New Summerfield Independent School District

Staff Acceptable Use Policy

District Local Area Network Regulations

District Internet Acceptable Use Regulations

 

A. Purpose

·         New Summerfield Independent School New Summerfield ISD is providing employees and students with access to the NSISD Local Area Network, which includes Internet access.

·         The New Summerfield ISD Local Area Network has a limited educational purpose. The purpose of the New Summerfield ISD system is to assist in preparing students for success in life and work in the 21st century by providing them with electronic access to a wide range of information and the ability to communicate with people from throughout the world. Additionally, the system will be used to increase New Summerfield ISD intercommunication, enhance productivity, and assist New Summerfield ISD employees in upgrading their skills through greater exchange of information with their peers. The New Summerfield ISD system will also assist the New Summerfield ISD in sharing information with the local community, including parents, social service agencies, government agencies, and businesses.

·         Users may not use the New Summerfield ISD Local Area Network for commercial purposes, defined as offering or providing goods or services or purchasing goods or services for personal use. New Summerfield ISD acquisition policies will be followed for New Summerfield ISD purchase of goods or services through the New Summerfield ISD system.

·         Users may not use the system for political lobbying, as defined by Texas statute covering political lobbying.

·         The term "educational purpose" includes use of the system for classroom activities, professional or career development, and limited high-quality self-discovery activities. SELF DISCOVERY ACTIVITIES WILL BE CLOSELY MONITORED BY DISTRICT TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS.

B. Technical Services Provided through New Summerfield ISD System

·         E-mail. E-mail will allow employees and students to communicate with people from throughout the world.

·         World Wide Web. The Web provides access to a wide range of information in the form of text, graphics, photographs, video, and sound, from throughout the world. The Web is a valuable research tool for students and employees.

·         Blocking software. The New Summerfield ISD is providing software designed to block access to certain sites.

C. Access to the System

·         The New Summerfield ISD Acceptable Use Policy will govern all use of the New Summerfield ISD system. Student use of the system will also be governed by the guidelines stated in this policy document and the general discipline policies previously adopted by the New Summerfield Independent School District. Employee use will also be governed by NSISD Staff Handbook.

·         World Wide Web. All New Summerfield ISD employees and students will have access to the Web through New Summerfield ISD’s networked computers. An agreement recognizing the conditions for staff acceptable uses of the NSISD Local Area Network will be required before use of the network will be allowed. Parents may specifically request that their child(ren) not be provided such access by notifying the New Summerfield ISD in writing..

·         Classroom Accounts. Students will be granted e-mail access only through a classroom account. An agreement will be required for an individual e-mail account. This agreement must be signed by the student and his or her parent. Parents may specifically request that their child(ren) not be provided access through the classroom account by notifying New Summerfield ISD in writing.

·         Individual E-mail Accounts for New Summerfield ISD Employees. New Summerfield ISD employees will be provided with individual account access to the system.

D. Parental Notification and Responsibility

·         New Summerfield ISD will notify the parents about the New Summerfield ISD network and the policies governing its use. Parents must sign an agreement to allow their student to have an individual account. Parents may request alternative activities for their child(ren) that do not require Internet access.

·         Parents have the right to request the termination of their child(ren)'s individual account at any time.

·         The New Summerfield ISD Acceptable Use Policy contains restrictions on accessing inappropriate material. There is a wide range of material available on the Internet, some of which may not be fitting with the particular values of the families of the students. It is not practically possible for New Summerfield ISD to monitor and enforce a wide range of social values in student use of the Internet. Further, the New Summerfield ISD recognizes that parents bear primary responsibility for transmitting their particular set of family values to their children. New Summerfield ISD will encourage parents to specify to their child(ren) what material is and is not acceptable for their child(ren) to access through the New Summerfield ISD system.

·         The New Summerfield ISD will provide students and parents with guidelines for student safety while using the Internet.

E. New Summerfield ISD Limitation of Liability

New Summerfield ISD makes no warranties of any kind, either express or implied, that the functions or the services provided by or through the New Summerfield ISD system will be error-free or without defect. New Summerfield ISD will not be responsible for any damage users may suffer, including but not limited to, loss of data or interruptions of service. New Summerfield ISD is not responsible for the accuracy or quality of the information obtained through or stored on the system. New Summerfield ISD will not be responsible for financial obligations arising through the unauthorized use of the system.

F. Due Process

·         New Summerfield ISD will cooperate fully with local, state, or federal officials in any investigation concerning to or relating to any illegal activities conducted through the New Summerfield ISD system.

·         In the event there is an allegation that a student has violated the New Summerfield ISD Acceptable Use Policy, the student will be provided with a written notice of the alleged violation and an opportunity to present an explanation before a neutral administrator or will be provided with notice and opportunity to be heard in the manner set forth in the Student Disciplinary Policies.

·         Disciplinary actions will be tailored to meet specific concerns related to the violation and to assist the student in gaining the self-discipline necessary to behave appropriately on an electronic network. If the alleged violation also involves a violation of other provisions of the NSISD Disciplinary Policies, the violation will be handled in accord with the applicable provision.

·         Employee violations of the New Summerfield ISD Acceptable Use Policy will be handled in accord with the New Summerfield Independent School District Policy guidelines for employees.

·         may be removed, along with the user's files without notice to the user.

G. Search and Seizure

·         System users have a limited privacy expectation in the contents of their personal files on the New Summerfield ISD system.

·         Routine maintenance and monitoring of the system may lead to discovery that the user has violated or is violating the New Summerfield ISD Acceptable Use Policy, or the law.

·         An individual search will be conducted if there is reasonable suspicion that a user has violated the law or the established acceptable use policy. The nature of the investigation will be reasonable and in the context of the nature of the alleged violation.

·         New Summerfield ISD employees should be aware that their personal files are discoverable under the statutes of the state of Texas.

H. Copyright and Plagiarism

·         New Summerfield ISD policies on copyright will govern the use of material accessed through the New Summerfield ISD system. Because the extent of copyright protection of certain works found on the Internet is unclear, employees will make a standard practice of requesting permission from the holder of the work if their use of the material has the potential of being considered an infringement. Teachers will instruct students to respect copyright and to request permission when appropriate.

·         New Summerfield ISD policies on plagiarism will govern use of material accessed through the New Summerfield ISD system. Teachers will instruct students in appropriate research and citation practices.

I. Academic Freedom, Selection of Material, Student Rights to Free Speech

·         Board policies on Academic Freedom and Free Speech will govern the use of the Internet.

·         When using the Internet for class activities, teachers will select material that is appropriate in light of the age of the students and that is the relevant to the course objectives. Teachers will preview the materials and sites they require or recommend students access to determine the appropriateness of the material contained on or accessed through the site. Teachers will provide guidelines and lists of resources to assist their students in channeling their research activities effectively and properly. Teachers will assist their students in developing the skills to ascertain the truthfulness of information, distinguish fact from opinion, and engage in discussions about controversial issues while demonstrating tolerance and respect for those who hold divergent views.

J. New Summerfield ISD Acceptable Use Policy

The following uses of the New Summerfield ISD system are considered unacceptable:

 

1. Personal Safety (Restrictions are for students only)

·         Users will not post personal contact information about themselves or other people. Personal contact information includes address, telephone, school address, work address, etc.

·         Users will not agree to meet with someone they have met online without their parent's approval and participation.

·         Users will promptly disclose to their teacher or other school employee any message they receive that is inappropriate or makes them feel uncomfortable.

2. Illegal Activities

·         Users will not attempt to gain unauthorized access to the New Summerfield ISD system or to any other computer system through the New Summerfield ISD System, or go beyond their authorized access. This includes attempting to log in through another person's account or access another person's files. These actions are illegal, even if only for the purposes of "browsing".

·         Users will not make deliberate attempts to disrupt the computer system performance or destroy data by spreading computer viruses or by any other means. These actions are illegal.

·         Users will not use the New Summerfield ISD system 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 person, etc.

3. System Security

·         Users are responsible for the use of their individual account and should take all reasonable precautions to prevent others from being able to use their account. Under no conditions should a user provide their password to another person.

·         Users will immediately notify an NSISD administrator if they have identified a possible security problem. Users will not go looking for security problems, because this may be construed as an illegal attempt to gain access.

·         Users will avoid the inadvertent spread of computer viruses by following the New Summerfield ISD virus protection procedures if they download software.

4. Inappropriate Language

 

·         Restrictions against Inappropriate Language apply to public messages, private messages, and material posted on Web pages and in e-mail.

·         Users will not use obscene, profane, lewd, vulgar, rude, inflammatory, threatening, or disrespectful language.

·         Users will not post information that, if acted upon, could cause damage or a danger of disruption.

·         Users will not engage in personal attacks, including prejudicial or discriminatory attacks.

·         Users will not harass another person. Harassment is persistently acting in a manner that distresses or annoys another person. If a user is told by a person to stop sending them messages, they must stop.

·         Users will not knowingly or recklessly post false or defamatory information about a person or organization.

5. Respect for Privacy

·         Users will not repost a message that was sent to them privately without permission of the person who sent them the message.

·         Users will not post private information about another person.

6. Respecting Resource Limits.

·         Users will use the system only for educational and professional or career development activities (no time limit), and limited, teacher monitored, high-quality, self-discovery activities.

·         Users will not download large files unless permission has been granted by an NSISD administrator. If necessary, users will download the file at a time when the system is not being heavily used and immediately remove the file from the system computer to their personal computer.

·         Users will not post chain letters or engage in "spamming". Spamming is sending an annoying or unnecessary message to a large number of people.

·         Users will check their e-mail frequently, delete unwanted messages promptly, and stay within their e-mail quota.

7. Plagiarism and Copyright Infringement

·         Users will not plagiarize works that they find on the Internet. Plagiarism is taking the ideas or writings of others and presenting them as if they were original to the user.

·         Users will respect the rights of copyright owners. Copyright infringement occurs when an individual inappropriately reproduces a work that is protected by a copyright. If a work contains language that specifies acceptable use of that work, the user should follow the expressed requirements. If the user is unsure whether or not they can use a work, they should request permission from the copyright owner.

8. Inappropriate Access to Material

·         Users will not use the New Summerfield ISD system 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 a user inadvertently accesses such information, they should immediately disclose the inadvertent access in a manner specified by their school. This will protect users against an allegation that they have intentionally violated the Acceptable Use Policy.

 

New Summerfield ISD

Network and Internet Access

Staff Account Agreement

 

I have read the New Summerfield ISD Acceptable Use Policy, and I understand the contents.  I will take the responsibility to monitor my classes in accordance with the AUP.  I understand that my computer use is not private and that the District will monitor my activity on the system.  I understand that if I violate the rules, I may face disciplinary action in accordance with NSISD board policy, and may be faced with criminal and civil action pertaining to the laws of the State of Texas and the United States of America.

 

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: _________________________________________________________________