Acceptable Computer Use Policy

Amherst County Public Schools Acceptable Computer Use Policy

File: IIBEA

ACCEPTABLE COMPUTER SYSTEM USE

The School Board provides a computer system, including the internet, to promote educational excellence by facilitating resource sharing, innovation and communication. The term computer system includes hardware, software, data, communication lines and devices, terminals, printers, CD-ROM devices, tape drives, servers, mainframe and personal computers, the internet and other internal or external networks.

All use of the Division's computer system must be (1) in support of education and/or research, or (2) for legitimate school business. Use of the computer system is a privilege, not a right. Any communication or material used on the computer system, including electronic mail or other files deleted from a user's account may be monitored or read by school officials.

The Division Superintendent shall establish administrative procedures, for the School Board's approval, containing the appropriate uses, ethics and protocol for the computer system. The procedures shall include:

(1) a prohibition against use by division employees and students of the division's computer equipment and communications services for sending, receiving, viewing or downloading illegal material via the Internet;

(2) provisions, including the selection and operation of a technology protection measure for the division's computers having Internet access to filter or block Internet access through such computers, that seek to prevent access to

(a) child pornography as set out in Va. Code § 18.2-374.1:1 or as defined in 18 U.S.C. § 2256;

(b) obscenity as defined by Va. Code § 18.2-372 or 18 U.S.C. § 1460; and

(c) material that the school division deems to be harmful to juveniles as defined in Va. Code § 18.2-390, material that is harmful to minors as defined in 47 U.S.C. § 254(h)(7)(G), and material that is otherwise inappropriate for minors;

(3) provisions establishing that the technology protection measure is enforced during any use of the Division's computers by minors;

(4) provisions establishing that the online activities of minors will be monitored;

(5) provisions designed to protect the safety and security of minors when using electronic mail, chat rooms, and other forms of direct electronic communications;

(6) provisions designed to prevent unauthorized online access by minors, including "hacking" and other unlawful activities by minors online; and

(7) provisions prohibiting the unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal information regarding minors.

Use of the School Division's computer system shall be consistent with the educational or instructional mission or administrative function of the Division as well as the varied

File: IIBEA

(Page 2)

instructional needs, learning styles, abilities and developmental levels of students. The Division's computer system is not a public forum.

Each teacher, administrator, student and parent/guardian of each student shall sign the Acceptable Computer System Use Agreement, IIBEA-E2, before using the Division's computer system. The failure of any student, teacher or administrator to follow the terms of the Agreement, this policy or accompanying regulation may result in loss of computer system privileges, disciplinary action, and/or appropriate legal action.

The School Board is not responsible for any information that may be lost, damaged or unavailable when using the computer system or for any information retrieved via the Internet. Furthermore, the School Board will not be responsible for any unauthorized charges or fees resulting from access to the computer system.

The Division Superintendent shall submit to the Virginia Department of Education this policy and accompanying regulation biennially.

Adopted: August 21, 1997

Revised: August 19, 1999

Revised: August 16, 2001

Revised: October 18, 2001

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Legal Refs: Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, §§ 18.2-372, 18.2-374.1:1, 18.2-390, 22.1-70.2, and 22.1-78.

18 U.S.C. §§ 1460, 2256.

47 U.S.C. § 254.

© VSBA Amherst County Public Schools

File: IIBEA-R

ACCEPTABLE COMPUTER SYSTEM USE

All use of the Amherst County School Division's computer system shall be consistent with the School Board's goal of promoting educational excellence by facilitating resource sharing, innovation and communication. The term computer system includes hardware, software, data, communication lines and devices, terminals, printers, CD-ROM devices, tape drives, servers, mainframe and personal computers, the internet and any other internal or external network.

Computer System Use-Terms and Conditions:

1. Acceptable Use. Access to the Division's computer system shall be (1) for the purposes of education or research and be consistent with the educational objectives of the Division or (2) for legitimate school business.

2. Privilege. The use of the Division's computer system is a privilege, not a right.

3. Unacceptable Use. Each user is responsible for his or her actions on the computer system. Prohibited conduct includes:

- using the network for any illegal activity, including violation of copyright or other contracts, or transmitting any material in violation of any federal, state or local law.

- sending, receiving, viewing or downloading illegal material via the computer system.

- unauthorized downloading of software.

- downloading copyrighted material for unauthorized use.

- using the computer system for private financial or commercial gain.

- wastefully using resources, such as file space.

- gaining unauthorized access to resources or entities.

- posting material authorized or created by another without his or her consent.

- using the computer system for commercial or private advertising.

- submitting, posting, publishing or displaying any obscene, profane, threatening, illegal or other inappropriate material.

- using the computer system while access privileges are suspended or revoked.

- vandalizing the computer system, including destroying data by creating or spreading viruses or by other means.

4. Network Etiquette. Each user is expected to abide by generally accepted rules of etiquette, including the following:

- Be polite.

- Users shall not forge, intercept or interfere with electronic mail messages.

- Use appropriate language. The use of obscene, lewd, profane, threatening or disrespectful language is prohibited.

- Users shall not post personal contact information, including names, home, school or work addresses, telephone numbers, or photographs, about themselves or others.

- Users shall respect the computer system's resource limits.

- Users shall not post chain letters or download large files.

- Users shall not use the computer system to disrupt others.

- Users shall not read, modify or delete data owned by others.

5. Liability. The School Board makes no warranties for the computer system it provides. The School Board shall not be responsible for any damages to the user from use of the computer system, including loss of data, non-delivery or missed delivery of information, or service interruptions. The School Division denies any responsibility for the accuracy or quality of information obtained through the computer system. The user agrees to indemnify the School Board for any losses, costs or damages incurred by the School Board relating to or arising out of any violation of these procedures.

6. Security. Computer system security is a high priority for the school division. If any user identifies a security problem, the user shall notify the building principal or system administrator immediately. All users shall keep their passwords confidential and shall follow computer virus protection procedures.

7. Vandalism. Intentional destruction of any part of the computer system through

creating or downloading computer viruses or by any other means is prohibited.

8. Charges. The School Division assumes no responsibility for any unauthorized charges or fees as a result of using the computer system, including telephone or long-distance charges.

9. Electronic Mail. The School Division's electronic mail system is owned and controlled by the School Division. The School Division may provide electronic mail to aid students and staff in fulfilling their duties and as an education tool. Electronic mail is not private. Students' electronic mail will be monitored. The electronic mail of staff may be monitored and accessed by the School Division. Unauthorized access to an electronic mail account by any student or employee is prohibited. Users shall be held personally liable for the content of any electronic message they create. Downloading any file attached to an electronic message is prohibited unless the user is certain of that message's authenticity and the nature of the file.

10. Enforcement. Software will be installed on the division's computers having internet access to filter or block internet access through such computers to child pornography and obscenity. The online activities of minors may also be monitored manually. Any violation of these regulations shall result in loss of computer system privileges and may also result in appropriate disciplinary action, as determined by School Board policy, or legal action.

Adopted: August 19, 1999

Revised: August 16, 2001

Revised: October 18, 2001

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Legal Refs: Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, § 18.2-372, 18.2-374.1:1, 18.2-390,

22.1-70.2 and 22.1-78.

18 U.S.C. §§ 1460, 2256.

47 U.S.C. § 254.

Cross Refs: JFC Student Conduct

JFC-R Standards of Student Conduct

© VSBA Amherst County Public Schools

File: IIBEA-E

File: IIBEA-E2

ACCEPTABLE COMPUTER SYSTEM USE AGREEMENT

Each employee must sign this Agreement as a condition for using the School Division's computer system. Each student and his or her parent/guardian must sign this Agreement before being granted use of the School Division's computer system. Read this Agreement carefully before signing.

Prior to signing this Agreement, read Policy and Regulation IIBEA, Acceptable Computer System Use. If you have any questions about this policy or regulation, contact your supervisor or your student's principal.

I understand and agree to abide by the School Division's Acceptable Computer System Use Policy and Regulation. I understand that the School Division may access and monitor my use of the computer system, including my use of the internet, e-mail and downloaded material, without prior notice to me. I further understand that should I violate the Acceptable Use Policy or Regulation, my computer system privileges may be revoked and disciplinary action and/or legal action may be taken against me.

Student/Employee Signature ________________________Date___________________

Student/Employee Name__________________________________________________

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I have read this Agreement and Policy and Regulation IIBEA. I understand that access to the computer system is intended for educational purposes and the Amherst County School Division has taken precautions to eliminate inappropriate material. I also recognize, however, that it is impossible for the School Division to restrict access to all inappropriate material and I will not hold the School Division responsible for information acquired on the computer system. I have discussed the terms of this agreement, policy and regulation with my student.

I grant permission for my student to use the computer system and for the School Division to issue an account for my student.

Parent/Guardian Signature _________________________ Date ___________________

Parent/Guardian Name ____________________________________________________

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