ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY
Technology Network
Staff and Student Acceptable Use Policy
Wareham Public Schools
The Wareham Public Schools has provided their students and staff an intricate Technology Network (hereafter known as the Network) that includes e-mail, voice mail, an intranet of computers and Internet access. Clearly the intent of providing this system of analog and digital tools is to promote learning within the school system. Use of this Network is a privilege. Since the Network is primarily for educational use, certainly any use that interferes with the educational process is prohibited. The purpose of this policy is to meet the demands of state and federal law (i.e. Child Internet Protection Act, CIPA) and to provide guidelines for legal, moral and ethical use by our students and staff.
Users should be aware that all rules of public record and confidentiality apply in the digital world. As a result all incoming and outgoing messages and attachments are subject to being accessed, reviewed, disclosed or monitored. This monitoring will be done at the sole discretion of the Wareham Public Schools in the ordinary course of business, at any time, with or without notice, notwithstanding any password. For example, the Wareham Public Schools have the capability and reserve the right to monitor use of the Internet, including web sites visited and files downloaded.
The Network may not be used to create or disseminate any offensive or disruptive messages. Among those which are considered offensive are messages or material which contains sexual implications, racial or ethnic slurs, or other comments that offensively address someone's age, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, ancestry or disability. In addition, the system must not be used to communicate improper messages, for example, messages or material that is defamatory, derogatory, obscene, or otherwise inappropriate.
Of course, the Network must not be used to violate any law, regulation, or school policy. Users must not visit sexually explicit, offensive or otherwise inappropriate Web sites. Users must of course comply with all copyright laws. Users are strictly forbidden from "hacking" or from knowingly introducing electronic worms and/or viruses to the system.
Wareham Public Schools' users are expected to abide by the generally accepted rules of network etiquette that includes, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Be polite.
2. Use appropriate, nonabusive language.
3. The staff is cautioned about and students prohibited from revealing personal addresses, credit card numbers, or phone numbers.
All users should keep in mind that when they use the Network, they are entering a global community and any actions taken by them will reflect upon the school system as a whole. As such, all users must behave in an ethical and legal manner. Users should be considerate of our network resources and limit their demands on our "bandwidth".
The Network must not be used to create, send or forward "chain letter e-mails” or engage in "spam" (unsolicited, unauthorized mass mailings). Further, confidential or privileged information should not be sent without appropriate warnings, safeguards or encryption. Users must not use the system to solicit private business endeavors. Users must not access other user's e-mail/voice mail without authorization. Users should understand that the mere deletion of a message or file may not eliminate it form the system.
Also under the heading of appropriate use, users should bear in mind that although their passwords belong to the system, that these passwords are still confidential, and that users are accountable for all usage under their passwords. Users should realize that only school system approved encryption methods may be used and then only by authorized users. Students may not engage in chat, chatroom or bulletin board activities that are not sanctioned by the school system.
Finally, users should understand that federal law mandates that all school systems must filter all Internet access on all their systems all of the time. In fact, staff members are charged with assisting the implementation of CIPA. The Wareham Public Schools reserves the right to change these rules at any time.
For students, violations of any of the above guidelines may result in the loss of access and/or additional disciplinary action as deemed appropriate at the building level. In order for a student to use the Wareham Public Schools' Internet connection, the student must read these guidelines. Receipt of these guidelines will be acknowledged in the student handbook. Parents who do not want their child to use the Internet during school hours must notify the school principal in writing.
I have read the Acceptable Use Policy and understand that violations of any of the above guidelines may result in the loss of access and/or additional disciplinary action as deemed appropriate at the building level.
Printed Name Student ______________________________________
Signature Student ________________________________________ Date_________________
Signature Parent or Guardian _______________________________ Date _________________
Reviewed by SCPRSCP: October 3, 1996
ADOPTED: OCTOBER 9, 1996
Reviewed by SCPRSCP: April 3, 2001
AMENDED: JUNE 27, 2001
Reviewed by SCPRSCP: April 2, 2002
AMENDED: APRIL 10, 2002
WAREHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS - WAREHAM, MASSACHUSETTS
Technology Network
Staff and Student Acceptable Use Policy
Wareham Public Schools
The Wareham Public Schools has provided their students and staff an intricate Technology Network (hereafter known as the Network) that includes e-mail, voice mail, an intranet of computers and Internet access. Clearly the intent of providing this system of analog and digital tools is to promote learning within the school system. Use of this Network is a privilege. Since the Network is primarily for educational use, certainly any use that interferes with the educational process is prohibited. The purpose of this policy is to meet the demands of state and federal law (i.e. Child Internet Protection Act, CIPA) and to provide guidelines for legal, moral and ethical use by our students and staff.
Users should be aware that all rules of public record and confidentiality apply in the digital world. As a result all incoming and outgoing messages and attachments are subject to being accessed, reviewed, disclosed or monitored. This monitoring will be done at the sole discretion of the Wareham Public Schools in the ordinary course of business, at any time, with or without notice, notwithstanding any password. For example, the Wareham Public Schools have the capability and reserve the right to monitor use of the Internet, including web sites visited and files downloaded.
The Network may not be used to create or disseminate any offensive or disruptive messages. Among those which are considered offensive are messages or material which contains sexual implications, racial or ethnic slurs, or other comments that offensively address someone's age, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, ancestry or disability. In addition, the system must not be used to communicate improper messages, for example, messages or material that is defamatory, derogatory, obscene, or otherwise inappropriate.
Of course, the Network must not be used to violate any law, regulation, or school policy. Users must not visit sexually explicit, offensive or otherwise inappropriate Web sites. Users must of course comply with all copyright laws. Users are strictly forbidden from "hacking" or from knowingly introducing electronic worms and/or viruses to the system.
Wareham Public Schools' users are expected to abide by the generally accepted rules of network etiquette that includes, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Be polite.
2. Use appropriate, nonabusive language.
3. The staff is cautioned about and students prohibited from revealing personal addresses, credit card numbers, or phone numbers.
All users should keep in mind that when they use the Network, they are entering a global community and any actions taken by them will reflect upon the school system as a whole. As such, all users must behave in an ethical and legal manner. Users should be considerate of our network resources and limit their demands on our "bandwidth".
The Network must not be used to create, send or forward "chain letter e-mails” or engage in "spam" (unsolicited, unauthorized mass mailings). Further, confidential or privileged information should not be sent without appropriate warnings, safeguards or encryption. Users must not use the system to solicit private business endeavors. Users must not access other user's e-mail/voice mail without authorization. Users should understand that the mere deletion of a message or file may not eliminate it form the system.
Also under the heading of appropriate use, users should bear in mind that although their passwords belong to the system, that these passwords are still confidential, and that users are accountable for all usage under their passwords. Users should realize that only school system approved encryption methods may be used and then only by authorized users. Students may not engage in chat, chatroom or bulletin board activities that are not sanctioned by the school system.
Finally, users should understand that federal law mandates that all school systems must filter all Internet access on all their systems all of the time. In fact, staff members are charged with assisting the implementation of CIPA. The Wareham Public Schools reserves the right to change these rules at any time.
For students, violations of any of the above guidelines may result in the loss of access and/or additional disciplinary action as deemed appropriate at the building level. In order for a student to use the Wareham Public Schools' Internet connection, the student must read these guidelines. Receipt of these guidelines will be acknowledged in the student handbook. Parents who do not want their child to use the Internet during school hours must notify the school principal in writing.
I have read the Acceptable Use Policy and understand that violations of any of the above guidelines may result in the loss of access and/or additional disciplinary action as deemed appropriate at the building level.
Printed Name Student ______________________________________
Signature Student ________________________________________ Date_________________
Signature Parent or Guardian _______________________________ Date _________________
Reviewed by SCPRSCP: October 3, 1996
ADOPTED: OCTOBER 9, 1996
Reviewed by SCPRSCP: April 3, 2001
AMENDED: JUNE 27, 2001
Reviewed by SCPRSCP: April 2, 2002
AMENDED: APRIL 10, 2002
WAREHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS - WAREHAM, MASSACHUSETTS