Ossining Union Free School District

COMPUTER NETWORK ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY FOR STAFF

O.W.L. Net (Ossining Wired for Learning Network)

REGULATION

The following rules and regulations govern the use of the District’s Computer Network System (O.W.L.Net) and access to the Internet:

I.                    Administration

·          The Superintendent of Schools shall designate an administrator to oversee the District Computer Network - O.W.L.Net.

·          The administrator shall monitor and examine all network activities, as appropriate, to ensure proper use of the system.

·          The administrator shall be responsible for disseminating and interpreting district policy and regulations governing use of the District’s Computer Network – O.W.L.Net at each building level with all network users.

·          The administrator shall coordinate staff training for proper use of the network and will ensure that staff supervising students using O.W.L.Net provide similar training to their students, including providing copies of district policy and regulations governing the use of O.W.L.Net.

·          The administrator will be designated to establish a process for setting up individual and class accounts, establish a District virus protection process, and maintain the hardware in accordance with the service agreement.

·          All student agreements to abide by District policy and regulations shall be kept on file in each respective building.

II.                 Internet Access

·          Only authorized users may use District computers and O.W.L.Net.

·          Staff will be provided with an individual account and password.  Passwords are not to be shared.

·          Staff are not to participate in chat rooms, except for professional purposes such as the exchange of ideas and information relative to research.

·          Staff may not access hot mail.

·          Staff may not construct their own personal web pages using the District’s computer resources.

·          Staff will immediately inform a system administrator if they receive information which is inappropriate or makes them feel uncomfortable.

III.               Acceptable Use and Conduct

·          Access to O.W.L.Net (including the Internet/e-mail) is provided for educational purposes and research consistent with the District’s mission and goals.

·          Use of O.W.L.Net is a privilege, not a right.  Inappropriate use may result in the suspension or revocation of that privilege.

·          Each individual in whose name an access account is issued is responsible at all times for its proper use.  If a staff member notices a violation of his/her account, the network administrator should be notified immediately.

·          All network users will be issued a logon name and a password.  Passwords are not to be shared.  Passwords may be changed periodically.

·          E-mail should be used primarily for business, school and curriculum-related projects, and shall not be used in violation of these or any other District policies in any respect.  Users will check their e-mail regularly and delete messages promptly.

·          Only those staff with written permission from the principal and/or administrator may access O.W.L. Net from off-site (e.g., from home, when this service becomes available).

·          Staff shall only use school approved software or view material on the Internet that is in accordance with District Policy.

·          All staff  are expected to abide by the generally accepted rules of network etiquette.  This includes being polite and using only appropriate language.  Abusive language, vulgarities and swear words are all inappropriate.

·          Staff identifying a security problem on O.W.L. Net must notify an administrator.  Under no circumstance should the user demonstrate the problem to anyone other than to the District official or employee being notified.  Staff will not go looking for security problems, because this may be construed as an illegal attempt to gain access.

·          Staff identified as a security risk or having a history of violations of District computer use guidelines may be denied access to O.W.L. Net.

IV.               Prohibited Activity and Uses

The following is a list of prohibited activity concerning use of the District’s Computer Network – O.W.L.Net (including use of the Internet/e-mail).  Violation of any of these prohibitions may result in discipline or other appropriate penalty, including suspension or revocation of a staff member’s access to the network:

·          Unauthorized sharing of confidential information on students or employees.

·          Using the network for commercial activity, including advertising.

·          Infringing on any copyrights or other intellectual property rights, including copying, installing receiving, transmitting or making available any copyrighted software on O.W.L.Net.

·          Downloading software or saving any type of file on O.W.L. Net or workstations without permission from a system administrator.

·          Using the network to receive, transmit or make available to others obscene, offensive, racist, harassing, violent, discriminatory or sexually explicit material.  Staff may access the above material only in the context of legitimate research.

·          Posting chain letters or engaging in “spamming.”  (Spamming is sending annoying, unnecessary, or inappropriate messages to a large number of people.)

·          If a staff member accesses inappropriate information, the user should immediately notify a system administrator to protect against a claim that the user intentionally violated the Acceptable Use Policy.

·          Using inappropriate language in private messages, public messages and material posted on Web pages.

·          Using another user’s account or password.

·          Attempting to read, delete, copy or modify the electronic (e-mail) of other system users and deliberately interfering with the ability of other system users to send and/or receive e-mail.

·          Forging or attempting to forge e-mail messages.

·          Engaging in vandalism.  Vandalism is defined as any malicious attempt to harm or destroy District equipment or materials, data of another user of O.W.L.Net or of any of the entities or other networks that are connected to the Internet.  This includes, but is not limited to creating and/or placing a computer virus on the network.

·          Using the network to assist a campaign for election of any person to any office or for the promotion of or opposition to any ballot proposition.

·          Revealing the personal address, telephone number or other personal information of another person without his/her permission.

·          Intentionally disrupting network traffic or crashing the network and connected systems.

·          Installing personal software on the District’s computers or O.W.L. Net without the permission of the appropriate district official or employee.

·          Using District computing resources for commercial or financial gain or fraud.

·          Stealing data, equipment or intellectual property.

·          Gaining or seeking to gain unauthorized access to any files, resources, computer or phone systems, or vandalize the data of another user.

·          Wastefully using finite District resources.

·          Using O.W.L.Net while access privileges are suspended or revoked.

·          Using O.W.L.Net in a fashion inconsistent with generally accepted network etiquette.

V.                 No Privacy Guarantee

All users of the District’s Network – O.W.L.Net should not expect, nor does the District guarantee privacy for electronic mail (e-mail) or any use of O.W.L.Net.  The District reserves the right to access and view any material stored on District equipment or any material used in conjunction with O.W.L.Net.

VI.               Sanctions

All users of the District’s Network – O.W.L.Net and equipment are required to comply with the District’s policy and regulations governing O.W.L.Net.  Failure to comply with the policy or regulation may result in disciplinary action as well as suspension and/or revocation of computer access privileges.

In addition, illegal activities are strictly prohibited.  Any information pertaining to or implicating illegal activity will be reported to the proper authorities.  Transmission of any material in violation of any federal, state and/or local law or regulation is prohibited.  This includes, but is not limited to materials protected by copyright, threatening or obscene material or material protected by trade secret.  Users must respect all intellectual and property rights and laws.

VII.            District Responsibilities

The District makes no warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied, for the access being provided.  Further, the District assumes no responsibility for the quality, availability, accuracy, nature, or reliability of the service and/or information provided.  Users of O.W.L.Net (including the Internet) use information at their own risk.  Each user is responsible for verifying the integrity and authenticity of the information that is used and provided.

The District will not be responsible for any damages suffered by any user, but not limited to, loss of data resulting from delays, non-deliveries, misdeliveries or service interruptions caused by its own negligence or the errors or omissions of any user.  The District also will not be responsible for unauthorized financial obligations resulting from the use of or access to O.W.L.Net (including the Internet/e-mail).

Further, even though the District may use technical or manual means to regulate access and information, these methods do not provide a foolproof means of enforcing the provisions of the District policy and regulation.

VIII.          Property Rights

The District has the right to specify who uses its equipment and the information contained therein, under what circumstances, and to what purpose.  Equipment purchased by the District belongs to the District and/or to BOCES; and employees, volunteers, and students in the District do not have ownership rights to any equipment loaned to them by the District.  Extensive use of District equipment and software for private or personal business is strictly prohibited and will subject the violator to disciplinary action.  No person shall have exclusive use of District equipment unless authorized by the Superintendent.

IX.               Due Process

The District will cooperate fully with local, state, or federal officials in any investigation concerning to or relating to any illegal activities conducted through O.W.L.Net (including the Internet).   Employee violations of the District Acceptable Use Policy will be handled in accord with District policy.

X.                 Academic Freedom, Selection of Material, Student Rights to Free Speech

Ossining School Board policies on Academic Freedom and Free Speech will govern the use of the Internet.  When using the Internet for class activities, teachers will select material which is appropriate in light of the age of the students and that is relevant to the course objectives.   Teachers will preview the materials and sites they require or recommend for student access to determine the appropriateness of the material contained in or accessed through the site.  Teachers will provide guidelines and lists of resources to assist their students in channeling their research activities effectively and properly.  Teachers will assist their students in developing the skills to ascertain the truthfulness of information, distinguish fact from opinion, and engage in discussions about controversial issues while demonstrating tolerance and respect for those who hold divergent views.

XI.               District Web Site

The District has established a District Web Site (http://www.ossining.k12.ny.us) and will continue to develop and update Web pages that will provide information about the District.  An administrator will be designated as responsible for coordinating and maintaining the District Web Site.  School/Class Web Pages may be established to present information about the school or class activities.  The administrator will coordinate with the building principals to determine the process for maintaining each school’s respective Web pages.  Teachers will work with the administrator for developing and maintaining any special class Web pages.  Students will be encouraged to contribute to the development of Web pages and updating the District Web Site, but must do so under the supervision of a school administrator/teacher.  Material presented on student Web pages must be related to the student’s educational and District activities.  The District has the right to deny the posting of information and material which is not appropriate in accordance with District policy.  In addition, Extracurricular/Organization Web pages may be established.  The building principal will coordinate with the administrator to establish a process and criteria for the establishment and posting of material, including links to other sites.  Material presented on the Organization Web pages must relate specifically to the organization’s activities.  P.T.A. and Community Web pages must follow the same procedure.

XII.      Staff Notification

Upon adoption of this policy and regulation, the Superintendent shall establish a system whereby each employee is provided with same.  Thereafter, each new employee shall be provided with a copy of the Computer Network Acceptable Use Policy and Regulation for Staff. 

Adopted:  November 18, 1998