Computer Safety Policy

ACCEPTABLE USE OF COMPUTERS AND NETWORKS

Internet Safety Policy

Arlington Public Schools adopts and shall enforce a policy of making technology resources available only to advance educational goals and objectives, supplement instruction, and further school purposes. The operation and use of technology resources by students, staff, and the community shall be consistent with this Policy.

Technology resources include, without limitation, computers and related technology equipment, all forms of e-mail or electronic communication, and the Internet. The implementation of this Policy shall include technology protection measures with respect to computers and Internet access, consistent with District standards, the Childrens Internet Protection Act and other applicable law. The Superintendent and the Superintendent’s designees are authorized and directed to establish and enforce regulations, forms, procedures, guidelines, and specific District standards to implement this Policy.

"E-Mail"/Internet Access

The District offers certain staff and students of the Arlington Public Schools access to the district computer network, including electronic mail ("e-mail") and the Internet. To gain access to electronic mail (e-mail) and the Internet, all staff must sign and return the "Staff Agreement" form to the central office. Likewise, to gain access to e-mail and the Internet, all students attending the Arlington Public Schools must sign a "Student Agreement", and their parents must sign a "Parents Agreement", and return to the administrative office of the school district. Student access to e-mail will be provided only relevant to educational endeavors and through a staff member's e-mail address.

Access to e-mail and the Internet will enable staff and students to explore thousands of libraries, data bases, and bulletin boards, while exchanging messages with Internet users throughout the world. Students and parents should be warned that some material accessible by the Internet may contain items that are illegal, defamatory, inaccurate, or potentially offensive to some people. While our intent is to make Internet access available to further educational goals and objectives, students may find ways to access other materials as well. We believe that the benefits to students from access to the Internet, in the form of information resources and opportunities for collaboration, exceed any disadvantages. But ultimately, parents and guardians of minors are responsible for setting and conveying the standards that their students should follow when using media and information resources. To that end, the Arlington Public Schools support and respect each family's right to decide whether or not to apply for access.

A. E-Mail and Internet Rules:

1. General Rules

(a) The e-mail and Internet networks are provided to staff and students to conduct research and communicate with others. Access to network services is given to staff and students who have agreed to act in a responsible manner. Parental permission is required for student use. Access to e-mail and the Internet is a privilege, not a right.

(b) Individual users of the district computer networks are responsible for their behavior and communications over those networks. Users will comply with District standards and will honor the agreements they have signed. Beyond clarification of such standards, the district is not responsible for restricting, monitoring, or controlling the communications of individuals utilizing the network.

(c) Network storage areas shall be treated like school lockers. Network administrators may review files and communications to maintain system integrity and insure that users are using the system responsibly. Users should not expect that files or any information stored or otherwise retained on district servers or in computers will be private.

(d) Users should not expect, and the District does not warrant, that files stored on district servers will always be private.

(e) The District will not be liable for purchases made by any user over the network. Users shall not make purchases of goods and/or services via the district's network.

2. Policy for Acceptable Use of Computers and Networks

The following policy for acceptable use of computers and networks, including Internet, shall apply to all district administrators, faculty, staff and students. All technology equipment shall be used under the supervision of the site administrator.

(a) Users shall not erase, remake, or make unusable anyone else's computer, information, files, programs or disks. In addition to any other disciplinary action or legal action that may occur, any user violating this rule shall be liable for any and all damages for the replacement of any damage to the computer, information, files, programs or disks.

(b) Users shall not let other persons use their name, log-on, password, or files for any reason (except for authorized staff members).

(d) Users shall not use Arlington Public Schools computers or networks for non-instructional or non-administrative purposes (e.g., games or activities for personal profit).

(e) Users shall not use the computer for unlawful purposes, such as illegal copying or installation of unauthorized software.

(f) Users shall not copy, change, or transfer any software or documentation provided by the Arlington School District, teachers, or other students without permission from the network administrators.

(g) Users shall not write, produce, generate, copy, propagate, or attempt to introduce any computer code designed to self-replicate, damage, or otherwise hinder the performance of any computer's memory, file system, or software. Such software is often called a bug, virus, worm, Trojan horse, or similar name.

(h) Users shall not use the computer to annoy or harass others with language, images, or threats. Users shall not access or create any obscene or objectional information, language, or images.

(i) Users shall not tamper with computers, networks, printers, or other associated equipment except as directed by the teacher or network administrator.

(j) Users shall not engage in "hacking"--alternating software or hardware or manipulating or circumventing security systems to gain unauthorized access or direct use of the operating system software.

(k) Users shall not engage in harassment or nuisance actions-- bothering another person or entity for no positive reason or creating an interference with another user's ability to make effective use of computing privileges.

(l) Users shall not access resources not specifically granted to the user--whether damage is done or not, such use constitutes electronic trespassing, and will not be tolerated. Damages incurred will be considered to constitute electronic vandalism.

The Internet will be supplied for on an "as is, as available" basis. The District does not imply or expressly warrant that any information users access will be valuable or fit for a particular purpose or that the system will operate error free. The District is not responsible for the integrity of information accessed, or software downloaded from the Internet. The District reserves the right to refuse posting of files, and to remove files. The District further reserves the right to inspect a user’s computer and computer usage at any time. Users have no privacy rights or expectations of privacy with regard to use of the District’s computers or Internet system. The computer system is not a public forum. It is provided for the limited purpose of advancing the District’s mission.

A technology protection measure is in place that blocks and/or filters Internet access to prevent access to Internet sites that are not in accordance with policies and regulations. In addition to blocks and/or filters, the District may also use other technology protection measures or procedures as deemed appropriate. The technology protection measure that blocks and/or filters Internet access may be disabled only by an authorized staff member for bona fide research or educational purposes: (a) who has successfully completed district training by the on proper disabling circumstances and procedures, (b) with permission of the immediate supervisor of the staff member requesting said disabling, or (c) with the permission of a building administrator. An authorized staff member may override the technology protection measure that blocks and/or filters Internet access for a minor to access a site for bona fide research or other lawful purposes provided the minor is monitored directly by an authorized staff member.

3. Etiquette for Use of the Internet

All users of Arlington Public Schools computers and networks are expected to abide by the generally accepted rules of network etiquette. Informal rules of behavior have evolved for the use of and Communication, the Internet and other on-line services. These rules of behavior include (but are not limited to) the following:

(a) Be polite. Do not become abusive in your messages to others.

(b) Use appropriate language. Do not swear, use vulgarities or any other inappropriate language.

(d) 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 in support of illegal activities may be reported to the authorities.

(e) All communications and information accessible via the network should be assumed to be private property.

(f) Do not place unlawful information on any network system.

(g) Keep paragraphs and messages short and to the point. Focus on one subject per message.

(h) Include your signature at the bottom of e-mail messages. Your signature footer should include your name, position, affiliation, and Internet address.

(i) Other rules established by the network administrators or teachers from time to time.

4. Penalties for Violation of Rules.

All of the policies and procedures for acceptable use of computers and networks are intended to make the computers and networks more reliable for users. They are also intended to minimize the burden of administrating the network so that more time can be spent enhancing services.

Use of the computer to access telecommunications resources is a privilege and not a right. Violation of the policies and procedures of Arlington Public Schools concerning the use of computers and networks may result in disciplinary action up to, and including, suspension and/or expulsion of students and suspension, termination, non-renewal or cancellation of the contract of an administrator, teacher or other school employee.

B. Staff, Student and Parent Agreement.

The Administrators, Faculty and Staff Agreement, Student’s Agreement and Parent’s Agreement, in the forms attached hereto as Appendix "1", Appendix "2", and Appendix "3", respectively, are incorporated herein by this reference.

Legal Reference: Children’s Internet Protection Act (Pub. L. 106-554)