CODE G12
(Mandatory)
ACCEPTABLE AND RESPONSIBLE USE OF ELECTRONIC RESOURCES & THE INTERNET
Cavendish Town Elementary School
Purpose
Cavendish Town Elementary School uses electronic resources including the Internet to support and enrich the curriculum, to allow students to benefit from responsible access to electronic information resources and opportunities for collaboration that are uniquely provided by certain electronic technologies, and to enhance staff professional development.
This policy is intended to ensure compliance with the requirements of applicable federal and state laws that regulate the provision of access to the internet and other electronic resources by school districts.
Definitions. As used in this policy, the following terms shall be defined in accord with federal and, where the context clearly allows, state law.
1. Child Pornography means any visual depiction, including any photograph, film, video, picture, or computer or computer-generated image or picture, whether made or produced by electronic, mechanical, or other means, of sexually explicit conduct, where:
a. The production of such visual depiction involves the use of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct;
b. Such visual depiction is a digital image, computer image, or computer-generated image that is, or is indistinguishable from, that of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct; or
c. Such visual depiction has been created, adapted, or modified to appear that an identifiable minor is engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
2. Harmful to minors means any picture, image, graphic image file or other visual depiction that:
a. Taken as a whole, with respect to minors, appeals to a prurient interest in nudity, sex or excretion;
b. Depicts, describes or represents in a patently offensive way with respect to what is suitable for minors, an actual or simulated sexual act or sexual contact, actual or simulated normal or perverted sexual acts, or lewd exhibition of the genitals; and
c. Taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value as to minors.
3. Technology protection measure means a specific technology that blocks or filters Internet access to visual depictions that are obscene, harmful to minors, or contain child pornography.
4. Minor means an individual who has not attained the age of 18.
5. Computer means any hardware, software, or other technology attached or connected to, installed in, or otherwise used in connection with a computer.
6. Access to Internet means any device that has access to the Internet.
Policy
Access to Cavendish Town Elementary School’s electronic resources including the Internet will be available to students and staff who agree to abide by the requirements of this policy. User agreements, except as otherwise described in this policy, will be required for students and staff prior to allowing access to school electronic resources.
The availability of access to electronic information does not imply endorsement by Cavendish Town Elementary School of the content, nor does Cavendish Town Elementary School guarantee the accuracy of information received. The School shall not be responsible for any information that may be lost, damaged or unavailable when using the network or for the content of any information that is retrieved via the internet.
The use by students, staff or others of district electronic resources is a privilege, not a right. The School’s computer and network resources are the property of the district. Users shall have no expectation of privacy in anything they create, store, send, receive or display on or over the School’s computers or network resources, including personal files. The School reserves the right to monitor, track, and log network access and use; monitor file server space utilization by School users; or deny access to prevent unauthorized, inappropriate or illegal activity and may revoke access privileges and/or administer appropriate disciplinary action for misuse of its electronic resources. The School shall cooperate to the extent legally required with local, state and federal officials in any investigation concerning or related to the misuse of the School’s Internet, computers or network.
The School shall work to ensure Internet safety for minors by taking steps that include monitoring the online activities of minors and the operation of technology protection measures with respect to any of its computers with Internet access that protects against access through such computers to visual depictions that are obscene, harmful to minors, or contain child pornography.
The following materials, in addition to those stated in law and defined in this policy, are inappropriate for access by minors:
● Defamatory
● Lewd, vulgar, or profane
● Threatening
● Harassing or discriminatory
● Bullying
● Terroristic
● Or any other materials deemed obscene, harmful to minors, or contain child pornography as determined by the Superintendent or his or her designee.
The School shall operate technology protection measures during the use of any of its computers with Internet access, including those computers not accessible to minors, that protect against access through such computers to material inappropriate for minors, including but not limited to, visual depictions that are obscene, harmful to minors, or contain child pornography.
Administrative Responsibilities
The Superintendent or his or her designee shall coordinate and oversee the use of School electronic resources including the Internet, and will develop procedures necessary to implement this policy. In addition, the Superintendent or his or her designee shall ensure that the School, as part of its implementation of this policy, is educating minors about appropriate on-line behavior, including interacting with other individuals on social networking websites and in chat rooms and cyber-bullying awareness and response.
Administrative procedures developed under this policy shall include provisions necessary to ensure that Internet service providers and other contractors comply with applicable restrictions on the collection and disclosure of student data and any other confidential information stored in School electronic resources.
In addition, the administrative procedures developed under this policy shall include Internet safety measures that provide for the monitoring of online activities by minors and address the following:
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, dissemination of personal information regarding minors.
5. Restriction of minors’ access to materials harmful to them.
The administrative procedures developed under this policy shall also provide that authorized individuals may temporarily disable the School’s technology protection measures to enable access for bona fide research or other lawful purpose.
The Superintendent or his or her designee shall conduct an annual analysis of the implementation of this policy, and shall make recommendations to the Board as needed to ensure that the School’s approach to Internet safety is effective.
User Responsibilities
During school hours, users may responsibly access electronic resources including the Internet for school related purposes only. The term "school related purpose" includes use of the system for classroom activities, which may involve e-mail communication, career development, and curriculum driven research. It also includes use of the system for other school activities such as sports, other co-curricular activities and school sponsored fund raising activities.
The School may provide e-mail access for students and staff. Students and staff may use real-time electronic communication, such as chat or instant messaging (only for specifically organized age-appropriate educational activities).
Personal contact information may be posted online for legitimate educational purposes. Students agree to follow communication safety requirements outlined in administrative procedures when using electronic communications including the Internet.
All users of School electronic resources are expected to act in a responsible, ethical and legal manner. Specifically, the following uses are prohibited:
1. Commercial or for-profit uses.
2. Product advertisement or political lobbying.
3. Bullying or harassment
4. Offensive or inflammatory communication, including hate mail, discriminatory remarks or “sexting.”
5. Unauthorized or illegal installation, distribution, reproduction or use of copyrighted materials.
6. Accessing sending, receiving, transferring, viewing sharing or downloading obscene, pornographic, lewd or otherwise illegal materials, images or photographs.
7. Inappropriate language or profanity.
8. Impersonation of another user.
9. Loading or using unauthorized games, programs, files or other electronic media.
10. Disabling or bypassing the Internet blocking/filtering software without authorization.
11. Accessing, sending, receiving, transferring, viewing, sharing or downloading confidential information without authorization.
Students are responsible for the safe-handling of electronic equipment and devices.
Staff may access the School’s electronic resources for limited personal use. Limited personal use of the School’s electronic resources including the Internet shall be allowed if permission is granted by the Superintendent or his or her designee in advance, and the use:
○ imposes no tangible cost to the School;
○ does not unduly burden the School’s electronic resources;
○ occurs during non-instructional time and does not impede other student or staff access for educational purposes; and
○ does not violate this policy.
Parental Notification and Responsibility
Cavendish Town Elementary School will provide written notice to parents/guardians about student use of electronic resources including the Internet, the policies and procedures governing their use, and the limitation of liability of the School. Parents/guardians must sign an agreement to allow their child(ren) to access the School’s electronic resources including the Internet and return this agreement to the school before access will be granted. Students 18 years of age or older must sign their own agreement. A signed user agreement will not be required when students are using school computers for research as part of a course requirement and the use is supervised by a responsible adult.
Limitation/Disclaimer of Liability
Cavendish Town Elementary School is not liable for unacceptable use or violations of copyright restrictions or other laws, user mistakes or negligence, and costs incurred by users. The School is not responsible for ensuring the accuracy, age appropriateness, or usability of any information found on the school’s electronic resources network including the Internet. The School is not responsible for any damage experienced, including, but not limited to, loss of data or interruptions of service. The School is not responsible for the accuracy or quality of information obtained through or stored on the electronic resources system including the Internet, or for financial obligations arising through their unauthorized use.
Enforcement
In the event there is an allegation that a user has violated this policy, a student will be provided with notice and opportunity to be heard in the manner set forth in the student disciplinary policy.
Allegations of staff member violations of this policy will be processed in accordance with contractual agreements and legal requirements.
The School will cooperate fully with local, state, or federal officials in any investigation concerning or relating to illegal activities conducted through the use of the school’s electronic resources including the Internet.
Date Warned: August 15, 2012
Date Adopted: September 18, 2012
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