Internet and electronic communications acceptable use and safety policy

INTERNET AND ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS
ACCEPTABLE USE AND SAFETY POLICY
I. GENERAL PURPOSE
St. Mary’s School recognizes the role of computer technology in preparing students for success in life and work. It also expects employees to learn to use the school’s technology to perform tasks associated with their positions and assignments.
Staff and school board should be aware that when they use the school’s computer system their actions and communications may be identified as those of St. Mary’s School and Church. As such, staff and Board members are to exercise professional judgment at all times when using the school’s computer system.
The use of St. Mary’s School’s computer system and access to the internet is a privilege, not a right. Users will be held accountable for their actions when using the system. Unacceptable uses will result in one or more of the following consequences: suspension or revocation of user privileges, payments for damages and repairs, discipline under other appropriate school policies, exclusion or termination of employment. User activity that may indicate a violation of law could be disclosed to law enforcement or other third parties without prior consent.
II. LIMITED EDUCATIONAL PURPOSE
St. Mary’s School has a limited educational purpose, which includes use of the system for classroom activities, educational research, and professional or career development activities. Users are expected to use Internet access to further educational and personal goals consistent with the mission and philosophy of St. Mary’s School. Uses which may be acceptable on a user’s private home account may not be acceptable on this limited purpose system.
III. UNACCEPTABLE USES
A. The following uses of the school’s computer system and Internet resources or accounts are considered unacceptable.
1. Users will not use St. Mary’s School’s system to knowingly or recklessly access, review, upload, download, store, print, post, receive, transmit or distribute:
a. pornographic, obscene or sexually explicit material or other visual depictions that are harmful to minors;
b. obscene, abusive, profane, lewd, vulgar, rude, inflammatory, threatening, disrespectful, or sexually explicit language;
c. materials that use language or images that are inappropriate in the education setting or disruptive to the educational purpose;
d. information or materials that could cause damage or danger of disruption to the educational process;
e. materials that use language or images that advocate violence or discrimination toward other people (hate literature) or that may constitute harassment or discrimination;
f. false or defamatory information about a person or organization, or to harass another person, or to engage in personal attacks, including prejudicial and discriminatory attacks;
2. Users will not use the St. Mary’s School’s system to engage in any illegal act or violate any local, state or federal statute or law.
3. Users will not use St. Mary’s School’s system to vandalize, damage or disable the property of another person or organization, will not make deliberate attempts to degrade or disrupt equipment, software or system performance by spreading computer viruses or by any other means, will not tamper with, modify or change the school’s system software, hardware or wiring or take any action to violate the school’s security system, and will not use the school’s system in such a way as to disrupt he use of the system by other means.
4. Users will not use the school’s system to gain unauthorized access to information resources or to access another person’s materials, information or files without the implied or direct permission of that person.
5. Users will not use the school’s system to post private information about another person, personal contact information about themselves or other persons, or other personally identifiable information.
6. Users must keep all account information and passwords on file in the school office. Users will not attempt to gain unauthorized access to the school’s system or any other system, attempt to log in on another person’s account, or use computer accounts, access codes or network identification other than those assigned to the user. Messages and records on the school’s system may not be encrypted without the permission of the appropriate school officials.
7. Users will not use the school’s system to violate copyright laws or usage licensing agreements, or otherwise use another person’s property without the person’s prior approval and proper citation, including the downloading or exchanging of pirate software or copying software to or from any school computer, and will not plagiarize works they find on the Internet.
8. Users will not use the school’s system for conducting business, for unauthorized commercial purposes or for financial gain unrelated to the mission of the school. Users will not use the school’s system to offer or provide goods or services or for product advertisement. Users will not use the school’s system to purchase goods or services for personal use without authorization from the administrator.
9. St. Mary’s School retains the right to search school-owned computers and data for inappropriate use.
10. St. Mary’s School is not responsible for end-user action.
11. Only school-owned and/or school authorized hardware/software can be plugged into the network.
B. If a user inadvertently accesses unacceptable materials or an unacceptable Internet site, the user shall immediately disclose the inadvertent access to a teacher. In the case of a school employee, the immediate disclosure shall be to the administrator.
IV. FILTER
A. St. Mary’s School will monitor the online activities of minors and employ technology protection measures during any use of computers by minors and adults. The technology protection measures used will block or filter Internet access to any visual depictions that are:
1. Obscene; 2. Child pornography; or 3. Harmful to minors.
B. An administrator or supervisor may disable the technology protection measure, during use by an adult, to enable access for bona fide and pre-approved research or other lawful purpose.
V. CONSISTENCY WITH OTHER SCHOOL POLICIES
Use of St. Mary’s School’s computer system and use of the Internet shall be consistent with school policies and the mission of the school.
VI. LIMITED EXPECTATION OF PRIVACY
A. By authorizing use of the school’s computer system, St. Mary’s does not relinquish control over materials on the system or contained in files on the system.
B. Routine maintenance and monitoring of the school’s system may lead to a discovery that a user has violated this policy, another school policy or the law.
C. Parents have the right to investigate their child’s use of the school’s system. Parents have the right to terminate their child’s Internet use at any time.
D. School employees should be aware that the school retains the right at any time to investigate or review the contents of their files and e-mail files.
VII. INTERNET USE AGREEMENT
A. The proper use of the Internet, and the educational value to be gained from proper Internet use, is the joint responsibility of students, parents and employees of St. Mary’s School.
B. This policy requires the permission of and supervision by the school’s designated professional staff before a student may use a school account or resource to access the Internet.
C. The Internet Use Agreement form for students must be read and signed by the user, the parent or guardian, and the supervising teacher. The Internet Use Agreement form for employees must be signed by the employee. The form must then be filed at the school office.
VIII. LIMITATION ON SCHOOL LIABILITY
Use of St. Mary’s system is at the user’s own risk. The system is provided on an “as is, as available” basis. The school is not responsible for any damage users may suffer.
IX. USER NOTIFICATION
A. All users will be notified of the St. Mary’s School’s policies relating to Internet use.
B. Any changes made to this policy in its annual review will be communicated to users, and parents of users who are minors, before the new regulations go into effect.
X. IMPLEMENTATION; POLICY REVIEW
A. St. Mary’s School’s Internet policies and procedures are available for review by all parents, guardians, staff and member of the community. Interested parties can look up the policies on the school website at stmaryschoolcal.org or request a copy from the school office.
B. Because of the rapid changes in the development of the Internet, the school board shall conduct an annual review of this policy.
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