Acceptable Use Guidelines

and Internet Protection Plan

For Technology Resources

 

 

Onalaska Independent School District provides technology resources to its students and staff for educational and administrative purposes. The goal in providing these resources is to promote educational excellence in the Onalaska School District by facilitating resource sharing, innovation, and communication with the support and supervision of parents, teachers, and support staff. The use of these technology resources is a privilege, not a right.

 

Proper behavior, as it relates to the use of computers, is no different than proper behavior in all other aspects of Onalaska ISD activities. All users are expected to use the computers and computer networks in a responsible, ethical, and polite manner. This document is intended to clarify those expectations as they apply to computer and network usage and is consistent with District policy.

 

Definition of District Technology Resources

The District’s computer systems and networks are any configuration of hardware and software. The systems and networks include all of the computer hardware, operating system software, application software, stored text, and data files. This includes electronic mail, local databases, externally accessed databases (such as the Internet), CD-ROM, optical media, clip art, digital images, digitized information, communications technologies, and new technologies as they become available. The District reserves the right to monitor all technology resource activity.

 

Acceptable Use

The District’s technology resources will be used only for learning, teaching, and administrative purposes consistent with the District’s mission and goals. Commercial use of the District’s system is strictly prohibited.

 

The District will make training available to all users in the proper use of the system and will make copies of acceptable use guidelines available to all users. A copy of the acceptable use guidelines will be available in each principal’s office for review. All training in the use of the District’s system will emphasize the ethical use of this resource.

 

Software or external data may not be placed on any computer, whether stand-alone or networked to the District’s system, without permission from the Superintendent or designee.

 

Other issues applicable to acceptable use are:

 

1.      Supervision and permission: Student use of the computers and computer network is only allowed when supervised or granted permission by a staff member.

2.      Copyright: All users are expected to follow existing copyright laws.

3.      Attempting to log on or logging on to a computer or email system by using another’s user name and password is prohibited: Assisting others in violating this rule by sharing information or passwords is unacceptable.

4.      Improper use of any computer or the network is prohibited. This includes the following:

·        Using racist, profane, or obscene language or materials

·        Using the network for financial gain, political, or commercial activity

·        Attempting to or harming equipment, materials, or data

·        Attempting to or sending anonymous messages of any kind

·        Using the network to provide addresses or other personal information that others may use inappropriately

• Accessing of information resources, files, and documents of another user without their permission

 

Internet Protection

Onalaska ISD uses the filtering services provided by Region VI Service Center. This filtering software blocks access to inappropriate websites and material on the Internet. It has been placed on all computers that students use in the district. In addition, students using the Internet will be monitored and supervised by a teacher/staff member continuously. Students having access to the use of the Internet must have an Acceptable Use Policy consent form signed and on file.

 

The use of the Internet is a privilege, not a right, and inappropriate use will result in possible cancellation of those privileges. Users are expected to comply with any and all national and state regulations. This includes, but is not limited to: copyrighted material, threatening or obscene material, or material protected by trade secret. Users are also expected to abide by accepted rules of network etiquette and conduct themselves in a responsible, ethical, and polite manner while online. These rules include, but are not limited to:

• Users are not permitted to use the computing resources for commercial purposes, product advertising, political lobbying, or political campaigning.
• Users are not permitted to transmit, receive, submit, or publish any defamatory, inaccurate, abusive, obscene, profane, sexually orientated, threatening, offensive, or illegal material.
• Users must respect all copyright laws. Plagiarism is not acceptable or tolerable.
• Posting of personal addresses, phone numbers, or full names is prohibited.
• Electronic mail and other forms of electronic communications will be monitored and supervised continuously. They are not guaranteed to be private.
• Messages relating to illegal activities are prohibited.
• Physical or electronic tampering (i.e. hacking) with computer resources is prohibited and will result in immediate cancellation of privileges.

 

The purpose of the Internet is to support research and education. It must be used to support the educational goals of the Onalaska Independent School District. Onalaska ISD firmly believes that the Internet is a valuable tool that, when used to support the Onalaska ISD goals, far outweighs the possibility that users may procure material that is not consistent with the educational goals of the district.

 

System Access

Access to the District’s network systems will be governed as follows:

 

1.  Students will have access to the District’s resources for class assignments   and research with their teacher’s permission and/or supervision.

2.      Teachers with accounts will be required to maintain password confidentiality by not sharing the password with students or others.

3.      With the approval of the immediate supervisor, district employees will be granted access to the District’s system.

4.      Any system user identified as a security risk or having violated District Acceptable

Use Guidelines may be denied access to the District’s system. Other consequences may also be assigned.

 

 

Campus Level Coordinator Responsibilities

As the campus level coordinator for the network systems, the principal or designee will:

 

1.      Be responsible for disseminating and enforcing the District Acceptable Use Guidelines for the District’s system at the campus level.

2.      Ensure that employees supervising students who use the District’s systems provide information emphasizing the appropriate and ethical use of this resource.

 

 

Individual User Responsibilities

The following standards will apply to all users of the District’s computer network systems:

 

1.      The individual in whose name a system account is issued will be responsible at all times for its proper use.

2.      The system may not be used for illegal purposes, in support of illegal activities, or for any other activity prohibited by district guidelines.

3.  System users may not use another person’s system account without written permission from the campus coordinator or principal, as appropriate.

4.   System users are asked to purge electronic mail or outdated files on a regular basis.

5.      System users are responsible for making sure they do not violate any copyright laws.

 

 

Vandalism Prohibited

Any malicious attempt to harm or destroy District equipment or materials, data of another user of the District’s system, or any of the agencies or other networks to which the District has access is prohibited. Deliberate attempts to degrade or disrupt system performance may be viewed as violations of district guidelines and, possibly, as criminal activity under applicable state and federal laws, including the Texas Penal Code, Computer Crimes, Chapter 33. This includes, but is not limited to, the uploading or creating of computer viruses.

 

Vandalism as defined above will result in the cancellation of system use privileges, possible prosecution, and will require restitution for costs associated with system restoration, hardware, or software costs.

 

 

Forgery Prohibited

Forgery or attempted forgery of electronic messages is prohibited. Attempts to read, delete, copy, or modify electronic mail of other system users or deliberate interference with the ability of other system users to send/receive electronic mail is prohibited.

 

 

Third Party Supplied Information

A student bringing prohibited materials into the school’s electronic environment will be subject to a suspension and/or a revocation of privileges on the District’s system and will be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct. An employee knowingly bringing prohibited materials into the school’s electronic environment will be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with District policies.

 

 

Network Etiquette

System users are expected to observe the following network etiquette (also know as netiquette):

 

1.      Use appropriate language: swearing, vulgarity, ethnic or racial slurs, and any other inflammatory language is prohibited.

2.      Pretending to be someone else when sending/receiving messages is prohibited.

3.      Transmitting obscene messages or pictures is prohibited.

4.      Revealing such personal information as addresses or phone numbers or users or others is prohibited.

5.      Using the network in such a way that would disrupt the use of the network by other users is prohibited.

6.      Be polite.  For example, messages typed in capital letters are the computer equivalent of shouting and are considered rude.

 

 

Termination/Revocation of System User Account

The District may suspend or revoke a system user’s access to the District’s system upon violation of District policy and/or administrative regulations regarding acceptable use.

 

Termination of an employee’s account or of a student’s access will be effective on the date the principal or campus coordinator receives notice of user withdrawal or of revocation of system privileges, or on a future date if so specified in the notice.

 

 

Consequences of Improper Use

Improper or unethical use may result in disciplinary actions consistent with the existing Student Discipline Policy and, if appropriate, the Texas Penal Code, Computer Crimes, Chapter 33, or other state and federal laws. This may also require restitution for costs associated with system restoration, hardware, or software costs.

 

 

Disclaimer

The District’s system is provided on an “as is, as available” basis. The District does not make any warranties, whether expressed or implied, including, without limitation, those of fitness for a particular purpose with respect to any services provided by the system and any information or software contained therein. The District uses a variety of vendor-supplied hardware and software. Therefore, the District does not warrant that the functions or services performed by, or that the information or software contained on the system will meet the user’s requirements. Neither does the District warrant that the system will be uninterrupted or error-free, nor that defects will be corrected.

 

Opinions, advice, services, and all other information expressed by system users, information providers, service providers, or other third party individuals in the system are those of the providers and not necessarily the District.

 

The District will cooperate fully with local, state, or federal officials in any investigation concerning or relating to misuse of the District’s computer systems and networks.

 

 

 

Electronic Mail and Additional Technology Guidelines

 

 

·        Electronic Mail (e-mail) via Region VI

·        User Security Responsibilities

·        Maintenance of Local Hard Drives

 

Electronic Mail

E-mail has become one of the most used communications tools in both offices and classrooms. As it becomes a part of all classrooms, the following points are important to keep in mind:

 

·        The technology that provides us e-mail capabilities has been publicly funded. For that reason, it should not be considered a private, personal form of communication. Although we do not actively monitor e-mail communications, the contents of any communication of this type would be governed by the Open Records Act. We would have to abide and cooperate with any legal request for access to email contents by the proper authorities.

 

·        Requests for personal information on students or staff members should not be honored via e-mail. It is critical for a personal contact to be made with any individual requesting personal information. This relates particularly to any requests for student grades, discipline, attendance, or related information. In addition, security information such as username or password should not be sent via e-mail for any reason.

 

·        Staff members should set aside time at least twice a day (once in the morning and once in the afternoon) to check and respond to e-mail messages. E-mail will be used as a communication tool for correspondence between staff members and administration. As a courtesy, 24-hour turnaround time should be met in most instances.

 

·        Attachments to e-mail messages should include only data files. At no time should program files (typically labeled “.exe”) be attached due to software licensing requirements. In addition, there exists the real possibility that any program files received as attachments over the Internet may include viruses or other very destructive capabilities once they are “opened” or started. If you receive an attachment like this, please delete the e-mail message immediately without saving or opening or looking at the attachment.

 

·        Please notify your technology coordinator or your campus technology assistant if you receive unsolicited e-mail, particularly if it is of a “hate mail” or “threatening” nature.

 

 

User Security Responsibilities

 

·        Your user name and password should be protected from unauthorized use at all times. Do not post any of this information where others can view it.

 

·        Do not share your password via e-mail at any time. If a technology representative needs that information, they must request it in person.

 

 

 

 

Maintenance of Local Hard Drives

 

·        On occasion, we need to reformat hard drives. Reformatting completely erases all contents of the hard drive. All district software, such as Office ’97, which is consistent throughout the district, will be reinstalled. All other approved software, purchased by the building, will need to be reinstalled by the Campus Technology Assistant. We will not reinstall unapproved copies of software nor will we be able to retrieve any personal data files. With this in mind, please keep any installation disks of specific school-purchased software in an identified location at your campus (preferably with the Campus Technology Assistant) should the need for reinstallation arise. Please be personally responsible for making backups of any data files that you store on your local hard drive. (Backups can be stored on the campus server or saved to a floppy disk.)

 

·        All computer hardware should be shut down each evening. This includes  CPUs, monitors, and printers. The exception to this would be networked printers since many different staff members use them and most have an automatic power-saving feature.