Board Policy Number 603.043-R1
NETWORK INTERNET USE REGULATION
Internet access is available to the students and staff of the Maquoketa Valley Community School District.
THEME: The term MVCSnet refers to all computer resources of the school district which includes Internet access. The main theme of this policy is to make users aware that they are responsible and accountable for the inappropriate access and use, not just of Internet resources, but that the same policies and rules will apply to all computers and network resources of the Maquoketa Valley Community School District. The use of the MVCSnet network is a PRIVILEGE not a right.
INTRODUCTION: MVCSnet is a local area network connected to other local and national networks. Its purpose is to meet the mission of the Maquoketa Valley Community Schools. It is also to advance and enhance students access to educational resources, improve teacher resource and training, collaboration and dissemination of successful district and student materials, educational practices and methods. With this accessibility comes a need for appropriate and responsible use. The goal of providing access to teachers and students is to further educational excellence by facilitating resource sharing, innovation, and communication. The use of MVCSnet must be in support of education and research, consistent with the 280.12 and 280.18 student achievement goals and objectives of the Maquoketa Valley Community School Districts.
Internet safety policy: Maquoketa Valley Community Schools intends to fully comply with the Neighborhood Children’s Internet Protection Act. Compliance includes a technology protection measure in the form of a filter to block, at a minimum, visual depictions deemed “obscene,” “child pornography,” or “harmful to minors.”
WARNING: MVCSnet will employ the use of filtering, however with access to computers and people all over the world also comes the availability of material that may not be considered to be of educational value in the context of the school setting. There may be some material or individual communications which are not suitable for school-aged children. The Maquoketa Valley School District views information gathered from the Internet in the same manner as reference materials identified by the schools. Specifically, the district supports resources that will enhance the learning environment with directed guidance from the faculty and staff. However, it is impossible to control all materials on a global network and an industrious user may discover inappropriate material.
As with other parts of life, there are good things and bad things on the Internet. Most people are who they represent. But it is possible to misrepresent oneself. Also remember that not everything you read on Internet may be true. Students need to distinguish between reliable and questionable resources. Most universities have reliable information unless it is found on a student machine. All students must have a signed parent consent form before they will be allowed access to Internet in or out of a classroom setting. MVCS has set up a student account that will allow any student to access a very limited number of reference sites deemed worthy of all student access by network administrator or teacher. Those sites will be listed on a special page on the schools web site.
All students must possess a User’s License for full access. The license is good for that school year only. Following a parent or guardian signature, a license will be issued to the user. This license must be in the possession of the user when logged into the Internet. This license will be displayed in the designated area at all times during use of Internet. If you have had your license removed, the student will not be allowed to use the Internet until a new license has been obtained. If the user has lost the privilege of network and/or Internet use, the student will have to follow a prescribed set of steps to have their license re-issued. The steps are described below in “Violations: Consequences and Notifications.” If the License is lost, you will not be allowed to use the Internet until a new licenses has been obtained. The cost of replacing the card shall be the responsibility of the student. Do not give your license to anyone under any circumstances. Both of you could lose the privilege of network use.
MVCSnet ACCEPTABLE USE RULES: Students are responsible for good behavior on school computer networks just as they are in a classroom or hallway. Communications on the network are often public in nature. General school rules for behavior and communications apply.
Parent permission is required for access. Access is a privilege and not a right and involves responsibility on the part of the user. It is presumed that users will comply with district standards and will honor the agreements they have signed.
Network storage areas will be treated like school lockers. Network administrators may review files and communications to maintain system integrity and insure that users are using the system responsibly. USERS SHOULD NOT EXPECT THAT FILES STORED ON DISTRICT SERVERS/COMPUTERS WILL BE ALWAYS PRIVATE.
The MVCSnet account holder is responsible for their actions and activity within their account. Unacceptable uses of the network will result in sanctions listed in “Consequences and Notification” in this document or, when applicable, contacting the appropriate law enforcement agencies.
Some examples of unacceptable use include, but are not limited to:
1. Using the network for any illegal activity, including violation of copyright laws or other contracts;
2. Using the network for financial or commercial gain;
3. Degrading or disrupting equipment or system performance;
4. Vandalizing the data of another user;
5. Wastefully using finite resources;
6. Gaining unauthorized access to resources or entities;
7. Invading the privacy of individuals;
8. Using an account owned by another user;
9. Posting personal communications without the author’s consent;
10. Posting anonymous messages;
11. Posing as someone else;
12. Trying to gain access to restricted areas;
13. Downloading, storing, or printing files or messages that are profane, obscene, or that use language that offends or tends to degrade others;
14. Violate rules of Common Sense;
15. Giving your password to others;
16. Change computer files that do not belong to the user;
17. Violating content guidelines as outlined below;
18. Creating or sharing computer viruses;
CONTENT GUIDELINES: Students will be allowed to produce materials for electronic publication on the Internet. The Network administrator or supervising teacher will monitor these materials.
No text, image, movie, or sound that contains pornography, profanity, obscenity, or language that offends or tends to degrade others will be allowed.
DISTRICT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Maquoketa Valley Community School District reserves the right to:
1. Monitor all activity on MVCSnet.
2. Make determinations on whether specific uses of the network are consistent with this acceptable use policy.
3. Log network use and to monitor storage disk space
4. Deem what is appropriate use. The district reserves the right to monitor e-mail and/or downloaded materials. This monitoring will serve two purposes; a. To demonstrate the need or usefulness of Internet resources to a modern public education. b. To ensure compliance with this policy.
5. Remove a user’s access to the network at any time it is determined that the user is engaged in unauthorized or illegal activity or violating this acceptable use policy.
6. Cooperate fully with any investigation concerning or relating to any MVCSnet activity.
7. Respect the privacy of individual users of electronic data. The standard to be followed will be probable cause. The District will investigate if there is probable cause to believe that there has been a violation of school policy, the user agreement, or state or federal law.
8. Take steps to develop, implement, and maintain security procedures to insure integrity of individual and district files. However, information on any computer system cannot be guaranteed to be inaccessible by others.
9. Attempt to provide error free and dependable access to technology resources associated with MVCSnet. However, the district cannot be held responsible for any information that may be lost, damaged, or unavailable due to technical or other difficulties.
10. Not deny or remove a user’s right to use MVCSnet resources without probable cause.
USER’S RESPONSIBILITIES:
1.Using appropriate language. Profanity or obscenity will not be tolerated on MVCSnet. All users should use language appropriate for school situations as indicated by schools code of conduct.
2. Avoid offensive or inflammatory speech. Users must respect the rights of others both in the local community and in the Internet at large. Personal attacks are an unacceptable use of the network. If you are a victim of a personal attack bring the incident to the attention of a teacher or administrator.
3. Adhere to the rules of copyright. MVCS users must respect all copyright issues regarding software, information, and attributions of authorship. The unauthorized copying or transfer of copyrighted materials may result in the loss of network privileges.
4. Use of the network for any illegal activities is prohibited.
5. DO NOT download software unless under the direction of a MVCS teacher. Non-academic use of the network is prohibited(e.g. playing games without teacher direction)
6. You have full responsibility for the use of your account. All violations of this policy that are traced to an individual account name will be treated as the sole responsibility of the owner of that account. Under no conditions should you give your password to another user.
7. Accidental violations. Any user that stumbles across an inappropriate site should immediately notify the supervising teacher. Failure to do so will be interpreted as an intentional violation.
8. Anonymity is not allowed on MVCSnet. As an educational network, we believe that individuals must take responsibility for their actions and words.
9. Exemplary behavior is expected on virtual field trips. When visiting sites on the Internet, MVCSnet users must conduct themselves as representatives of the MVCS community as a whole. Conduct that is in conflict with the MVCSnet Acceptable Use Policy or School policies will be subject to disciplinary actions which could include suspension for serious violations.
10. Log off immediately after each session.
VIOLATIONS: CONSEQUENCES AND NOTIFICATION: Students who access and/or download inappropriate or objectionable material, send messages with vulgar or abusive language, share their password(s) while using the Internet or violate responsibilities as outlined above shall be subject to the appropriate action described in board policy and the following consequences:
(The result of the first time forgetting to log out will be a reminder)
First violation: For the first violation during the school’s fiscal year (July 1-June 30), a verbal and written “Warning” will be issued to the student by the principal’s office. The student will lose Internet access for three weeks. A copy of the notice will be mailed to the student’s parent/guardian and a copy will be kept on file.
Second violation: For the second violation during the school’s fiscal year (July 1-June 30), a verbal and written “Second Violation” notice will be issued to the student by the principal’s office using the prescribed form. The student will lose Internet access for nine weeks. A copy of the notice will be mailed to the student’s parent/guardian and a copy will be kept on file.
Third violation: For the third violation during the school’s fiscal year (July 1-June 30), a verbal and written “Third Violation” notice will be issued to the student by the principal’s office. The student will lose all Internet privileges. A copy of the notice will be sent by registered mail to the student’s parent/guardian and a letter will be kept on file.
Maquoketa Valley Community School reserves the right to accelerate the consequences based on severity of the actions.
Students who have lost their Internet privileges by committing a “Third Violation” may, after one calendar year, petition to have their Internet privileges reinstated on a trial basis. A “trial basis” places students on probation for one year. If, during this one year time period, students commit an additional violation, their Internet privileges will be permanently suspended for the remainder of their time as students in the Maquoketa Valley Community School District.
FACULTY: Faculty will be accountable to the same standards and policies as students.
MONITORING: The Maquoketa Valley Community School District reserves the right to review any material on user accounts and to monitor server space in order to make determinations on appropriate use.
SECURITY: Security is a high priority especially when a large number of users are involved. If you suspect or identify a security problem, you should notify a staff member immediately. DO NOT show or identify the problem to others. Any user identified as a security risk or having a history of problems with the network may be denied access to the Internet.
LEGAL REFERENCE:
DATE OF ADOPTION: November 13, 1996
DATE OF REVIEW: November 10, 1999
DATE OF REVISION: April 10, 2002
MAQUOKETA VALLEY COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
DELHI, IOWA 52223
603.043-R1 Page #