TUCKER
COUNTY SCHOOLS
Policy
Type: Educational Program
Development Policy
Number: 2030
Policy
Type: Technology/Acceptable Use
Policy Page 1 of 7
1.
General
1.1
Scope- This policy
establishes regulations for acceptable use
of the electronic communications for
employees and students of Tucker County
Schools.
1.2 Authority- WV Constitution, Article
XII, Section 2
WV Code
Section 18-2-5
WV
State Board of Education Policy 2460, Use
of Internet by Students and Educators
2.
Definition
2.1 Technology refers to the entire
electronic communication system inclusive
of: email; world wide web; any other medium
for the use of communication
3.
Purpose
3.1 Tucker County Schools will provide
employees and students with access to the
electronic communication
system which includes Internet access;
3.2 The goal of these regulations is to
provide guidelines for the use of
technology:
a. To assist in
preparing students in life and work in the
21st century through provision of
electronic access to a wide range of
information and the ability to communicate
through the world;
b. To increase Tucker County
School System intra-communication, enhance
productivity, assist Tucker County employees
in upgrading skills through exchanging
information with their peers; and
c. To assist Tucker
County Schools in sharing information with
the local community.
4.
Program Development
4.1 Technical services provided through
the Tucker County School System include:
TUCKER
COUNTY SCHOOLS
Policy
Type: Educational Program
Development Policy
Number: 2030
Policy
Title: Technology/Acceptable Use
Policy Page 2 of 7
a. Email- E-mail will
allow employees and students to communicate
with people around the world. Users may
subscribe to mail lists to engage in group
discussions related to educational subjects.
b. World-Wide Web- The web
provides access to information in the form
of text, graphics, photographs, video, and
sound, and serves as a valuable research
tool.
c. Telnet- Telnet allows
the user to log in to remote computers.
d. File Transfer Protocol
(FTP)- FTP allows users to download large
files and computer software
4.2 Use of these technical services
a. World Wide Web- All
Tucker County employees and students will
have access to the web through the Tucker
County School System’s networked computers.
Parents may specifically request that their
child(ren) not be provided such access by
notifying the Tucker County School System in
writing.
b. Individual Email Accounts
for Students- Secondary students may be
provided with individual e-mail accounts.
Secondary students will not have dial-up
access to the system. An agreement will be
required for an individual e-mail account.
The students and his/her parent must sign
this agreement.
c. Individual Email
Accounts for Tucker County School Employees-
may be provided with an individual account.
d. Guest Accounts- Guests may
receive an individual account with the
approval of a Tucker County School
administrator if there is a specific,
school-related purpose. An agreement will be
required and parental signature will be
required if the guest is a minor.
TUCKER
COUNTY SCHOOLS
Policy
Type: Educational Program
Development Policy
Number: 2030
Policy
Title: Technology/Acceptable Use
Policy Page 3 of 7
5.
Program Requirements
5.1 Access to the System
The
Tucker County Schools Acceptable Use
Policy will govern ALL use of Tucker
County School System technology mediums. The
agreement contains restrictions on accessing
inappropriate material. Being that there is
a wide range of material available on the
Internet, some of this may not be consistent
with the particular values of families of
students, it is not practically possible for
the Tucker County School System to monitor
and enforce a wide range of social values in
student use of the Internet. Further, the
Tucker County School System recognizes that
parents bear primary responsibility for
transmitting their particular set of family
values to their children.
5.2 Parental Notification and
Responsibility
A. The Tucker County
School System will encourage parents to
specify to their child(ren) what material is
and is not acceptable for their child(ren)
to access through the Tucker County School
System. Students and parents will be
provided guidelines for student safety while
using the Internet.
B. The Tucker County School
System will notify parents about the network
and the policies governing its use.
1.
Parents must sign an
agreement to allow their child(ren) to have
an individual account.
2.
Parents may request
alternative activities for their child(ren)
that does not require Internet access.
3.
Parents have the right
at any time to investigate the contents of
their child(ren)’s e-mail files.
4.
Parents have the right
to request the termination of their
child(ren)’s Individual account at any time.
5.3 Tucker County School System’s
Limitation of Liability
The
Tucker County Board of Education makes no
warranties of any kind, either expressed or
implied, that the functions of the services
provided by or through the Tucker County
Board of Education will be error free or
TUCKER
COUNTY SCHOOLS
Policy
Type: Educational Program
Development Policy
Number: 2030
Policy
Title: Technology/Acceptable Use
Policy Page 4 of 7
without defect. The Tucker County Board of
Education will not be responsible for any
damage users may suffer, including but not
limited to, loss of data or interruptions of
service. The Tucker County School System is
not responsible for the accuracy or quality
of the information obtained through or
stored on the system. The Tucker County
Schools System will not be responsible for
financial obligations arising through the
unauthorized use of the system.
5.4 Due Process
A. The Tucker County
Board of Education will cooperate fully with
local, state, or federal officials in any
investigation concerning to or relating to
any illegal activities conducted through the
Tucker County School System.
1. In the event there is
an allegation that a student has violated
the Tucker County Schools’ Acceptable Use
Policy, the student will be provided with a
written notice of the alleged violation and
an opportunity to present an explanation
before a neutral administrator. Disciplinary
actions will be determined according to
building level discipline policy.
2. Employee violations
of the Tucker County Schools’ Acceptable Use
Policy will be handled in accordance with
Tucker County Board Policy and pursuant to
the West Virginia State Code.
3. Any school
administrator may terminate the account
privileges of a guest user by providing
notice to the user. Guest Accounts not
active for more that thirty days may be
removed, along with the user’s files without
notice to the user.
5.5 Search and Seizure
A. System users have a
limited privacy expectation in the contents
of their personal files on the Tucker County
School System. Routine maintenance and
monitoring of the system may lead to
discovery that the user has or is violating
Tucker County Schools Acceptance Use Policy,
the disciplinary code, or the law.
B. An individual search
will be conducted if there is a reasonable
suspicion that a user has violated the law
or policy.
TUCKER
COUNTY SCHOOLS
Policy
Type: Educational Program
Development Policy
Number: 2030
Policy
Title: Technology/Acceptable Use
Policy Page 5 of 7
C. Tucker County Schools’
employees will be made aware that their
personal files are discoverable.
5.6 Copyright and Plagiarism
A.
Tucker County Schools’
policies on copyright will govern the use of
material accessed through the Tucker County
School System.
1.
Employees will make a standard practice of
requesting permission from the holder of the
work if their use of the material has the
potential of being considered an
infringement.
2.
Teachers will instruct students to respect
copyright and to request permission when
appropriate.
B. Tucker County Schools’
policies on plagiarism will govern use of
material accessed through the Tucker County
School System
1.
Teachers will instruct
students in appropriate research and
citation practices.
5.7 Plagiarism and Copyright
Infringement
A. Users will not
plagiarize works that they find on the
Internet. Plagiarism is taking the ideas or
writings of others and presenting them as if
they were original to the user.
B. Users will respect
the rights of copyright owners. Copyright
infringement occurs when an individual
inappropriately reproduces a work that is
protected by a copyright. If a work contains
language that specifies acceptable use of
that work, the user should follow the
expressed requirements. If the user is
unsure whether or not he can use a work, he
would request permission form the copyright
owner.
5.8 Academic Freedom, Selection of
Material, Student Right to Free Speech
TUCKER
COUNTY SCHOOLS
Policy
Type: Educational Program
Development Policy
Number: 2030
Policy
Title: Technology/Acceptable Use
Policy Page 6 of 7
A. Teachers will choose
age-appropriate information and will preview
the materials and sites required or
recommended for student access.
B. Teachers will provide
guidelines and lists of resources to assist
their students in channeling research
activities effectively and properly.
C. Teachers will assist
students in developing 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.
5.9 Tucker County Schools’ Web Site
A. The school system web
site will present information about the
school system; the director of technology
will direct the Webmaster responsible for
site management.
Illegal
Activities: Users will not attempt to
gain unauthorized access to the Tucker
County School System or to any other
computer system through the Tucker County
activities. Users will not download large
files unless absolutely necessary. If
necessary, users will download the file at a
time when the system is not being heavily
used and immediately remove the file from
the computer system to their personal
computer.
B. Users will not post
chain letters or engage in “spamming.”
Spamming is sending an annoying or
unnecessary message to a large number of
people. Users will check their e-mail
frequently, delete unwanted messages
promptly, and stay within their e-mail
quota. Users will subscribe only to high
quality discussion group mail lists that are
relevant to their education or
profession/career development.
5.10 Inappropriate Access to Material
A. Users will not use the
Tucker County School System to access
material that is profane or obscene; that
advocates illegal acts; of that advocates
violence or discrimination towards other
people.
TUCKER
COUNTY SCHOOLS
Policy
Type: Educational Program
Development Policy
Number: 2030
Policy
Title: Technology/Acceptable Use
Policy Page 7 of 7
B.
For students, a
special exception may be made for accessing
hate literature if the purpose of such
access is to conduct research. Both the
teacher and the parent must approve this
access.
C.
Tucker County School
employees may access the above material only
in the context of legitimate research.
D.
If a user
inadvertently accesses such information,
they should immediately disclose the
inadvertent access in a manner specified by
their school. This will protect users
against an allegation that they have
intentionally violated the Acceptable Use
Policy.
5.11 Parental Consent and Waiver
A. Prior to affording
individual student telecommunication access,
the content and student and parent(s) or
guardian(s) must sign waiver form attached
hereto as “Form A.”
5.12 Adult Consent and Waiver
A. Prior to affording
individual adult telecommunication access,
the Adult Consent and Waiver form attached
hereto as “Form B” must be signed by the
adult
