Acceptable Use Of Technology

I. Purpose

Access to various forms of technology, including hardware devices, software, and Internet resources, can be a great educational and administrative tool for school district students and staff. The district anticipates the future use of technology to increase exponentially. Therefore, the district has developed carefully considered policies to ensure that district resources are not misused and that the computer systems are used only for legitimate and authorized purposes.  The Internet is an electronic highway connecting millions of computers and users from around the world. With the Internet also comes the availability of material that may not be considered to be of value in the context of the school setting. The District firmly believes that the valuable information and interaction available on this worldwide network far outweighs the possibility that users may procure material that is not consistent with the educational goals of the district.  The Conemaugh Valley School District has placed an Internet filter on all district computers to block access to objectionable and sexually explicit materials and to protect students and staff from harassment by unknown persons on the Internet. However, on a global network, it is impossible to control all materials and an industrious user may discover controversial information.

 

 II. Authority

The Conemaugh Valley School District reserves the right to log network use and to monitor fileserver space utilization by district users while respecting the privacy of users. The District reserves the right to access user accounts to uphold this policy and maintain the network integrity.

 

The Conemaugh Valley School District reserves the right to terminate user accounts for inappropriate, unauthorized, or illegal use of any technologies.

 

The Conemaugh Valley School District reserves the right to remove equipment from users who damage equipment, systems, or software in a deliberate or willful manner.  The District reserves the right to charge the user for repair or replacement costs of such equipment.

 The Conemaugh Valley School District reserves the right to enact disciplinary action in accordance with employee policies or student conduct guidelines for inappropriate or unauthorized use of technologies.

 

 III. Definition
The Conemaugh Valley School District technology includes all computers, peripheral devices, local area networking and wide area networking within the school community as well as all online and direct-wired networking such as the Internet to which the school network may be linked.

 

 IV. Guidelines for Acceptable Use

Any or all use of the technologies defined is limited to authorized business and educational activities by students, parents, faculty, and community. The technologies are not for personal use.

 

All users of Conemaugh Valley School District technology must agree to the District Acceptable Use Policy prior to using the computers.

 

Software

All software is to be used in accordance with its license agreement. Copying software is prohibited unless approved by the technology department and in accordance with the license agreement.

 

The district technology coordinator must approve all software used by students in advance.

 

All software used by the district on district-owned computers will be purchased through the technology department. All software is to be delivered to the technology department for completion of registration and inventory requirements.  Software must be registered in the name of the Conemaugh Valley School District and include the job title or department in which it will be used.

 

All software will be authorized and installed by the technology department.  The technology department may approve other users to install a specific software program on a specific computer(s). Once the software is installed, the original media will be kept in a storage area maintained by the technology department.

 

Users will not distribute software to any outsiders including consultants, trainers, student teachers, or any personal contacts.

 

Any user who determines that there may be a misuse of software within the organization will notify the technology coordinator immediately.

 

No unauthorized software, shareware, freeware, or other executable files, to include America Online (AOL) or any other instant messaging program, may be downloaded, copied, used, or saved to any district-owned computer without prior permission of the technology coordinator.

 

Software copyright infringement is illegal.  The law surrounding copyright infringement affects not only the offending individual but also the Conemaugh Valley School District.  Any questions or concerns regarding the legality of software should be referred to the technology coordinator.

 

Hardware

No personal media may be installed or used on district equipment, including data disks, CD or DVD-ROMS, without prior permission of the technology coordinator.

 

No equipment shall be moved between classrooms, offices, and buildings or discarded without prior permission of the technology coordinator.

 

All District supplies, including paper, toner, and media, are to be used for educational purposes only.

 

Network

User accounts are created by the technology department and are the property of the Conemaugh Valley School District. The district will create a password to all accounts.

 

The network may not be used for commercial purposes. Users may not buy, sell, or advertise products or services through the system without prior permission of the technology coordinator.

 

The network may not be used for political lobbying.

 

Network users may not log on to someone else’s account or attempt to access another user’s files.  Trying to gain unauthorized access to another person or organization’s computer system from within the Conemaugh Valley School District is prohibited.

 

Each user will have access to a home directory on the network to store files.  This directory is limited in size.  Additional space can be obtained by contacting the technology department.

 

Users may not save executable files (.exe) or policy files on any network drive or directory.

 

Users may not attempt to view or configure network settings, files, or programs.  All users are required to notify the technology department immediately of any breach, suspected breach, or potential breach of network security.  The user will not demonstrate the problem to others.

 

 Internet and Email

Internet access, by user and machine, is granted by the Conemaugh Valley School District.  Any other connection to the Internet, including dial-up accounts or alternate Internet service providers, is prohibited.

 

Users may not knowingly access websites, newsgroups, chat areas that contain material that is obscene or that promotes illegal acts.

 

Users may not use vulgar, derogatory, offensive or obscene language.  Users may not engage in personal attacks, hate mail, harass another person, or post private information about another person.

 

If a user accidentally accesses or observes material that is objective, obscene, illegal, or otherwise inappropriate, he or she should immediately notify the supervising teacher. These sites should then be reported to the technology department.

 

Users are not to disclose personal information to non-district staff such as home address, physical description, the route to and from school, or any other information that could threaten the safety and security of students or staff.

 

Transmission or use of any material in violation of any United States or state regulation is prohibited.  This includes, but is not limited to, copyrighted material, threatening or obscene material, and material protected by trade secret.

 

The Conemaugh Valley School District has installed Internet site filtering software to prevent all users of the network from accessing inappropriate Internet sites.  “Inappropriate internet sites” include the following: 

Any topic that falls under at least one of the categories below shall be blocked.

• Partial Nudity

• Nudity

• Sex Education

• Alcohol & Tobacco

• Violence/Profanity

• Militant/Extremist

• Sexual Acts/Text

• Gross Depictions

• Drugs & Drug Culture

• Satanic or Cult

• Questionable, Illegal & Gambling

• Intolerance

Filtering will be updated periodically by the manufacturer of the software to include newly discovered sites that are inappropriate. The technology department in coordination with the administration will also evaluate and, if necessary, block access to reported sites.

 

 V.  Warranties

The Conemaugh Valley School District makes no warranties of any kind, whether expressed or implied, for the services it is providing. The District will not be responsible for any damages a user suffers.  This includes loss of data resulting from delays, non-deliveries, misdeliveries, or service interruptions caused by the District’s negligence or by the user’s errors or omissions. Use of any information obtained via the Internet is at the user’s own risk.  The District specifically denies any responsibility for the accuracy or quality of information obtained through its services.  All users need to consider the source or any information they obtain, and consider how valid the information may be.

 

The district will not be responsible for unauthorized charges or fees resulting from access to the Internet.  All financial responsibility will rest with the individual employee or student who incurs the unauthorized charges or fees.

 

TECHNOLOGY ACCEPTABLE USE AGREEMENT CONSENT FORM

As a user of technologies owned by the Conemaugh Valley School District, I have read and understood the policy and agree to abide by the rules of this policy.

1. I understand that the use of technologies as defined through the Conemaugh Valley School District is a privilege that can be revoked.

2. I agree to use the technologies in a responsible, ethical, and polite manner.  

3. I understand that the technologies are to be used for educational purposes only.

4. I will not disclose personal information about myself or others, including students and staff, over the network.

5. I will not share account information or passwords with others.

6. I will not attempt to install software that is not authorized by the Conemaugh Valley School District.

7. I understand that technologies are expensive and represent a significant investment by the taxpayers of the Conemaugh Valley School District.  As a result, I will take care of this equipment to the best of my ability and will not damage it in any way.

8. I understand that my use of the technologies may be monitored by the Conemaugh Valley School District.