New
Network Acceptable Use Policy
Community Local Area Network
Regulations
Community Internet Acceptable Use
Regulations
New
Summerfield Independent School District now provides access to the NSISD Local
Area Network and the Internet. This worldwide network offers an infinite
variety of data, some of which is not appropriate for school use. As a
precaution, this acceptable use policy will be implemented to help prevent
access to objectionable material and inappropriate contact over the Internet.
Please understand that it is the belief of the NSISD administration that the
benefits of the Internet far outweigh the risks.
A.
Educational Purpose
·
The
NSISD network has been established for a limited educational purpose. The term
"educational purpose" includes classroom activities, career
development, and limited, teacher monitored self-discovery activities.
·
The
NSISD Local Area Network has not been established as a public access service or
a public forum. New Summerfield Independent School District has the right to
place reasonable restrictions on the material you access or post through the
system. You are expected to follow the rules set forth in this NSISD Acceptable
Use Policy, NSISD Board Policy, and applicable
·
You
may not use the NSISD network for commercial purposes. This means you may not
offer, provide, or purchase products or services through the NSISD network.
·
You
may not use NSISD network for political lobbying.
B.
Internet Access
All
users will have access to Internet World Wide Web information through classrooms,
the library, or school computer labs. All users must have a completed, signed Account
Agreement prior to receiving an Internet account. This Agreement must be renewed on an annual
basis. You may cancel your account at any time.
C.
Unacceptable Uses
The
following are examples of unacceptable uses of the NSISD electronic communications
system. Understand that these do not depict the only unacceptable uses of the
NSISD Local Area Network, but serve only as examples of possible unacceptable
uses.
1.
Personal Safety Issues
·
You
will not post personal contact information about yourself or other people.
Personal contact information includes your name, address, telephone, school address,
work address, etc.
·
You
will not agree to meet with someone you have met online.
·
You
will promptly disclose to NSISD administration any message you receive that is
inappropriate or makes you feel uncomfortable.
2.
Illegal Activities
·
You
will not attempt to gain unauthorized access to the NSISD network or to any
other computer system or go beyond your authorized access. This includes
attempting to log in through another person's account or to access another
person's files. These actions are illegal, even if only for the purposes of
"browsing."
·
You
will not make deliberate attempts to disrupt the computer system or destroy
data by spreading computer viruses or by any other means. These actions are
illegal.
·
You
will not use the NSISD network to engage in any other illegal act, such as
arranging for a drug sale or the purchase of alcohol, engaging in criminal gang
activity, threatening the safety of persons, etc.
·
You
will not download any program file, executable program, or java applet with
prior written approval from a New Summerfield ISD administrator.
·
You
will not bring floppy disks, CD-ROMs, and other storage media to use in NSISD
computers without receiving written approval from an NSISD administrator.
·
You
will not load any application, game, operating system, applet,
graphic, sound, or video file onto any NSISD computer system without written
approval from an NSISD administrator.
3.
System Security
a. You are responsible
for your individual account and should take all reasonable precautions to
prevent others from being able to use your account. Under no conditions should
you provide your password to another person.
b. You will immediately
notify an administrator if you have identified a possible security problem. Do
not go looking for security problems, because this may be construed as an
illegal attempt to gain access.
c. You will avoid the
inadvertent spread of computer viruses by following the NSISD virus protection
procedures if you download software.
4.
Inappropriate Language
·
Restrictions
against inappropriate language apply to public messages, private messages, and
material posted on Web pages.
·
You
will not use obscene, profane, lewd, vulgar, rude, inflammatory, threatening,
or disrespectful language.
·
You
will not post information that could cause damage or a danger of disruption.
·
You
will not engage in personal attacks, including prejudicial or discriminatory
attacks.
·
You
will not harass another person. Harassment is persistently acting in a manner
that distresses or annoys another person. If you are told by a person to stop
sending them messages, you must stop!
·
You
will not knowingly or recklessly post false or defamatory information about a
person or organization.
5.
Respect for Privacy
·
You
will not re-post a message that was sent to you privately without permission of
the person who sent you message.
·
You
will not post private information about another person.
6.
Respecting Resource Limits
·
You
will use the system only for educational and career development activities and
limited, high-quality, self-discovery activities. There is no limit on use for
education and career development activities. Self-discovery activities will be
closely monitored by staff members.
·
You
will not download files unless absolutely necessary. Prior permission must be
attained before any download of files.
·
You
will not post chain letters or engage in "spamming". Spamming is
sending an annoying or unnecessary message to a large number of people.
7.
Plagiarism and Copyright Infringement
·
You
will not plagiarize works that you find on the Internet or on the NSISD Local
Area Network. Plagiarism is taking the ideas and or writings of others and
presenting them as if they were yours.
·
You
will respect the rights of copyright owners. Copyright infringement occurs when
you inappropriately reproduce a work that is protected by a copyright. If a
work contains language that specifies appropriate use of that work, you should
follow the expressed requirements. If you are unsure whether or not you can use
a work, you should request permission from the copyright owner. Copyright law
can be very confusing. If you have questions, ask an administrator.
8.
Inappropriate Access to Material
NSISD
has implemented a "content filtered" Internet Access system utilizing
InterGate and IPrism. This
system is constantly updated to reject objectionable material such as
pornography, hate groups, objectionable language, etc. Unfortunately,
there is no perfect system that will guarantee 100% protection from
inappropriate material. Furthermore, it is impossible to reflect each individual’s
attitudes on what is "inappropriate material". It is very important
for each user to read and understand the following:
·
You
will not use NSISD Local Area Network to access material that is profane or
obscene (pornography), that advocates illegal acts, or that advocates violence
or discrimination towards other people (hate literature).
·
If
you mistakenly access inappropriate information, you should immediately tell a district
administrator. This will protect you against a claim that you have
intentionally violated this Policy. Be aware that monitoring software is
available to research access logs. In the event of a suspected intentional
violation of an inappropriate Web site, the district will review the site
access logs.
9.
Due Process
·
NSISD
will cooperate fully with local, state, or federal officials in any
investigation related to any illegal activities conducted through the NSISD
network.
·
In
the event there is a claim that you have violated the Acceptable Use Policy, or NSISD board policies in your use of the NSISD
network, you will be provided written notice of the suspected violation and an
opportunity to present an explanation before an administrator. That
administrator will assess the level (how flagrant) of the rule violation, and
take appropriate steps to enforce the rule, regulation, or law that has been
broken.
10.
Limitation of Liability
NSISD
makes no guarantee that the functions or the services provided by or through
the NSISD Local Area Network will be error-free or without defect. NSISD will
not be responsible for any damage you may suffer, including but not limited to,
loss of data or interruptions of service. NSISD is not responsible for the
accuracy or quality of the information obtained through or stored on the system.
NSISD will not be responsible for financial obligations arising through the
unauthorized use of the system.
11.
Personal Responsibility
When
you are using the NSISD Local Area Network, it may feel like you can more
easily break a rule and not get caught. This is not really true because
whenever you do something on a network you leave little "electronic
footprints", so the odds of getting caught are really about the same as
they are in the real world.
New
Community Network/Internet Use
Agreement
I have read the New
Summerfield ISD Acceptable Use Policy, and I understand the contents. I understand and will abide by the above
Network/Internet Acceptable Use Policy. I understand that my computer use is
not private and that the District will monitor my activity on the system. I further understand that any violation of
the regulations above is unethical and may constitute a criminal offense.
Should I commit any violation, my access privileges may be revoked and appropriate
legal action may be taken.
I
hereby release the district, its personnel, and any institutions with which it
is affiliated from any and all claims and damages of any nature arising from my
use of, or inability to use, the NSISD network, including, without limitation,
claims that may arise from the unauthorized use of the system to purchase
products or services.
Name:
________________________________________________________________
Signature:
____________________________________________________________
Home
address: ________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Home
telephone: ______________________________________________________
Date:
_________________________________________________________________