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Adopted September, 2003 |
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CALHOUN CITY SCHOOLS ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY |
| The Calhoun
City School system employs computers as one way of enhancing its mission
to teach the skills,
knowledge, and behaviors students will need as successful and responsible
adults in the community as a whole. The school
system’s computers provide unequaled opportunities to explore and use a
varied and exciting set of resources including
computer programs, CDs, and the Internet. In order to make these resources
available to everyone, the school system expects, in return, that people
who use the school’s computers will do so in a way
that is consistent with its educational mission. All users: students,
faculty, staff, or community members who utilize our technology are
required to sign an assurance to abide by the rules of this usage.
The Calhoun City Schools will enforce an internet and technology utilization policy which directly complies with the Child Internet Protection Act. Full text of this Act may be accessed at http://techservices.doe.k12.ga.us/edtech/cipa.htm . The following definitions adapted from this text shall apply to this policy: ``(D) MINOR.--The term `minor' means any individual who has not attained the age of 17 years. ``(E) OBSCENE.--The term `obscene' has the meaning given such term in section 1460 of title 18, United States Code. ``(F) CHILD PORNOGRAPHY.--The term `child pornography' has the meaning given such term in section 2256 of title 18, United States Code. ``(G) HARMFUL TO MINORS.--The term `harmful to minors' means any picture, image, graphic image file, or other visual depiction that-- ``(i) taken as a whole and with respect to minors, appeals to a prurient interest in nudity, sex, or excretion; ``(ii) 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 a lewd exhibition of the genitals; and ``(iii) taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value as to minors. ``(H) SEXUAL ACT; SEXUAL CONTACT.--The terms `sexual act' and `sexual contact' have the meanings given such terms in section 2246 of title 18, United States Code. ``(I) TECHNOLOGY PROTECTION MEASURE.--The term `technology protection measure' means a specific technology that blocks or filters Internet access to the material covered by a certification under paragraph (5) or (6) to which such certification relates.''. In compliance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act, ``(B) CERTIFICATION WITH RESPECT TO MINORS.--A certification under this subparagraph is a certification that the school, school board, local educational agency, or other authority with responsibility for administration of the school--``(i) is enforcing a policy of Internet safety for minors that includes monitoring the online activities of minors and the operation of a technology protection measure with respect to any of its computers with Internet access that protects against access through such computers to visual depictions that are--``(I) obscene; ``(II) child pornography; or ``(III) harmful to minors; and ``(ii) is enforcing the operation of such technology protection measure during any use of such computers by minors. No user shall use Calhoun City Schools technology for the purpose of accessing visual depictions that are obscene, child pornography, or harmful to minors. The BESS filtering system is in place to prevent this access. However the user is the ultimate responsible party. If BESS fails, access to the above should be reported to the proper authority.(CCS) Materials which are violent in nature or promote violence (defined as exertion of force so as to injure or abuse, or injure by or as if by infringement or profanation or intense or furious destructive action or force or vehement feeling or expression) and those which promote violence for the sake of violence shall not be accessed through Calhoun City Schools technology without proper permission as for the sole purpose of academic research.AVAILABILITY OF ACCESS Access to the Calhoun City Schools computer systems, including the Internet, is available to students and employees exclusively for instructional and administrative purposes and in accordance with this Acceptable Use Policy. Technology shall be used for educational purposes. Other utilization is not acceptable. Users shall not access through computers visual depictions that are (i) obscene, (ii) child pornography, or (iii) harmful to minors, as those terms are defined in Section 1703(b)(1) and (2) of the Children’s Internet Protection Act of 2000. Access to Calhoun City computer systems is a privilege, not a right. All users shall be required to acknowledge receipt and understanding of this Acceptable Use Policy governing use of the computer systems and shall agree in writing to comply with such regulations and guidelines. Noncompliance with applicable regulations will result in disciplinary action consistent with Calhoun City Schools Board of Education policies and regulations (See Student/Parent Handbook or Personnel Handbook). Violations of law may result in criminal prosecutions as well as disciplinary action by Calhoun City Schools Board of Education.MONITORED USE Electronic mail transmissions and other use of the electronic communication systems by users shall not be considered confidential and may be monitored at any time by designated staff to ensure appropriate use of educational or administrative purposes. A proxy server with BESS (N2H2)filtering system as a technology protection measure shall be used to filter sites not appropriate for minors. However a filter may be excellent yet still may be fallible. Responsibility of appropriate and acceptable use rests with the user. Any inappropriate material which escapes filtering must be reported to the teacher or administrator in charge .PRIVACY The school district reserves the right to monitor, inspect, copy, review and store at any time and without prior notice any and all usage of the computer network and Internet access and any and all information transmitted or received in connection with such usage. All such information filed shall be and remain the property of the school district and no usage shall have any expectation of privacy regarding such materials. DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY Calhoun City schools shall not be liable for a users’ inappropriate use of computer resources, violations of copyright restrictions, users’ mistakes or negligence, or costs incurred by users. Calhoun City schools shall not be responsible for ensuring the accuracy or usability of any information found on the Internet. Calhoun City School’s computer systems will be used only for administrative and instructional purposes consistent with the school system’s mission and goals in compliance with CIPA (CHILDREN’S INTERNET PROTECTION ACT.). TRAINING Training for employees and students in the proper use of the computer systems will be provided. Users will be provided copies of Calhoun City School’s Acceptable Use Policy. Training will emphasize ethical use of the computer systems’ resources. COPYRIGHT Copyrighted software or data may not be placed on any system connected to Calhoun City School’s computer systems without permission from the holder of the copyright. Only individuals specifically authorized may upload copyrighted material to the systems. ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES The system coordinator, principal and/or classroom teacher will: 1. Be responsible for disseminating and enforcing the Acceptable Use Policy for the school site which complies with CIPA. 2. Ensure that all users of the computer system complete and sign an agreement to abide by the school system’s Acceptable Use Policy. All such agreements shall be kept on file by the building principal. 3. Ensure that all employees supervising students who use the computer system provide training emphasizing the appropriate uses of these resources. 4. Be authorized to monitor or examine all activities deemed appropriate to ensure proper use of the computer system. INDIVIDUAL USER RESPONSIBILITIES These standards apply to all users of the Calhoun City School’s computer systems. Users who violate these standards may be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with school system board policies: System Conduct The following is not permitted: - Sending or displaying offensive messages or pictures - Using obscene language - Harassing, insulting or attacking others - Damaging computers, computer systems or computer networks - Violating copyright laws - Using others’ passwords - Trespassing in others’ folders, work or files - Intentionally wasting limited resources - Employing the system-owned technology or network for commercial purposes or personal financial gain - Revealing personal addresses, phone numbers or Social Security numbers of self or other students and colleagues - Purposely accessing inappropriate material - using computer systems for illegal purposes, in support of illegal activities, or for any other activity prohibited by Calhoun City board policy. -Use of technology for other than educational purposes. Other User Guidelines: - System users may not use another person’s ID or password. - System users shall maintain electronic information in accordance with established guidelines. - System users may not install programs on the computer systems without appropriate authorization. -System users may not bring prohibited electronic materials onto a Calhoun City School’s campus. -System users may not access educationally inappropriate materials or show others how to do so. - System users must respect the right of others to the privacy of the files they store on a computer or a disk and may not view, alter, or damage those files. - System users must respect and uphold copyright laws . ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Vandalism Prohibited Any malicious attempt to harm or destroy Calhoun City School’s computer equipment or materials, data of another user of the school system, or any of the agencies or other networks that are connected to the Internet is prohibited. Deliberate attempts to compromise, degrade, or disrupt system performance may be viewed as violations of the Acceptable Use Policy and, possibly, as criminal activity under applicable state and federal laws. This includes, but is not limited to, the uploading or creating of computer viruses. Forgery Prohibited Forgery or attempted forgery of electronic mail messages is prohibited. Attempts to read, delete, copy, or modify the electronic mail of other system users or deliberate interference with the ability of other system users to send/receive electronic mail is prohibited. LIMITATION/TERMINATION/and/or REVOCATION OF SYSTEM USER ACCESS Access to technology is a privilege, not a right. Calhoun City schools may limit, suspend or revoke a system user’s access to the school’s computer systems upon violation of the Acceptable Use Policy. WARNING System users and parents of students with access to the Calhoun City School’s computer systems should be aware that use of the system may provide access to other electronic communication systems in the global electronic network that may contain inaccurate or objectionable material. Access to that global electronic network through BellSouth will be governed by the Acceptable Use Policy for BellSouth and that of Calhoun City Schools.DISCLAIMER Calhoun City School’s computer systems are provided on an "as is, as available" basis. Calhoun City schools does not make any warranties, whether express or implied with respect to any services provided by the computer system and any information or software contained therein. Calhoun City schools does not warrant that the functions or services performed by, or that the information or software contained on, the system will meet the system user’s requirements, or that the system will be uninterrupted or error-free, or that defects will be corrected. Opinions, advice, services, and all other information expressed by system users, information providers, service providers, or other third party individuals in the system are those of the providers and not Calhoun City School’s. Calhoun City Schools will cooperate fully with local, state, or federal officials in any investigation concerning or relating to misuse of Calhoun City’s computer systems.
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