APPENDIX A

Access to Electronic Networks
Board Policy 6:235 E1

Exhibit - Authorization for Access to Electronic Networks

All full- and part-time staff and other adult users of the District’s computers, including temporary staff, student teachers, and volunteers, must sign this Authorization as a condition for using the District's Technology System connection. Parent(s)/guardian(s) must sign the Authorization before their child is being granted access to district devices. Please read this document carefully before signing. A separate document is included with this handbook for your signature.

All use of the Internet shall be consistent with the district's goal of promoting educational excellence by facilitating resource sharing, innovation, and communication. This Authorization does not attempt to state all required or proscribed behavior by users. However, some specific examples are provided. The failure of any user to follow the terms of the Authorization for Access to Electronic Networks will result in the loss of privileges, disciplinary action, and/or appropriate legal action. The signature(s) at the end of this document is legally binding and indicates the party who signed has read the terms and conditions carefully and understands their significance.

Terms and Conditions

1. Acceptable Use - Access to the System will (a) support learning and enhance instruction, (b) improve communication and/or (c) for legitimate school business. 
2. Privileges - The use of the System is a privilege, not a right, and inappropriate use will result in a cancellation of those privileges. The system administrator will make all decisions regarding whether or not a user has violated these procedures and may deny, revoke, or suspend access at any time his or her decision is final.
3. Unacceptable Use - The user is responsible for his or her actions and activities involving the System. Some examples of unacceptable uses are:
   1. Using the System for any illegal activity, including violation of copyright or other contracts, or transmitting any material in violation of any U.S. or State law;
   2. Unauthorized use, downloading and/or installation of any non-district software, regardless of whether it is copyrighted or de-virused;
   3. Downloading copyrighted material for other than personal use;
   4. Using the System for private financial or commercial gain;
   5. Wastefully using resources, such as file space;
   6. Hacking or gaining unauthorized access to files, resources, or entities;
   7. Invading the privacy of individuals, which includes the unauthorized disclosure, dissemination, and use of information about anyone that is of a personal nature;
   8. Using another user's account or password;
   9. Posting material authorized or created by another without his/her consent;
   10. Posting anonymous messages;
   11. Using the System for commercial or private advertising;
   12. Accessing, retrieving, viewing, submitting, posting, publishing, or displaying any defamatory, indecent, inaccurate, abusive, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, threatening, racially offensive, harassing, or illegal material; and
   13. Using the System while access privileges are suspended or revoked.
   14. Using chat rooms, instant messaging, and shared content or social networking web sites for non-district purposes.
   15. Send nuisance electronic mail or other online messages such as chain letters, pyramid schemes, or obscene, harassing or other unwelcome messages.
   16. Send mass electronic mail to multiple users, without prior authorization by the appropriate district administrator.
        
4. System Etiquette - The user is expected to abide by the generally accepted rules of system etiquette. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
   1. Be polite. Do not become abusive in messages to others.
   2. Use appropriate language. Do not swear, or use vulgarities or any other inappropriate language.
   3. Do not reveal personal information, including the addresses or telephone numbers, of students or colleagues.
   4. Recognize that electronic mail and the Google Workspace is not private. People who operate the system have access to all online activity. Online behavior relating to or in support of illegal activities may be reported to the authorities.
   5. Do not use the network in any way that would disrupt its use by other users.
       
5. No Warranties - The District makes no warranties of any kind, whether expressed or implied, for the service it is providing. The District will not be responsible for any damages the user suffers. This includes loss of data resulting from delays, non-deliveries, missed-deliveries, or service interruptions caused by its negligence or 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.
    
6. Indemnification - The user agrees to indemnify the school district for any losses, costs, or damages, including reasonable attorney fees, incurred by the District relating to, or arising out of, any violation of these procedures.
    
7. Security - System security is a high priority. If the user can identify a security problem on the Internet, the user must notify the System Administrator or Building Principal. Do not demonstrate the problem to other users. Keep your account and password confidential. Do not use another individual's account without written permission from that individual. Attempts to log-on to the Internet as a system administrator will result in cancellation of user privileges. Any user identified as a security risk may be denied access to the network.
    
8. Vandalism - Vandalism will result in cancellation of privileges and other disciplinary action. Vandalism is defined as any malicious attempt to harm or destroy data of another user, the Internet, or any other network. This includes, but is not limited to, the uploading or creation of computer viruses.
    
9. Copyright Web Publishing Rules - Copyright law and District policy prohibit the re-publishing of text or graphics found on the web or on district web sites or file servers without explicit written permission.
   1. For each re-publication (on a web site or file server) of a graphic or a text file that was produced externally, there must be a notice at the bottom of the page crediting the original producer and noting how and when permission was granted. If possible, the notice should also include the web address of the original source.
   2. Students and staff engaged in producing web pages must provide library media specialists with e-mail or hard copy permissions before the web pages are published. Printed evidence of the status of “public domain” documents must be provided.
   3. The absence of a copyright notice may not be interpreted as permission to copy the materials. Only the copyright owner may provide the permission. The manager of the web site displaying the material may not be considered a source of permission.
   4. The “fair use” rules governing student reports in classrooms are less stringent and permit limited use of graphics and text.
   5. Student work may only be published if there is written permission from both the parent/guardian and student.
       
10. Use of Electronic Mail and Google Workspace
    1. The District’s electronic mail system, Google Workspace, and its constituent software, hardware, and data files, are owned and controlled by the School District.
    2. The School District provides e-mail to aid students and staff members in fulfilling their duties and responsibilities, and as an education tool.
    3. The District reserves the right to access and disclose the contents of any account on its system, without prior notice or permission from the account’s user.
    4. Unauthorized access by any student or staff member to an electronic mail account is strictly prohibited.
    5. Each person should use the same degree of care in drafting an electronic mail message as would be put into a written memorandum or document. Nothing should be transmitted in an e-mail message that would be inappropriate in a letter or memorandum.
    6. Electronic messages transmitted via the School District’s Internet gateway carry with them an identification of the user’s Internet “domain.” This domain name is a registered domain name and identifies the author as being with the School District. Great care should be taken, therefore, in the composition of such messages and how such messages might reflect on the name and reputation of this School District. Users will be held personally responsible for the content of any and all electronic mail messages transmitted to external recipients.
    7. Any message received from an unknown sender via the Internet should be immediately deleted and notify the System Administrator. Downloading any file attached to any Internet-based message is prohibited unless the user is certain of that message’s authenticity and the nature of the file so transmitted.
    8. Use of the School District’s electronic mail system and Google Workspace constitutes consent to these regulations.
    9. Internet Safety
       1. Internet access is limited to only those “acceptable uses” as detailed in these procedures. Internet safety is almost assured if users will not engage in “unacceptable uses,” as detailed in these procedures, and otherwise follow these procedures.
       2. Staff members shall supervise students while students are using District Internet access to ensure that the students abide by the terms and conditions for access to the district’s electronic network contained in these procedures. 
       3. Each district device with Internet access has a filtering device that blocks entry to visual depictions that are (1) obscene, (2) pornographic, or (3) harmful or inappropriate for students, as defined by the Children’s Internet Protection Act and as determined by the Superintendent or designee. 
       4. Regarding shared content or social networking web sites:
          1. Users should not post anything that could be taken as a direct threat against fellow students or school staff members.
          2. Users should not advocate for violation of any laws or school rules.
          3. Users should not use school resources to publish or view personal shared content or social networking web sites.
          4. Users should not encourage other students to read or post comments to their personal shared content or social networking web sites while at school.
          5. Users should make clear to readers that their personal shared content or social networking web sites are not affiliated with or sponsored by the school.
       5. The System Administrator and Building Principals shall monitor student Internet access.

Staff members need only sign this Authorization for Access to Electronic Networks once while employed by the school district. Families need to sign and date below.

I understand and will abide by the above Authorization for Access to Electronic Networks. I understand that the District and/or its agents may access and monitor my use of the Internet, including my Email, Google Workspace, and downloaded material, without prior notice to me. I further understand that should I commit any violation, my access privileges may be revoked, and school disciplinary action and/or appropriate legal action may be taken. In consideration for using the district's electronic network connection and having access to public networks, I hereby release the school district and its Board members, employees, and agents from any claims and damages arising from my use of, or inability to use the Internet.

I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I HAVE NO EXPECTATION OF PRIVACY IN MY USE OF THE DISTRICT TECHNOLOGY SYSTEM, AND THAT THE DISTRICT HAS THE RIGHT TO AND DOES MONITOR USE OF THE SYSTEM.

DATE:      _________________________

USER NAME:  __________________________________________________________

USER SIGNATURE:  __________________________________________________________

 
6:235-E2