2011-2012
MOUNT EPHRAIM SCHOOL DISTRICT
COMPUTER/INTERNET USE POLICY FOR STUDENTS
The Mt. Ephraim Public Schools District provides students with the privilege to access the district’s electronic communication system, which includes Internet access. The Internet offers vast, diverse, and unique resources for our schools. There are however, information areas within the structure of the Internet, which may be inappropriate for access and use by some or all of our students. Staff members will make every effort to ensure student use of the Internet is appropriate and educational.
TERMS & CONDITIONS:
Acceptable Use – The use of your account must be in support of education and research and consistent with the educational objectives of the school district. Use of other organization’s network or computing resources must comply with the rules appropriate for that network. Transmission of any material in violation of any U.S. or state regulation is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to: copyrighted material, threatening or obscene material, or material protected by a trade secret. Use for commercial activities is not acceptable. Use for product advertising or political lobbying is also prohibited.
Privileges – The use of school network and the Internet is a privilege, not a right, and inappropriate use will result in cancellation of these privileges. (Each student who receives an account will be part of a discussion group with a faculty member pertaining to the proper use of the network.) The system administrators will deem what is inappropriate use and their decision is final. Also, the administration may close an account at any time as required. The administration, faculty and staff may request the technology director to deny, revoke or suspend specific accounts.
Etiquette – You are expected to abide by the generally accepted rules of network etiquette. These include (but are not limited to) the following:
· Avoid offensive or inflammatory speech. Be courteous and polite.
· Use appropriate language. Profanity or obscenity is not permitted at any time.
· Do not reveal your personal address or phone numbers, or that of students or colleagues.
· Note that electronic mail (e-mail) is not guaranteed to be private. People who operate the system do have access to mail. Messages relating to or in support of illegal activities may be reported to the authorities.
· Do not use the network in such a way that you would disrupt the work of others.
· All communications and information accessible via the network should be assumed to be private property. Do not quote personal communications without the author’s prior consent.
Vandalism – Vandalism will result in a cancellation of privileges and possible legal action. Vandalism is defined as any malicious attempt to harm equipment, destroy data of another user, Internet or other networks that are connected to the Internet backbone. This includes, but is not limited to, the uploading or creation of computer viruses.
Equipment – Computer equipment, including but not limited to, headphones, CD’s, etc. is the property of the Mt. Ephraim School District. Anyone removing such equipment will be subject to disciplinary measures such as loss of computer privileges, replacement costs, etc.
Security – Security on any computer system is a high priority, especially when the system involves many users. Never share your password or account with anyone. You have full responsibility for the use of your account, and can be held responsible for any policy violations that are traced to your account.
Exceptions of Terms and Conditions – All terms and conditions as stated in this document are applicable to all users of the network. These terms and conditions reflect an agreement of the parties and shall be governed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey and the United States of America.
Procedures for use – All users have the same right to use the equipment. Therefore, users shall not play games or use the computer resources for other non-academic activities when other users require the system for academic purposes. In addition, users shall not waste nor take supplies, such as paper, printer ink cartridges, and diskettes.
Encounter of Controversial material – Users may encounter material, which is controversial, and which users, parents, teachers or administrators may consider inappropriate or offensive. However, on a global network it is impossible to control effectively the content of data and an industrious user may discover controversial material. It is the user’s responsibility not to initiate access to such material. Any decision by the Mount Ephraim Board of Education to restrict access to Internet material shall not be deemed to impose any duty on the Mount Ephraim Board of Education to regulate the content of material on the Internet.
School computer systems are for use by authorized individuals only. Any unauthorized access to these systems is prohibited and is subject to criminal and civil penalties under Federal laws (including, but not limited to public laws 83-703 and 990474.) Individuals using these are subject to having all activities on these systems monitored by system or security personnel. Anyone using these systems expressly consents to such monitoring. Prosecution and/or account termination will occur without warning.
· NO LOGGING ON A COMPUTER USING ANOTHER PERSON’S USERNAME/PASSWORD.
· NO GOING INTO INAPPROPRIATE SITES (AS DEFINED BY SCHOOL RULES AND MEDIA CENTER STAFF.)
· NO MYSPACE OR OTHER SIMILAR SITES, NO CHAT ROOMS, NO WRESTLING SITES, NO ROCK, RAP OR ALTERNATIVE (METAL, ETC.) BAND SITES WITHOUT PRIOR APPROVAL.
· NO ENTERING ONLINE CONTESTS, OR FILLING OUT FORMS ON THE INTERNET.
· NO SENDING OR RECEIVING E-MAIL WITHOUT PRIOR APPROVAL.
· NO DOWNLOADING OF ANY PROGRAMS, FILES OR PLUG-INS.
· NO DOWNLOADING OF WALLPAPER/SCREENSAVER FILES.
· NO GOING INTO COMPUTER SETTINGS AND DISPLAY PROPERTIES AND CHANGING THEM WITHOUT PRIOR APPROVAL.
· NO PRINTING UNLESS PERMISSION HAS BEEN GIVEN.
· FOOD AND DRINK WILL NOT BE CONSUMED WHERE COMPUTERS ARE LOCATED.
· NO DISCLOSING PERSONAL INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET, SUCH AS ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER, AGE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE MT. EPHRAIM SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS THE RIGHT TO MONITOR THE APPROPRIATENESS OF MY WORK AT ANY TIME. THEREFORE, I WILL MAKE AVAILABLE ANY WORK I HAVE DONE ON THE SCHOOL COMPUTERS. CONSEQUENCES OF DISOBEYING RULES RANGE FROM TEMPORARY LOSS OF COMPUTER AND MEDIA CENTER PRIVILEGES TO BEING PERMANENTLY BANNED FROM IT.
Any user violating these rules, applicable state and federal laws or posted classroom and district rules are subject to loss of network/Internet privileges and any other district Disciplinary options.
In addition, pursuant to State of New Jersey law, any unauthorized access, attempted access, or use of any state computing and/or network system is a violation of the New Jersey Penal code and/or other applicable federal laws and is subject to criminal prosecution.
I understand and will abide by all rules, conditions and Computer/Internet Use Policy. I further understand that any violation of these is unethical and may constitute a criminal offense. Should I commit any violation, my access privileges may be revoked, disciplinary action may be taken and/or appropriate legal action.
User (please print) Homeroom
Student’s Signature
Parent’s Signature
Date
c: First Day Packet: Computer/Internet Use Policy '11-'12