internet access may jeopardize the ability of all students to enjoy such access. While the school's teachers and other staff will make reasonable efforts to supervise student use of network and Internet access, they must have student cooperation in exercising and promoting responsible use of this access.

 

Below is the Acceptable Use and Internet Safety Policy (“policy”) of the school district. Upon reviewing, signing, and returning this policy as the students have been directed, each student will be given the opportunity to enjoy Internet access at school and is agreeing to follow the policy. If a student is under 18 years of age, he or she must have his or her parents or guardians read and sign the policy. The school district cannot provide access to any student who, if 18 or older, fails to sign and submit the policy to the school as directed or, if under 18, does not return the policy as directed with the signatures of the student and his/her parents or guardians.

 

Listed below are the provisions of your agreement regarding computer network and Internet use. If you have any questions about these provisions, you should contact the person that your school has designated as the one to whom you can direct your questions. If any user violates this policy, the student's access will be denied, if not already provided, or withdrawn and he or she may be subject to additional disciplinary action.

 

Personal Responsibility

 

By signing this policy, you are agreeing not only to follow the rules in this policy, but are agreeing to report any misuse of the network to the person designated by the school for such reporting. Misuse means any violations of this policy or any other use that is not included in the policy, but has the effect of harming another or his or her property.

 

Term of the Permitted Use

 

A student who submits to the school, as directed, a properly signed policy and follows the policy to which she or he has agreed will have computer network and Internet access during the course of the school year only. Students will be asked to sign a new policy each year during which they are students in the school district before they are given an access account.

 

 

 

6141.321(b)

 

 

 

Instruction

 

Computers: Acceptable Use of the Internet, Other Computer Networks and Internet Safety

 

 

Acceptable Uses

 

1.           Educational Purposes Only. The school district is providing access to its computer networks and the Internet for only educational purposes. If you have any doubt about whether a contemplated activity is educational, you may consult with the person(s) designated by the school to help you decide if a use is appropriate.

 

2.           Unacceptable Uses of Network. Among the uses that are considered unacceptable and which constitute a violation of this policy are the following:

 

A.          Uses that violate the law or encourage others to violate the law. Don’t transmit offensive or harassing messages; offer for sale or use any substance the possession or use of which is prohibited by the school district’s student discipline policy; view, transmit or download pornographic materials or materials that encourage others to violate the law; intrude into the networks or computers of others; and download or transmit confidential, trade secret information, or copyrighted materials. Even if materials on the networks are not marked with the copyright symbol, you should assume that all materials are protected unless there is explicit permission on the materials to use them.

 

B.          Uses that cause harm to others or damage to their property. For example, don’t engage in defamation (harming another’s reputation by lies); employ another’s password or some other user identifier that misleads message recipients into believing that someone other than you is communicating or otherwise using his/her access to the network or the Internet; upload a worm, virus, “trojan horse,” “time bomb,” or other harmful form of programming or vandalism; participate in “hacking” activities or any form of unauthorized access to other computers, networks, or information systems.

 

C.          Uses that jeopardize the security of student access and of the computer network or other networks on the Internet. For example, don't disclose or share your password with others; don't impersonate another user.

 

D.          Uses that are commercial transactions. Students and other users may not sell or buy anything over the Internet. You should not give others private information about you or others, including credit card numbers and social security numbers.

 

3.           Netiquette. All users must abide by rules of network etiquette, which include the following:

 

A.          Be polite. Use appropriate language. No swearing, vulgarities, suggestive, obscene, belligerent, or threatening language.

 

 

6141.321(c)

 

 

 

Instruction

 

Computers: Acceptable Use of the Internet, Other Computer Networks and Internet Safety

 

Acceptable Uses (continued)

 

 

3.      Netiquette (continued)

 

B.          Avoid language and uses which may be offensive to other users. Don’t use access to make, distribute, or redistribute jokes, stories, or other material which is based upon slurs or stereotypes relating to race, gender, ethnicity, nationality, religion, or sexual orientation.

 

C.          Don’t assume that a sender of e‑mail is giving his or her permission for you to forward or redistribute the message to third parties or to give his/her e‑mail address to third parties. This should only be done with permission or when you know that the individual would have no objection.

 

D.          Be considerate when sending attachments with e‑mail (where this is permitted). Be sure that the file is not too large to be accommodated by the recipient's system and is in a format which the recipient can open.

 

Internet Safety

 

1.           General Warning; Individual Responsibility of Parents and Users. All users and their parents/guardians are advised that access to the electronic network may include the potential for access to materials inappropriate for school‑aged students. Every user must take responsibility for his or her use of the computer network and Internet and stay away from these sites. Parents of minors are the best guides of materials to shun. If a student finds that other users are visiting offensive or harmful sites, he or she should report such use to the person designated by the school.

 

2.           Personal Safety. Be safe. In using the computer network and Internet, do not reveal personal information such as your home address or telephone number. Do not use your real last name or any other information which might allow a person to locate you without first obtaining the permission of a supervising teacher. Do not arrange a face-to-face meeting with someone you “meet” on the computer network of Internet without your parent's permission (if you are under 18). Regardless of your age, you should never agree to meet a person you have only communicated with on the Internet in a secluded place or in a private setting.

 

3.           “Hacking” and Other Illegal Activities. It is a violation of this policy to use the school's computer network or the Internet to gain unauthorized access to other computers or computer systems, or to attempt to gain such unauthorized access. Any use which violates state or federal law relating to copyright, trade secrets, the distribution of obscene or pornographic materials, or which violates any other applicable law or municipal ordinance, is strictly prohibited.

6141.321(d)

 

 

 

Instruction

 

Computers: Acceptable Use of the Internet, Other Computer Networks and Internet Safety

 

 

Internet Safety (continued)

 

4.           Confidentiality of Student Information. Personally identifiable information concerning students may not be disclosed or used in any way on the Internet without the permission of a parent or guardian or, if the student is 18 or over, the permission of the student himself/herself. Users should never give out private or confidential information about themselves or others on the Internet, particularly credit card numbers and Social Security numbers. A supervising teacher or administrator may authorize the release of directory information, as defined by law, for internal administrative purposes or approved educational projects and activities.

 

5.           Active Restriction Measures. The school, either by itself or in combination with the Data Acquisition Site providing Internet access, will utilize filtering software or other technologies to prevent students from accessing visual depictions that are (1) obscene, (2) child pornography, or (3) harmful to minors. The school will also monitor the online activities of students, through direct observation and/or technological means, to ensure that students are not accessing such depictions or any other material which is inappropriate for minors.

 

Internet filtering software or other technology‑based protection systems may be disabled by a supervising teacher or school administrator, as necessary, for purposes of bona fide research or other educational projects being conducted by students age 18 and older.

 

The term “harmful to minors” is defined by the Communications Act of 1934 (47 USC Section 254 [h][7]), as meaning any picture, image, graphic image file, or other visual depiction that:

 

·        taken as a whole and with respect to minors, appeals to a prurient interest in nudity, sex, or excretion;

·        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 contact, actual or simulated normal or perverted sexual acts, or a lewd exhibition of the genitals;

·        taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value as to minors.

 

Privacy

 

Network and Internet access is provided as a tool for your education. The school district reserves the right to monitor, inspect, copy, review and store at any time and without prior notice any and all usage of the computer network and Internet access and any and all information transmitted or received in connection with such usage. All such information files shall be and remain the property of the school district and no user shall have any expectation of privacy regarding such materials.

 

6141.321(e)

 

 

 

Instruction

 

Computers: Acceptable Use of the Internet, Other Computer Networks and Internet Safety

 

 

Failure To Follow Policy

 

The user’s use of the computer network and Internet is a privilege, not a right. A user who violates this policy, shall at a minimum, have his or her access to the computer network and Internet terminated, which the school district may refuse to reinstate for the remainder of the student’s enrollment in the school district. A user violates this policy by his or her own action or by failing to report any violations by other users that come to the attention of the user. Further, a user violates this policy if he or she permits another to use his or her account or password to access the computer network and Internet, including any user whose access has been denied or terminated. The school district may also take other disciplinary action in such circumstances.

 

Warranties/Indemnification

 

The school district makes no warranties of any kind, either express or implied, in connection with its provision of access to and use of its computer networks and the Internet provided under this policy. It shall not be responsible for any claims, losses, damages, or costs (including attorney’s fees) of any kind suffered, directly or indirectly, by any user or his or her parent(s) or guardian(s) arising out of the user's use of its computer networks or the Internet under this policy. By signing this policy, users are taking full responsibility for his or her use, and the user who is 18 or older or, in the case of a user under 18, the parent(s) or guardian(s) are agreeing to indemnify and hold the school, the school district, the Data Acquisition Site that provides the computer and Internet access opportunity to the school district and all of their administrators, teachers, and staff harmless from any and all loss, costs, claims, or damages resulting from the user’s access to its computer network and the Internet, including but not limited to any fees or charges incurred through purchases of goods or services by the user. The user or, if the user is a minor, the user’s parent(s) or guardian(s) agree to cooperate with the school in the event of the school’s initiating an investigation of a user’s use of his or her access to its computer network and the Internet, whether that use is on a school computer or on another computer outside the school district’s network.

 

Updates

 

Users, and if appropriate, the user’s parents/guardians, may be asked from time to time to provide new or additional registration and account information or to sign a new policy, for example, to reflect developments in the law or technology. Such information must be provided by the user (or his/her parents or guardian) or such new policy must be signed if the user wishes to continue to receive service. If after you have provided your account information, some or all of the information changes, you must notify the person designated by the school to receive such information.

 

 

 

 

6141.321(f)

 

 

Instruction

 

Computers: Acceptable Use of the Internet, Other Computer Networks and Internet Safety

 

 

Legal Reference:           Connecticut General Statutes

 

                                    1‑19(b)(11) Access to public records. Exempt records.

                                    10‑15b Access of parent or guardians to student's records.

                                    10‑209 Records not to be public.

                                    11-8a Retention, destruction and transfer of documents

                                    11-8b Transfer or disposal of public records.  State Library Board to adopt regulations.

                                    46b‑56 (e) Access to Records of Minors.

                                    Connecticut Public Records Administration Schedule V ‑ Disposition of Education Records (Revised 1983).

 

                                    Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (section 438 of the General Education Provisions Act, as amended, added by section 513 of PL 93‑568, codified at 20 U.S.C. 1232g.).

 

                                    Dept. of Education. 34 CFR. Part 99 (May 9, 1980 45 FR 30802) regs. implementing FERPA enacted as part of 438 of General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232g)‑parent and student privacy and other rights with respect to educational records, as amended 11/21/96.

 

                                    Children's Internet Protection Act of 2000 (HR 4577, P.L.106‑554)

Communications Act of 1934, as amended (47 U.S.C. 254[h],[I])

Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (20 U.S.C. 6801 et seq., Part F)

Public Law 94-553, The Copyright Act of 1976, 17 U.S.C. 101 et. seq.

 

                                    Reno v. ACLU, 521 U.S. 844 (1997)

                                    Ginsberg v. New York, 390 U.S. 629, at 642, n.10 (1968)

                                    Board of Education v. Pico, 457 U.S. 868 (1988)

Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier, 484 U.S. 620, 267 (1988)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Policy adopted:                   September 14, 2004                     EAST HADDAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS

                                                                                                                           Moodus, Connecticut

 

 

6141.321

Appendix A

 

 

CODE OF CONDUCT FOR INTERNET AND OTHER

COMPUTER NETWORK ACCESS

 

 

The purpose of providing Internet and other computer network access in this district is to promote the exchange of information and ideas with the global community. The following represents a guide to the acceptable use of the tech­nology provided by this district. All network use must be consistent with the policies and goals of this school district. Inappropriate use of district technology will result in the loss of technology use, disciplinary action, and/or referral to legal authorities.

 

All Internet and other computer network users will be expected to abide by the generally accepted rules of network etiquette. These include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

1.           Be polite. Messages should not be abusive to others.

 

2.           Take pride in communications. Check spelling and grammar.

 

3.           Use appropriate language. Do not swear or use vulgarities or any other inappropriate language, symbols, or pictures.

 

4.           Protect password confidentiality. Passwords are not to be shared with others. Using another user's account or password or allowing such access by another may be permitted only with the approval of the supervising teacher or system administrator.

 

5.           Do not reveal your personal address or telephone number or those of other persons. No student information protected by FERPA should be electronically transmitted or otherwise disseminated through the network.

 

6.           Do not disguise the point of origin or transmission of electronic mail.

 

7.           Do not send messages that contain false, malicious, or misleading information which may be injurious to a person or a person's property.

 

8.           Illegal activities are strictly prohibited.

 

9.           The district technology is not to be used for playing multi‑user or other network intensive games, commercial ventures, Internet relay chat lines, or downloading excessively large files.

 

10.       No charges for services, products, or information are to be incurred without appropriate permission.

 

11.       Do not use the network in such a way that you would disrupt the use of the network by other users.

 

 

 

6141.321

Appendix A

(continued)

 

CODE OF CONDUCT FOR INTERNET AND OTHER

COMPUTER NETWORK ACCESS

 

 

12.       Users shall respect the privacy of others and not read the mail or files of others without their permission. Copyright and licensing laws will not be intentionally violated.

 

13.       Vandalism will result in cancellation of privileges. Vandalism is defined as any malicious attempt to harm or destroy hardware, data of another user, Internet, or any other agencies or other networks which may be accessed. This includes, but is not limited to, the uploading or creation of computer viruses.

 

14.       Report security problems to the supervising teacher or system administrator.

 

15.       Violators of this policy shall hold the district, including its employees and agents, harmless against any and all causes of action, damages, or other liability resulting from the willful or negligent violation of this policy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6141.321

Form #1

 

EAST HADDAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Moodus, Connecticut

 

 

Parent Notification Letter

Computer Resources Agreement Form

East Haddam Public Schools

 

We are pleased to offer students of the East Haddam Public Schools access to the district computer network.  To gain access to these resources, all students under the age of 18 and their parents must sign and return this form to the SCHOOL OFFICE.  Students 18 and over may sign their own forms.

 

Access to the computer network and the Internet will enable students to explore thousands of libraries, databases, and bulletin boards while exchanging messages with Internet users throughout the world.  Families should be warned that some material accessible via the Internet may contain items that are illegal, defamatory, inaccurate or potentially offensive to some people. While our intent is to make Internet access available to further educational goals and objectives, students may find ways to access other materials as well. We believe that the benefits to students from access to the Internet, in the form of information resources and opportunities for collaboration, exceed any disadvantages.  But ultimately, parents and guardians of minors are responsible for setting and conveying the standards that their children should follow when using media and information sources.

 

Computer Network Rules

 

Students are responsible for good behavior on school computer networks just as they are in a classroom or a school hallway.  Communications on the network are often public in nature.  General school rules for behavior and communications apply.

 

The network is provided for students to conduct research and communicate with others.  Access to network services is given to students who agree to act in a considerate and responsible manner.  Access is a privilege - not a right.  Access entails responsibility.

 

Individual users of the district computer networks are responsible for their behavior and communications over those networks.  It is presumed that users will comply with district standards and will honor the agreements they have signed.  Beyond the clarification of such standards, the district is not responsible for restricting, monitoring or controlling the communications of individuals utilizing the network.

 

Network storage areas may be treated like school lockers.  Network administrators may review files and communications to maintain system integrity and insure that users are using the system responsibly.  Users should not expect that files stored on district servers will always be private.

 

Within reason, freedom of speech and access to information will be honored.  During school, teachers of younger students will guide them toward appropriate materials.  Outside of school, families bear the same responsibility for such guidance as they exercise with information sources such as television, telephones, movies, radio and other potentially offensive media.

6141.321

Form #1

(continued)

 

 

 

As outlined in Board policy and procedures on student rights and responsibilities, copies of which are available in school offices, the following are not permitted:

 

1.                  Use of media not belonging to the school system, including floppy disks and CD-ROMs without express permission from the building principal

2.                  Violating any state or federal laws, including copyright

3.                  Sending or displaying offensive messages or pictures

4.                  Using obscene language

5.                  Harassing, insulting, or attacking others

6.                  Damaging computers, computer systems or computer networks

7.                  Moving files and/or programs to/from the network

8.                  Using passwords or network accounts that belong to someone else

9.                  Trespassing in folders, work, or files that belong to someone else

10.              Intentionally wasting limited resources

11.              Employing the network for commercial purposes

 

Violations may result in a loss of access as well as other disciplinary or legal action.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6141.321

Form #2

 

EAST HADDAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Moodus, Connecticut

 

 

User and Parent Agreement Form

 

 

As a user of the East Haddam Public Schools computer network, I hereby agree to comply with the above stated rules – communicating over the network in a responsible fashion while honoring all relevant laws and restrictions.

 

 

_________________________________                  ______________________

Student’s Signature                                                       Date