Hancock County
Schools
ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY
Computers in Hancock County Schools
(HCS) are used to support learning and to enhance instructions. It is a general policy that all computers in
Hancock County Schools are to be used in a responsible, efficient, ethical and
legal manner.
The Internet is an electronic
highway connecting thousands of computers all over the world and millions of
individual subscribers. Our primary
purpose of the Internet connection is educational. It is essential that everyone who uses this
connection understand that purpose.
Internet access is now available to
students and teachers in Hancock County Schools. We are very pleased to bring this access to
our school system and believe the Internet offers vast, diverse and unique resources
to both students and teachers. Our goal
in providing this service is to promote educational excellence in schools by
facilitating resource sharing, innovation and communication.
The purpose of this policy is to:
· Clarify the school’s position as to the acceptable use of
its technology investment
· Ensure that all users of this technology understand the
conditions for its use and the ramifications of misuse
· Protect the privacy of students, staff and other users of
the technology
This policy is not intended as a
document that sets limitations or restrictions.
Rather, it is designed to facilitate and set guidelines for exploring
and using the Internet as a tool for learning.
The policy was written with the purpose and goals of the Internet as a
background support for open research and education in and among research
institutions. This policy also provides
guidelines for maximizing the educational cost-benefit ration for teachers and
students.
Students and teachers will have
access to:
· Electronic Mail Communication with people all over the
world
· Information and news from a variety of sources and
research institutions as well as the opportunity to correspond with these
resources
· Access to many University Library Catalogs, the Library of
Congress and ERIC
· Discussion groups on a variety of topics
· Alternative ways of gathering information available for
classroom projects
With access to computers and people
all over the world also comes the availability of materials that may not be
considered to be of educational value in the context of the school
setting. HCS will take precautions to
resurrect access to controversial materials.
At school, student access to and use of the Internet will be under the
teacher’s direction and will be monitored as any classroom activity.
However, on a global network, it is
impossible to control all materials, and an industrious user may discover
controversial information. We (HCS)
firmly believe that the valuable information and interaction available on this
worldwide network far outweighs the possibility that users may procure
materials that are not consistent with the educational goals of the school.
The smooth operation of the network
relies upon the proper conduct of the end users who must adhere to
guidelines. These guidelines are
provided here so that you are aware of the responsibilities you are about to
attain.
In general, this requires
efficient, ethical and legal utilization of the network resources. If an HCS user violates any of these
provisions, his/her account will be terminated, future access could possibly be
denied, and the student may be subject to further disciplinary action. The signature at the end of this document is
legally binding and indicates that the person who signs it has read the terms
and conditions carefully and understands their significance.
Unacceptable uses of the computer include:
· Using the Internet connections for non-educational purposes
· Using
profanity, obscenity or other language which may be offensive or harassing to
another user
· Copying
commercial software in violation of copyright law
· Using the network for financial gain, commercial activity or
for any illegal activity
· Sending
anonymous messages of any kind
· Using the network to access a file that contains
pornographic pictures
· Using the network to send/receive racist, sexist, threatening
or inflammatory messages
· Using the network to send/receive messages that are
inconsistent with the school’s code of conduct
· Using the network to provide addresses, telephone numbers
or other personal information that others may use inappropriately.
· Purposely
infecting any school computer or network with a virus or other program designed
to damage, alter, destroy or provide access to unauthorized data or
information.
HCS
reserves the right to examine all data stored in the machines involved in the
Internet link to make sure that all users are in compliance with these
regulations.
HCS reserves the right to amend
these rules at any time without notice.
Users should keep in mind that when
they use the Internet, they are entering a global community, and any actions
taken by them will reflect upon the school as a whole. As such, all users must behave in an ethical
and legal manner.
INTERNET SAFETY POLICY ( CIPA Compliance)
For
Hancock County Schools
It is the policy of Hancock County
Schools to: (a) prevent user access over its computer network to, or
transmission of, inappropriate material via Internet, electronic mail, or other
forms of direct electronic communications; (b) prevent unauthorized access and other
unlawful online activity; (c) prevent unauthorized online disclosure, use, or dissemination
of personal identification information of minors; and (d) comply with the Children’s
Internet Protection Act [Pub. L. No. 106-554 and 47 USC 254(h)].
Access to
Inappropriate Material
To the extent practical, technology
protection measures (or “Internet filters”) shall be installed and used to
block or filter Internet, or other forms of electronic communications, access
to inappropriate information.
Specifically, as required by the
Children’s Internet Protection Act, blocking shall be applied to visual
depictions of material deemed obscene or child pornography, or to any material
deemed harmful to minors.
Subject to staff supervision,
technology protection measures may be disabled or, in the case of minors,
minimized only for bona fide research or other lawful purposes.
Inappropriate
Network Usage
To the extent practical, steps shall
be taken to promote the safety and security of users of the Hancock
County School District
online computer network when using electronic mail, chat rooms, instant
messaging, and other forms of direct electronic communications.
Specifically, as required by the
Children’s Internet Protection Act, prevention of inappropriate network usage
includes: (a) unauthorized access, including so-called ‘hacking,’ and other
unlawful activities; and (b) unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of
personal identification information regarding minors.
Supervision
and Monitoring
It shall be the responsibility of
all members of the Hancock County
School District staff to supervise
and monitor usage of the online computer network and access to the Internet in
accordance with this policy and the Children’s Internet protection Act.
Procedures for the disabling or
otherwise modifying any technology protection measures shall be the
responsibility of Technology Director or designated representatives.
Adoption
The Hancock County Board of
Education adopted this Internet Safety Policy at a public meeting on March 6, 2006.
CIPA
definitions of terms:
TECHNOLOGY PROTECTION MEASURE.
The term “technology protection measure” means a specific technology that
blocks or filters Internet access to visual depictions that are:
1. OBSCENE, as that term is defined in section 1460
of title 18, United States Code;
2. CHILD PORNOGRAPHY, as that term is defined in
section 2256 of title 18, United States Code; or
3. Harmful to minors.
HARMFUL TO MINORS. The term
“harmful to minors” means any picture, image, graphic image file, or other
visual depiction that:
1. Taken as a whole and with respect to minors,
appeals to a prurient interest in nudity, sex, or excretion;
2. Depicts, describes, or represents, in a patently
offensive way with respect to what is suitable for minors, an actual or
simulated sexual act or sexual contact, actual or simulated normal or perverted
sexual acts, or a lewd exhibition of the genitals; and
3. Taken as whole, lacks
serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value as to minors.
SEXUAL ACT; SEXUAL CONTACT.
The terms “sexual act” and “sexual contact” have the meanings given such terms
in section 2246 of title 18, United States Code.