SHCPS Technology Acceptable Use Policy                                                   Adopted 9/1/09                          

Purpose

The Seven Hills Charter Public School (SHCPS) District shall provide access for employees and students to the system/network for limited educational purposes. Educational purposes shall be defined as classroom activities, career and professional development, and high quality research or self discovery activities of an educational nature. The purpose of the system/network is to assist in preparing students for success in life and work by providing access to a wide range of information and the ability to communicate with others. The system/network will be used to increase communication (staff, parent, and student), enhance productivity, and assist staff in upgrading existing skills and acquiring new skills through a broader exchange of information. The system/network will also be utilized to provide information to the community, including parents, governmental agencies, and businesses. The purpose of this policy is to meet the demands of state and federal law and to provide guidelines for legal, moral and ethical use by our students and staff.  Staff/Students should be aware that all rules of public record and confidentiality apply in the digital world. 

Availability

Use of this Network is a privilege, not a right. The superintendent and/or technology administration shall implement, monitor, and evaluate the district’s system/network for instructional and administrative purposes. All users shall be required to acknowledge receipt and understanding of all administrative regulations and procedures governing use of the system and shall agree in writing to comply with such regulations and procedures. Non-compliance with applicable regulations and procedures may result in suspension or termination of user privileges and other disciplinary actions consistent with the policies of the SHCPS District violations of law may result in criminal prosecution as well as disciplinary action by the SHCPS District.

Acceptable Use

The superintendent and/or technology administration shall develop and implement administrative regulations, procedures, and user agreements, consistent with the purposes and mission of the SHCPS District, as well as with law and policy governing copyright.

Monitored Use

Electronic mail transmissions, including all messages and information, sent or retrieved over the Internet, are the property of the SHCPS District and shall not be considered confidential. Copies of all information created, sent, or retrieved are stored on the District’s back-up files. While the District does not plan to review cache files or back-up files on a regular basis, the District reserves the right to access and monitor all messages and files on the computer system as it deems necessary and appropriate in the ordinary course of its business for purposes including, but not limited to, ensuring proper use of resources and conducting routine network maintenance. Where appropriate, communications, including text and images may be disclosed to law enforcement officials or other third parties without prior consent of the sender or receiver.

As a result all incoming and outgoing messages and attachments are subject to being accessed, reviewed, disclosed or monitored.  This monitoring will be done at the sole discretion of the school’s superintendent and/or the technology administration during ordinary course of business, at any time, with or without notice, notwithstanding any password.

Liability

The SHCPS District shall not be liable for users’ inappropriate use of electronic resources or violations of copyright restrictions, mistakes or negligence, or costs incurred by users.  This may include such acts as downloading of pirated material.  If any requests are made of SHCPS to provide information on users resulting from the above noted acts, this information will be provided. The SHCPS District shall not be responsible for ensuring the accuracy or usability of any information found on the system/network, nor be liable for any loss, or corruption of data resulting while using the Internet.

The system/network MAY NOT be used to:

-Create or disseminate any offensive or disruptive messages. (Including, but not limited to material which contains sexual implications, racial or ethnic slurs, or other comments that offensively address someone's age, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, ancestry or disability, or to communicate improper messages or material that is defamatory, derogatory, obscene, or otherwise inappropriate.)  

-Violate any law, regulation, or school policy.  Staff/Student must not visit sexually explicit, offensive or otherwise inappropriate Web sites and must comply with all copyright laws.  Staff must comply with the regulations stated in the school’s Written Information Security Plan (WISP) in regard to protecting individuals’ personal information. Users are strictly forbidden from "hacking" or from knowingly introducing electronic worms and/or viruses to the system. 

-Staff/Student are expected to abide by the generally accepted rules of network etiquette that includes, but are not limited to, the following: Be polite, use appropriate, non-abusive language (The staff is cautioned about and students prohibited from revealing personal addresses, credit card numbers, or phone numbers)

-For Students, violations of any of the above guidelines may result in: The loss of access and/or additional disciplinary action as deemed appropriate governed by Administration. In order for a student to use the school’s Internet connection, the student and parent must read these guidelines and both parties will sign the agreement and the student will return it to school. Receipt of these guidelines will be acknowledged in the student handbook.  Parents who do not want their child to use the Internet during school hours must notify the school principal in writing.

-For Staff, a violation of this policy may result in: Disciplinary action ranging from a verbal warning or suspension of system privileges up to discharge from employment.  For both when applicable, law enforcement agencies may be involved.

Cyberbullying

-Cyberbullying can be defined as 'the use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), particularly mobile phones and the internet, deliberately to upset someone else'., and can be treated with criminal laws that can apply in terms of harassment, and threatening and menacing communications

-Cyberbullying takes different forms: threats and intimidation, harassment or 'cyber-stalking' (e.g. repeatedly sending unwanted texts or instant messages), vilification/defamation; exclusion or peer rejection, impersonation, unauthorized publication of private information or images, and manipulation. 

-Cyberbullying, is in all essence, bullying. ANY off site or on school property evidence of cyberbullying will involve disciplinary action set forth by SHCPS District, Technology Department, and Law Enforcement if necessary. SHCPS Parents and students have the responsibility, and are accountable for being educated in these areas, and be fully aware of its warning signs of Cyberbullying and its consequences.

Sanctions

1. Violations of the above rules will result in a temporary or permanent ban on internet/computer use.

2. Your parents/caregivers will be informed.

3. Additional disciplinary action may be added in line with existing practice on inappropriate language or behavior.

4. When applicable, police or local authorities may be involved.

5. If necessary, external agencies such as Social Networking or Email Member sites may be contacted and informed.