815.  ACCEPTABLE USE OF INTERNET AND NETWORK RESOURCES

1.    Purpose

Internet access, electronic mail (e-mail) and network resources are available to teachers, administrators, and students in the Warwick School District solely for educational and instructional purposes and other purposes consistent with the educational mission of the school district. Use of the Internet, e-mail and district network is a privilege.

With Internet and e-mail access comes the availability of material that may not be considered appropriate in a school setting. The district cannot regulate and monitor all the information received or sent by persons who use the Internet or e-mail; and the district cannot ensure that students who use the network, Internet or e-mail will be prevented from accessing inappropriate materials or sending or receiving objectionable communications. The district believes, however, that the availability and value of the Internet and e-mail far outweigh the possibility that users may procure inappropriate or offensive material.

2.    Authority

The district reserves the right to log, monitor, and review Internet, e-mail, and other network use of each user. This logging, monitoring, and review may be conducted without cause and without notice. Each user of a district computer, by the use thereof, agrees and consents to such logging, monitoring, and review and acknowledges that s/he has no right or expectation of confidentiality or privacy with respect to Internet, e-mail or other network usage.

Network administrators may review student and staff files and communications to maintain system integrity and ensure that students and staff are using the system only for appropriate purposes. Users should expect that files stored on district servers or computers will not be private. An e-mail archiving system is utilized in the district.

The district employs the use of an Internet filter as a technology protection measure pursuant to the Children’s Internet Protection Act. The filter may not be disabled for use by students or other minors for any reason. (20 U.S.C. Sec. 6777 47 U.S.C. Sec. 254)

All students, administrators, and staff members who use the Internet, e-mail, and other network facilities must agree to and abide by all conditions of the policy. Students may not use the district’s computers for access to the Internet or for e-mail without the approval or supervision of a teacher or school district staff member.

The district makes no warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, for the service it is providing. The district is not responsible, and will not be responsible, for any damages, including loss of data resulting from delays, nondeliveries, missed deliveries, or service interruption. Use of any information obtained through the use of the district network is at the user’s risk. The district disclaims responsibility for the accuracy or quality of information obtained through the Internet or e-mail.

The district assumes no responsibility or liability for any charges incurred by a user. Under normal operating procedures, there will be no cost incurred.

Subscriptions to listservs must be preapproved by the district. A student may not download or install any commercial software, shareware, or freeware onto local and/or network drives or disks, unless s/he has the specific, prior written permission from a teacher or administrator.

3.    Guidelines

General Prohibitions

Use of the Internet, e-mail, and network must be in support of the educational mission and instructional program of the district. With respect to all users, the following are expressly prohibited:

1. Use for inappropriate or illegal purposes.
2. Use in an illegal manner or to facilitate illegal activity.
3. Use for commercial, private advertisement, or for-profit purposes.
4. Use for lobbying or political purposes.
5. Use to infiltrate or interfere with a computer system and/or damage to data, files, operations, software or hardware components of a computer or system.
6. Hate mail, harassment, discriminatory remarks, threatening statements and other antisocial communications on the network.
7. The illegal installation, distribution, reproduction or use of copyrighted software. (Pol. 814)
8. Use to access, view or obtain material that is obscene, pornographic, including child pornography, or harmful to minors.
9. Use to transmit material likely to be offensive or objectionable to recipients.
10. Use to obtain, copy or modify files, passwords, data or information belonging to other users.
11. Use to misrepresent other users on the network.
12. Use of another person’s e-mail address, user account or password.
13. Loading or use of unauthorized games, programs, files, music or other electronic media.
14. Use to disrupt the work of other persons. Hardware or software of other persons shall not be destroyed, modified or abused in any way.
15. Use to upload, create or attempt to create a computer virus.
16. The unauthorized disclosure, use or dissemination of personal information regarding minors.
17. Bullying/Cyberbullying. (SC 1303.1-A, Pol. 249)
18. Use which involves any copyright violation. (Pol. 814)
19. Use to invade the privacy of other persons.
20. Posting anonymous messages.
21. Use to read, delete, copy or modify the e-mail or files of other users or deliberately interfering with the ability of other users to send or receive e-mail.
22. Use while access privileges are suspended or revoked.
23. Any attempt to circumvent or disable the filter or any security measure.
24. Use inconsistent with network etiquette and other generally accepted etiquette.

Student Prohibitions

Student users and any other minors shall not:

1. Use the system to access inappropriate or obscene materials or materials that may be harmful to minors.
2. Disclose, use or disseminate any personal identification information of themselves or other students.
3. Engage in or access chat rooms or instant messaging without the permission and direct supervision of a teacher or administrator.

Etiquette

Users are expected to abide by the generally accepted rules of network etiquette. These include but are not limited to the following:

1. Be polite. Do not become abusive in messages to others. General district rules and Board policies for behavior and communicating apply.
2. Use appropriate language. Do not swear or use vulgarities or other inappropriate language.
3. Do not reveal the personal addresses or telephone numbers of others.
4. Recognize that e-mail is not private or confidential.
5. Do not use the Internet or e-mail in any way that would interfere with or disrupt its use by other users.
6. Consider all communications and information accessible via the Internet to be private property.
7. Do not order any materials or use credit cards while using the district network.
8. Respect the rights of other users to an open and hospitable technology environment, regardless of race, sexual orientation, color, religion, creed, ethnicity, age, marital status or handicap status.

Security

Security on any network system is a high priority especially when the system involves many users. Each user is required to report any security problems to the system administrator. The problem is not to be demonstrated to other users.

System security is protected through the use of passwords. Failure to adequately protect or update passwords could result in unauthorized access to personal or district files. To protect the integrity of the system, the following guidelines shall be followed:

1. Employees and students shall not reveal their passwords to another individual.
2. Users are not to use a computer that has been logged in under another student's or employee's name.
3. Any user identified as a security risk or having a history of problems with other computer systems may be denied access to the network.

Consequences of Inappropriate Use

The user, whether a student or employee, shall be responsible for damages to equipment, systems or software resulting from deliberate or willful acts. In addition to other appropriate disciplinary procedures, failure by any user to follow the procedures, and prohibitions listed in this policy may result in the loss of access to the network, Internet and e-mail. Illegal activities or use may be reported to the appropriate legal authorities for possible prosecution. The district reserves the right to remove a user from the network to prevent unauthorized or illegal activity.

    
The use of the Internet and e-mail is a privilege, not a right. District administrative staff, along with the system administrator, will deem what is appropriate and inappropriate use and their decision is final (47 U.S.C. Sec. 254).

4.    Delegation of Responsibility (20 U.S.C. Sec. 6777 47 U.S.C. Sec. 254)
    
The Superintendent or designee shall be responsible for recommending technology and developing procedures used to determine whether the district's computers are being used for purposes prohibited by law or for accessing sexually explicit materials. The procedures shall include but not be limited to:

1. Utilizing a technology protection measure that blocks or filters Internet access for minors and adults to certain visual depictions that are obscene, child pornography, harmful to minors with respect to use by minors, or determined inappropriate for use by minors by the Board.
2. Maintaining and securing a usage log.
3. Monitoring online activities of minors.

    
Internet safety measures shall effectively address the following: (47 U.S.C. Sec. 254)

1. Control of access by minors to inappropriate matter on the Internet and World Wide Web.
2. Safety and security of minors when using electronic mail, chat rooms, and other forms of direct electronic communications.
3. Prevention of unauthorized online access by minors, including "hacking" and other unlawful activities.
4. Unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal information regarding minors.
5. Restriction of minors’ access to materials harmful to them.

References:

School Code – 24 P.S. Sec. 1303.1-A
Child Internet Protection Act – 24 P.S. Sec. 4601 et seq.
Enhancing Education Through Technology Act of 2001 – 20 U.S.C. Sec. 6777
Internet Safety – 47 U.S.C. Sec. 254
Board Policy – 249, 814