ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY
FOR STUDENT USE OF BELFAST CENTRAL SCHOOL
COMPUTER SYSTEM 2007 - 2008

Belfast Central School is offering Internet access for student use.

This document contains the Acceptable Use Policy for your use of Belfast Central School Computer System.

Conditions of Liability

The District makes no guarantee that the functions or the services provided by or through the District system will be error-free or without defect.  The District will not be responsible for any damage you may suffer, including but not limited to, loss of data or interruptions of service.  The District is not responsible for the accuracy or quality of the information obtained through or stored on the system.  The District will not be responsible for financial obligations arising through the unauthorized use of the system.

Educational Purpose

1.   Belfast Central School Computer System has been established for a limited educational purpose.  The term "educational purpose" includes classroom activities, career development, and limited high-quality self-discovery activities.

2.   Belfast Central School Computer System has not been established as a public access service or a public forum.  Belfast Central School has the right to place reasonable restrictions on the material you access or post through the system.  You are also expected to follow the rules set forth in *(disciplinary code) and the law in your use of Belfast Central School Computer System.

3.   You may not use Belfast Central School Computer System for commercial purposes.  This means you may not offer, provide, or purchase products or services through Belfast Central School Computer System.

4.   You may not use Belfast Central School Computer System for political lobbying.  But you may use the system to communicate with elected representatives and to express your opinion on political issues.
 Unacceptable Uses

The following uses of Belfast Central School Computer System are considered unacceptable:

1.   Personal Safety (Our first concern is you)
a. You will not post personal contact information about yourself or other people.  Personal contact information includes your address, telephone, school address, work address, etc.
b. You will not agree to meet with someone you have met online without your parent's approval.  Your parent should accompany you to this meeting.
c. You will promptly disclose to your teacher or other school employees any message you receive that is inappropriate or makes you feel uncomfortable.
d. You will not use the Internet without a teacher or employee of Belfast School in the room with you.

2.   Illegal Activities
a.   You will not attempt to gain unauthorized access to *(system) or to any other computer system through *(system) or go beyond your authorized access.  This includes attempting to log in through another person's account or access another person's files.  These actions are illegal, even if only for the purposes of "browsing".
b.   You will not make deliberate attempts to disrupt the computer system or destroy data by spreading computer viruses or by any other means.  These actions are illegal.
c.   You will not use Belfast Central School Computer System. To engage in any other illegal act, such as arranging for a drug sale or the purchase of alcohol, engaging in criminal gang activity, threatening the safety of person, etc. 

3.   Inappropriate Language
a.   Restrictions against Inappropriate Language apply to public messages, private messages, and material posted on Web pages.
b.   You will not use obscene, profane, lewd, vulgar, rude, inflammatory, threatening, or disrespectful language.
c.   You will not post information that could cause damage or a danger of disruption.
d.   You will not engage in personal attacks, including prejudicial or discriminatory attacks.
e.   You will not harass another person.  Harassment is persistently acting in a manner that distresses or annoys another person.  If you are told by a person to stop sending them messages, you must stop.
f.   You will not knowingly or recklessly post false or defamatory information about a person or organization.

4.   Respect the Privacy of Others
a. You will not post private information about another person.

5. Respecting Resource Limits
You will use the system only for educational and career development activities and limited, high-quality, self-discovery activities.

6.   System Security
a. You are responsible for your individual account and should take all reasonable precautions to prevent others from being able to use your account.  Under no conditions should you provide your password to another person.You can not bring your laptop computer inside the building to use.
b. You will immediately notify a teacher or the system administrator if you have identified a possible security problem.  Do not go looking for security problems, because this may be construed as an illegal attempt to gain access.
c. You will avoid the inadvertent spread of computer viruses by following the District virus protection procedures if you download software.
d. You will not download large files.  If necessary, you will download the file at a time when the system is not being heavily used and immediately remove the file from the system computer to your personal computer.
e. You will not post chain letters or engage in sending an annoying or unnecessary message to a large number of people.)
f. You will subscribe only to high quality discussion group mail-lists that are relevant to your education or career development.

7.   Plagiarism and Copyright Infringement
a.   You will not plagiarize works that you find on the Internet.  Plagiarism is taking the ideas or writings of others and presenting them as if they were yours.
b.   You will respect the rights of copyright owners.  Copyright infringement occurs when you inappropriately reproduce a work that is protected by a copyright.  If a work contains language that specifies appropriate use of that work, you should follow the expressed requirements.  If you are unsure whether or not you can use a work, you should request permission from the copyright owner.  Copyright law can be very confusing.  If you have questions ask a teacher.

8. Inappropriate Access to Material
You will not use Belfast Central School Computer System to access material that is profane or obscene (pornography), that advocates illegal acts, or that advocates violence or discrimination towards other people.

Students Personal Responsibility

When you are using the Belfast Central School Computer System it may feel like you can more easily break a rule and not get caught.  This is not really true because whenever you do something on a network you leave little "electronic footprints," so the odds of getting caught are really about same as they are in the real world. But the fact that you can do something or think you can do something without being caught does not make it right to do so.  Even if you don't get caught, there is always one person who will know whether you have done wrong -- and that person is you.  Your use of the Internet can be a mirror that will show you what kind of a person you are.  If you are taking a laptop from the Library for the day you need to follow these steps. 

• Sign the laptop out of the Library.
• Sign it back in the next school day.
• If you need to print your work see Mrs. Eddy.
• Do not leave the laptop in temperatures less than 60 degrees or higher than 80 degrees.
• Do not leave them in your car, bus or at home. 
• Do not drop them.
• The laptops are for word-processing and not for the Internet use at home.
• If you damage the equipment you will be liable for the cost of repairs of said equipment.   
Your Rights

1.   Free Speech
Your right to free speech, as set forth in the * (disciplinary code), applies also to your communication on the Internet.  The Belfast School Computer System is considered a limited enclosure, similar to the school newspaper, and therefore the District may restrict your speech for valid educational reasons.  The District will not restrict your speech on the basis of a disagreement with the opinions you are expressing.

2.   Search and Confiscation
a.   You should expect only limited privacy in the contents of your personal files with the use of the District system.   The situation is similar to the rights you have in the privacy of your locker.  You will be monitored through Apple Administrator or Historian that tracks where you are or have been on the Internet.  Routine maintenance and monitoring of Belfast Central School Computer System may lead to discovery that you have violated this Policy, the * (disciplinary code), or the law.
b.   An individual search will be conducted if there is reasonable suspicion that you have violated this Policy, the * (disciplinary code), or the law.  The investigation will be reasonable and related to the suspected violation.

3.   Due Process
a.   The District will cooperate fully with local, state, or federal officials in any investigation related to any illegal activities conducted through Belfast Central School Computer System.
b.   In the event there is a claim that you have violated this Policy or * (disciplinary code) in your use of the Belfast Central School Computer System.  You and your parent will be provided with a written notice of the suspected violation and an opportunity to present an explanation before an administrator.  Additional restrictions may be placed on your use of your Internet account.

Disciplinary code:
1st Offense: 30 school day suspension of computer use.  You will still have your regular computer classes. 
2nd Offense: Suspension from computers for the rest of the school year, except for your regular computer classes.

I have read the District Acceptable Use Policy.  I agree to follow the rules contained in this Policy.  I understand that if I violate the rules my account can be terminated and I may face other disciplinary measures.

Parent or Guardian Section

   I have read the District Acceptable Use Policy.   I hereby release the district, its personnel, and any institutions with which it is affiliated, from any and all claims and damages of any nature arising from my child's use of, or inability to use, the District system, including, but not limited to claims that may arise from the unauthorized use of the system to purchase products or services.
    I will instruct my child regarding any restrictions against accessing material that are in addition to the restrictions set forth in the District Acceptable Use Policy.  I will emphasize to my child the importance of following the rules for personal safety.
I give permission to issue an account for my child and certify that the information contained in this form is correct.

 

 I  (Check Box)                              [   ] approve      [  ] do not approve    

Date:                Homeroom Number:

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