Telecommunication Network Acceptable Use Policy

Telecommunication Network Acceptable Use Policy

A. Regulations and Guidelines

The Internet's purpose is to facilitate communication in support of education research by providing access to unique resources and an opportunity for collaborative work. Employees and students of the District must comply with existing rules and acceptable use policies.

Access to the Internet is a privilege. Inappropriate use may result in cancellation of privileges.

1. The Superintendent or designee will oversee the District's electronic communications

system.

2. The system shall be used for administrative and educational purposes consistent with the

District's mission and goals. Users may not offer, provide, or purchase products or

services through the District's network.

3. The District will provide training (including ethical use guidelines) to employees in

proper use of the system and will provide users with copies of acceptable use guidelines.

4. The District may operate a website that may include information about school activities

and the names of students, teachers, and volunteers involved in those activities.

B. System Access

1. District employees are granted access to the system by the building principal's approval.

2. Teachers may apply for a class account and are responsible for that account and for

maintaining password confidentiality.

3. Students needing to complete required course work have first priority to the District's

system and equipment during after school hours.

4. Any user identified as a security risk or having violated District acceptable use guidelines

may be denied access to the District's system.

C. Campus-Level Coordinator Responsibilities As campus-level coordinator for the system, the principal or designee shall: 1. Be responsible for disseminating and enforcing District policies and acceptable use

guidelines on his or her respective campus; and

2. Ensure that all users of the system complete and sign an agreement to abide by District

policies and administrative regulations; and

3. Ensure that employees supervising students who use the system emphasize the

appropriate use of this resource; and

4. Be authorized to monitor or examine all system activities, including electronic mail

transmissions, as deemed appropriate to ensure proper use of the system; and

5. Be authorized to establish a retention schedule for messages on any electronic bulletin

board and to remove messages posted locally that are deemed to be inappropriate; and

6. Set limits for disk utilization on the system; and

7. Deny, revoke, or suspend specific user accounts, with or without cause or notice, for violations of network regulations, or as a result of other disciplinary actions against the user.

D. Individual User Responsibilities

The following policy for acceptable use of the District's electronic information/communications systems, including the Internet, shall apply to all district administrators, faculty, staff, and students.

1. Users shall not erase, rename, modify, or make unusable anyone else's computer files,

programs or disks.

2. Users shall not use Brock ISD computers or networks for any non-instructional or non

administrative purpose.

3. Users shall not use a computer for unlawful purposes, such as the illegal copying or

installation of software.

4. Users shall not write, produce, generate, copy, propagate, or attempt to introduce any

computer code designed to self-replicate, damage, or otherwise hinder the performance of

any computer's memory, file system, or software.

5. Users shall not deliberately use the computer to annoy or harass others with language,

images, or threats.

6. Users shall not deliberately access or create any obscene or objectionable information,

language, or images.

7. Users shall not intentionally damage the system, damage information belonging to others,

or misuse system resources.

8. Users shall not tamper with computers, networks, printers, or other associated equipment.

9. Users shall not copy system files.

10. Users shall not use systems or networks in attempts to gain unauthorized access to remote

systems.

11. Users shall not use any floppy disk brought from home unless the system administrator gives permission.

12. Users involved in distance learning may have their faces, names, and/or voices broadcast

over the Internet.

E. On-line Conduct

1. Individuals are responsible at all times for the proper use of his or her accounts.

2. Individuals may not use another person's system account or try to discover another user's

password.

3. System users must purge electronic mail in accordance with established retention

guidelines.

4. System users may redistribute copyrighted programs or data only with the written

permission of the copyrighted holder or designee. Such permission must be specified in the document or must be obtained directly from the copyrighted holder or designee in accordance with applicable copyright laws, District policy, and administrative regulations.

5. System users may upload public domain programs to the system. System users may also

download public domain programs for their own use or may noncommercially redistribute a public domain program. System users are responsible for determining whether a program is in the public domain.

6. System users must purge electronic mail in accordance with established retention

guidelines. Note: Electronic mail (e-mail) is not guaranteed to be private. People who operate the system do have access to mail. Messages relating to or in support of illegal activities will be reported to the authorities.

7. Visits to objectionable sites on the Internet may result in a loss of Internet privileges.

8. The student code of conduct will govern punishment/consequences for inappropriate use of the system.

F. Vandalism and Forgery Prohibited

Any attempt to harm, modify, destroy, degrade, initiate viruses, or disrupt the District's system or equipment is a violation of District policy and may result in disciplinary action and cancellation of system privileges.

Any attempt to forge, read, delete, copy, or modify the electronic mail of other system users or deliberate interference with the ability of other system users to send or receive e-mail is prohibited and may result in disciplinary action and cancellation of system privileges.

G. lnformation Content/Third Party Supplied Information

1. Use of the system may provide access to other electronic communications systems In the

global network that may contain inaccurate or objectionable material.

2. Any student or employee knowingly bringing prohibited materials into the school's

electronic environment will be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with District

policies.

H. Network Etiquette

1. Be polite.

2. Use appropriate language: swearing, vulgarity, ethnic or racial slurs, and any other inflammatory language is prohibited.

3. Pretending to be someone other than yourself when sending/receiving messages are inappropriate.

4. Transmitting or receiving obscene messages or pictures is inappropriate.

5. Revealing personal address or phone numbers is prohibited.

6. Using the network in such a way that will disrupt the use of the network by other users is prohibited.

I. Termination/Revocation of System User Account

1. The District may suspend or revoke a system user's access to the District's system upon violation of District policy and/or administrative regulations regarding acceptable use.

2. Termination of an employee's account or of a student's access will be effective on the date the principal or District coordinator receives notice of student withdrawal or of revocation of system privileges, or on a future date if so specified in the notice.

3. Prior to a suspension or revocation of system service, or as soon as practical, the principal or District coordinator will inform the system user of the suspected violation and give him or her an opportunity to present an explanation, as follows: A system user may appeal the suspension or revocation within seven calendar days.