SOUTH HAMILTON SCHOOL
ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY
2002-2003
I. General Statement - Internet access is available
to the students and teachers in the South Hamilton Community School District.
South Hamilton is very fortunate to be able to provide this service. South
Hamilton believes the Internet provides vast, diverse, and unique resources.
The goal in providing Internet access is to promote educational excellence
in our school by facilitating resource sharing, innovation, and communication.
PURPOSE OF THIS POLICY
The data published on the Internet is not censored. By design there is
no single authority nor technology that monitors and censors contributions
made to Internet data banks. Thus, there are databases on the Internet
that would be considered by most prudent and discerning adults as unsuitable
for use by elementary and secondary students. South Hamilton chooses to
respond by establishing policy that outlines the appropriate use of the
Internet by students. K-8 students will have access to Internet and e-mail
only through a classroom account. This account allows Internet use to sites
bookmarked by the teacher or sites found by a student searching eh Internet
under the direct supervision of the teacher. Students in the high school
may be granted individual Internet and e-mail accounts. Access will be
authorized by the District Technology Director upon completion of South
Hamilton's Internet instruction and completion of an Educational Internet
Account application.
II. Students have the right:
1. To apply for an individual Internet account only after Internet instruction
at South Hamilton and with parental permission in grades 9-12.
2. To use a classroom account in grades K-8.
3. Under certain conditions, to sign up for LISTSERVs or newsgroups
on the Internet. (See Section VIII, number 14)
III. Parents have the right:
1. To approve or deny their child's independent internet access account.
2. To be notified of any violations of the Acceptable Use Policy made
by their child.
IV. The district has the right:
1. To determine what constitutes appropriate use of the Internet.
2. To close an account at any time.
3. To determine all the policies, rules, and regulations for Internet
and e-mail use.
4. To establish the procedure for disciplinary action for misuse of
the Internet or e-mail.
V. Students have the responsibility:
1. To use the Internet as a class-related educational resource.
2. To keep software of ANY KIND from entering the school via the Internet
unless special permission is granted by Mr. McLuckie.
3. To report all violations of the Acceptable Use Policy to teachers
and/or admininistrators.
4. To observe all copyright stipulations when using information from
the Internet or when creating web pages that contain copyrighted material.
5. To read and delete all materials received under their user account.
6. To be fully aware of all rules and regulations governing the use
of the Internet. (See Rules & Regulations Part VIII)
VI. Parents have the responsibility:
1. To be fully aware of all rules and regulations governing the use of
the internet. (See Rules & Regulations Part VIII)
2. To report violations of the Acceptable Use Policy to teachers and/or
administrators.
VII. The district has the responsibility:
1. To develop an acceptable use policy for students' Internet and 3-mail
access.
2. To inform teachers, students, and parents of the contents of the
most current policy regarding use of the Internet and e-mail at South Hamilton
Community School District.
3. To maintain the integrity of the district's e-mail service.
4. To provide training to teach proper techniques and standards for
participation and safety when using the Internet.
5. To monitor Internet usage through electronic logging.
6. To establish a procedure for handling complaints by students, faculty,
or community.
7. To provide alternative assignments for students denied access to
the Internet.
8. To observe all copyright stipulations when using information from
the Internet or when creating web pages that contain copyrighted material.
VIII. Rules and Regulations.
This is not an all-inclusive list. The district has the right
to enforce any other rule or regulation deemed necessary.
1. Internet and e-mail accounts are to be used ONLY by the owner of
the account. Passwords are not to be given to anyone else to use. The owner
will be held responsible for everything in his/her account. If a student
suspects someone else is using his/her account or password, a teacher or
administrator should be notified.
2. Use of the Internet to obtain materials which are obscene, profane,
or advocate violence is not allowed.
3. Using e-mail to send hate mail, to harass, to make discriminatory
remarks, and other antisocial behaviors are prohibited.
4. E-mail may not be used to send chain letters.
5. Use of the Internet for commercial purposes or product advertisement
is prohibited.
6. Participating in chat groups is not allowed unless approved by a
teacher for a classroom assignment.
7. Students using the Internet for class assignments have priority.
Extensive use of the Internet for personal use is prohibited (i.e. e-mail
and surfing the Net) and has no priority over class-related work.
8. Students must honor the hours for computer lab usage which are posted
or announced.
9. Users shall not intentionally seek information about, modify data
of, or use the names of other users.
10. No use of the Internet shall serve to disrupt the use of the network
.
11. Carelessness with hardware or software may result in cancellation
of privileges.
12. Vandalism to or modification of software or hardware will result
in cancellation of privileges.
13. Violators of state or federal laws will lose privileges.
14. Users must secure permission from the classroom teacher or Mr. McLuckie
before acquiring subscriptions to newsgroups and LISTSERVs and to furnish
Mr. McLuckie with a list of all such subscriptions.
15. Users must secure permission from Mr. McLuckie before publishing
web pages as part of the South Hamilton Community School District web sight.
IX. Disciplinary Action for Violation of Acceptable Use Policy
Procedures for dealing with inappropriate behavior as outlined in the student
handbook in the section "Student Conduct at School and School Activities"
will be applied to violations of the Acceptable Use Policy. In addition,
the following procedures may be applied:
1. Inappropriate item(s) may be confiscated.
2. Students may be banned from access to their e-mail or from using
all computer equipment, networks, or Internet.
3. Violations/violators of state or federal regulations will be reported.
4. Parental notification will occur upon all violations of lthe Acceptable
Use Policy. |