• Responsibility for Internet Appropriate Use
  
  • The authority for appropriate use of electronic Internet resources is delegated to the licensed employees.
  • Instruction in the proper use of the Internet will be available to licensed employees who will then provide similar instruction to their students.
  • Employees are expected to practice appropriate use of the Internet, and violations may result in discipline up to, and including, discharge.

• Internet Access
  
  • Access to the Internet is available to teachers and students as a source of information and a vehicle of communication.
  • Students will be able to access the Internet through their teachers.  Individual Internet-based collaboration software, student accounts, and electronic mail addresses may be issued to students.
    • Making Internet access available to students carries with it the potential that some students might encounter information that may not be appropriate for students.  However, on a global network, it is impossible to control all materials.  Because information on the Internet appears, disappears, and changes, it is not possible to predict or control what students may locate.
    • It is a goal to allow teachers and students access to the rich opportunities on the Internet, while we protect the right of students and parents who choose not to risk exposure to questionable material.
    • The smooth operation of the network relies upon the proper conduct of the end users who must adhere to strict guidelines which require efficient, ethical, and legal utilization of network resources.
    • Users may use real-time conference features such as talk/chat/Internet relay chat only as approved by the supervising teacher.
    • Transmission of material, information, or software in violation of any board policy or regulation is prohibited.
    • System users will follow district cybersecurity policy and procedures to ensure network security.
    • The school district makes no guarantees as to the accuracy of information received on the Internet.

• Student Use of Internet
  
  • Equal Opportunity—The Internet is available to all students within the school district through teacher access.
  • On-line Protocol
    • The use of the network is a privilege and may be taken away for violation of board policy or regulations.  As a user of the Internet, students may be allowed access to other networks.  Each network may have its own set of policies and procedures.  It is the user’s responsibility to abide by the policies and procedures of these other networks.
    • Students should adhere to on-line protocol:
      • Respect all copyright and license agreements.
      • Cite all quotes, references, and sources.
      • Remain on the system long enough to get needed information, then exit the system.
      • Apply the same privacy, ethical, and educational considerations utilized in other forms of communication.
    • Student access for electronic mail will be through their own account.
      • Others may be able to read or access the mail so private messages should not be sent.
      • Delete unwanted messages immediately.
      • Use of objectionable language is prohibited.
      • Always sign messages.
  • Restricted Material—Students will not intentionally access or download any text file or picture or engage in any conference that includes material which is obscene, libelous, indecent, vulgar, profane, or lewd; advertises any product or service not permitted to minors by law; constitutes insulting or fighting words, the very expression of which injures or harasses others; or presents a clear and present likelihood that, either because of its content or the manner of distribution, it will cause a material and substantial disruption of the proper and orderly operation and discipline of the school or school activities, will cause the commission of unlawful acts, or the violation of lawful school regulations
  • Unauthorized Costs—If a student gains access to any service via the Internet which has a cost involved or if a student incurs other types of costs, the student accessing such a service will be responsible for those costs.

• Student Violations—Consequences and Notifications
  
  • Students who access restricted items on the Internet are subject to the appropriate action described inboard policy or regulations or the following consequences:
    • First Violations—A verbal and written warning notice will be issued to the student.  The student may lose Internet access for a period of time at the discretion of the supervising teachers.  A copy of the notice will be mailed to the student’s parents and a copy provided to the building principal.
    • Second violation—A verbal and written second violation notice will be issued to the student.  A copy of the notice will be sent to the student’s parents and a copy provided to the building principal.  The student will forfeit all internet privileges for a determined period of time.
    • Third violation—A verbal and written third violation notice will be issued to the student.  A copy of the notice will be sent to the student’s parent and a copy provided to the building principal.  The student will forfeit all Internet privileges of a determined period of time up to the balance of the school year.

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APPROPRIATE USE OF TECHNOLOGY AND ON-LINE RESOURCES REGULATION

I.  Responsibility for Appropriate Use of Technology and On-Line Resources
 

1. The School Board is legally responsible for all matters relating to the operation of the Morning Sun Community School District.
2. The authority to supervise appropriate use of technology and on-line resources is delegated to school administrators and the trained staff employed by the school district.
3. Training in the proper use of technology and on-line resources will be provided to students.
4. All students are expected to practice appropriate use of the technology and on-line resources. Violations of appropriate use policies and regulations will result in disciplinary action.

II. Technology and On-Line Access
 

1. For the purpose of Morning Sun policies and regulations, technology and on-line resources are defined as the following:
   1. Electronic hardware and software including, but not limited to, computers, keyboards and mice, monitors, disk drives, CD-ROMS, printers, scanners, projectors, digital cameras, related peripherals and all computer programs and data stored on disk drives and CD-ROMS.
   2. Local and Wide Area Networks including network cards, cables, routers, switches, file servers, and the network administration and management software.
   3. Internet is a collection of interconnected computer networks involving millions of computers and tens of millions of users around the world. It is a collaboration of private, public, educational, commercial, governmental and industrial sponsored networks whose operators cooperate to maintain the network infrastructure. 
2.  Access to technology and on-line resources should be made available to students as a source of information.
3. Students will be able to access technology and on-line resources through their individual school issued student account and/or teacher accounts.  An Internet account will give access to the World Wide Web. 
   1. Making technology and on-line resource access available to students carries with it the potential that some students might encounter information that may not be appropriate for students.  However, on a global network, it is impossible to control all materials.  Because on-line information appears, disappears, and changes, it is not possible to predict or control what students may locate. 
   2. It is a goal to allow teachers and students access to the rich learning opportunities using technology and on-line resources while we protect the rights of students and parents who choose not to risk exposure to questionable material.  The school district will use protection measures such as Internet filtering to protect students from inappropriate access.  In the event a site blocked by the Internet filter is deemed appropriate by a teacher for student use, the teacher may submit a request in writing (or by e-mail) to the technology coordinator to unblock that site.  In addition, a teacher may submit a request for authorization to download files from the internet.
   3. The smooth operation of the network relies upon the proper conduct of the end users who must adhere to strict guidelines requiring efficient, ethical, and legal utilization of network resources.
   4. In order to reduce unnecessary system traffic, users may use real-time conference features only with the approval of a school administrator and only for educational purposes.
   5. Transmission of material, information or software in violation of any district, local, state or federal law is prohibited.  Violators will be responsible for fines and fees related to the violation.
   6. The school makes no guarantees as to the accuracy of information received on the Internet.

1. Permission to Use Technology and On-Line Resources

Annually, parents will grant permission for their student to use technology and on-line resources using the prescribed form.

IV. Student Use of Technology and On-Line Resources
 

1. Equal Opportunity
   1.  Technology and on-line resources shall be available to students within the District through their individual student account and/or teacher accounts. The amount of time available to students may be limited by the number of available computers and the demand for use.
   2. Technology and on-line resources are shared by everyone using the network. It is important to follow proper procedures to insure the smooth operation of the network for everyone using it.
2. Technology and On-line Resources Etiquette
   1. The use of technology and on-line resources is a privilege and may be taken away for violation of board policy or regulations.  As users of technology and on-line resources, students may be allowed access to other networks. Each network may have its own set of policies and procedures. It is the user's responsibility to abide by the policies and procedures of these other networks.
   2. Students should adhere to on-line protocol:
      1. Respect all copyright and license agreements.
      2. Correctly cite all quotes, references, and sources.
      3. Only remain on-line long enough to get needed information.
      4. Apply the same privacy, ethical, and educational considerations utilized in other forms of communication.
      5. Be polite to others.
      6. Inappropriate language is prohibited.
3. Unacceptable Use of Technology and On-Line Resources  The transmission of any material in violation of federal or state law or regulation is prohibited.  This includes, but is not limited to, unauthorized use of copyrighted or trademarked material, threatening, violent or obscene material, or material protected by trade secret. The list of prohibited activities includes, but is not limited to:
   1. Damaging electronic hardware and software including, but not limited to, computers, keyboards and mice (including mouse balls), monitors, disk drives, CD-ROMS, printers, scanners, projectors, digital cameras, related peripherals and all computer programs and data stored on disk drives and CD-ROMS.
   2. Using the technology resources for commercial purposes, product advertisement, non-approved game playing, and unauthorized chat room or chain letter communication.
   3. Intentionally accessing, downloading, uploading or creating any unauthorized software, programs, text files, pictures, graphic files, sound files, or video files, or engaging in any form of communication that advocates violence, racism, anarchy, treason, discrimination or contains pornographic, obscene, or sexually explicit material. 
   4. Network activities that use excessive resources in ways that prevent others from accessing the network.
   5. Writing to system accounts other than the one assigned by the network administrator.
   6. Downloading or accessing information that advertises any product or service not permitted to minors by law; constitutes insulting or fighting words, the very expression of which injures or harasses others; encourages the use of tobacco, alcohol, or controlled substances, use of bombs or bomb making, other incendiary device, or otherwise promotes any activity prohibited by district policy, state, or federal law.
   7. Forging or attempting to forge electronic messages including attempts to read, delete, copy, or modify the electronic messages of other system users.  Local, state, or federal laws may apply.

If inappropriate information is accessed unintentionally, the student must immediately report such unintentional access to the teacher or principal in order to avoid being found in violation of this regulation.

Acts of vandalism are prohibited.  Vandalism includes, but is not limited to, any attempt to harm or destroy data of another user, to intercept, copy, distribute, decrypt, or use the login names and/or passwords of others, to attempt to secure a higher level of network privilege, to damage hardware or software, to alter the normal performance of hardware or software, or to interrupt the smooth operation of the network.  This includes the intentional downloading or installation of computer viruses, applications intended to disrupt the operation of the network system, unauthorized use of another's computer, account passwords, and/or files.  Acts of vandalism may result in discipline up to and including suspension, expulsion, or the filing of criminal charges.

The district will cooperate with any investigation concerning or relating to the misuse of the district's technology resources.

4. Unauthorized Costs

If a student gains access to any service via technology and on-line resources which has a cost involved, or if a student incurs other types of costs, the Morning Sun Community School District will not be responsible for those costs. The student and/or the student's parent(s)/guardian will be responsible for those costs.

V. Student Violations; Consequences and Notifications:

Students who attempt to and/or access and/or download inappropriate/objectionable items, send messages with vulgar/abusive language while using technology and on-line resources, violate any federal or state law or regulation, violate any of the policies or regulations of the school, or access a personal e-mail account at school shall be subject to the following consequences:

1. First Offense:

For the first violation during the school's fiscal year (July 1-June 30), a verbal and written "Warning" notice, using the prescribed form, will be issued to the student by the building principal's office. The student will lose technology and on-line access for a period of three weeks.  A copy of the notice will be mailed to the student's parent/guardian by the building principal's office and a copy kept on file in the building principal's office.

2. Second Offense:

For the second violation during the school's fiscal year (July 1-June 30), a verbal and written "Second Infraction," notice, using the prescribed form, will be issued to the student by the building principal's office. The student will lose technology and on-line access for a period of nine weeks. A copy of the notice will be mailed to the student's parent/guardian by the building principal's office and a copy kept on file in the building principal's office.

3. Third Offense:

On the third violation during the school's fiscal year (July 1-June 30), a verbal and written "Third Infraction" notice, using the prescribed form, will be issued to the student by the building principal's office. The student will lose all technology and on-line privileges.  A copy of notice will be sent by registered mailed to the student's parent/guardian by the building principal's office and a copy kept on filed in the building principal's office.

Any student who has lost his/her technology and on-line privileges by committing a "Third Offense", may at the beginning of the next regular school year petition the superintendent to have his/her technology and on-line privileges reinstated on a trial basis. A "trial basis" places a student on probation for one year. If during this one-year time period the student commits an additional offense, his/her technology and on-line privileges may be suspended for the remainder of his/her time as a student in Morning Sun Community School District.

Alternative assignments will be made available to students who do not have access to technology and online service due to loss of privileges or parental denial.

In addition to the above sanctions, the school may impose discipline up to and including suspension or expulsion from school and/or the filing of criminal charges.

TECHNOLOGY CODE OF CONDUCT

Morning Sun Community Schools

• Students have the opportunity to access technology resources to facilitate diversity and personal growth in technology, information gathering skills, and communication skills.

• Students have the opportunity to retrieve information using the Internet.

• The student exercising his/her opportunity to use technology resources as an educational resource shall also accept the responsibility for all material received under his/her user account.  Only those students with prior experience or instruction shall be authorized to use technology resources.

• Students have the responsibility to monitor all material received via technology resources.

• Students will accept the responsibility of keeping unauthorized software of any kind from entering the school via technology resources.

• Students will accept the responsibility of keeping all pornographic material, inappropriate text files, or files dangerous to the integrity of the network from entering the school via technology resources.

• The Technology Coordinator is responsible for monitoring usage of the network and is also responsible for informing the building principal of any suspected incorrect usage.  The building principal will conduct the investigation to determine if school policies or regulations have been violated.