General User Policy



Butte Falls Elementary/Middle School

                                                                                                                        Code:  IIBGA-AR

 

Electronic Communications System

 

A.        Educational Purpose

 

1.         The Butte Falls School District Network has been established for a limited educational purpose.  The term "educational purpose" includes classroom activities, career development, and limited high-quality personal research. 

 

2.         The Butte Falls School District Network has not been established as a public access service or a public forum.  The Butte Falls School District 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 the district student conduct regulations and the law in your use of The Butte Falls School District Network.

                                                                                                                       

3.         You may not use The Butte Falls School District Network for commercial purposes.  This means you may not offer, provide, or purchase products or services through The Butte Falls School District Network. 

 

4.         You may not use Internet access through the Butte Falls School District Network for political lobbying.   But you may use the system to communicate with elected representatives and to express your opinion on political issues.

 

B.        Student Internet Access

 

1.         Elementary and Middle School students will have access only under their teacher's or a librarian’s supervision.

 

2.         You and your parent must sign an Access Agreement to be granted an individual access on The Butte Falls School District Network.  This Agreement must be renewed on an annual basis. Your parent can withdraw their approval at any time.

 

            Unacceptable Uses

 

A.        Personal Safety

 

1.         You will not post personal contact information about yourself or other people.  Personal contact information includes your address, telephone number, school address, work address, photograph, age, home address, email address etc.

 

2.         Any unauthorized meetings arranged through the use of the District Network would be   deemed a violation of this policy/procedure.

 

3.         You will promptly disclose to your teacher or other school employee any message you receive that is inappropriate or makes you feel uncomfortable.


 

B.        Illegal Activities

 

1.         You will not attempt to gain unauthorized access to The Butte Falls School District Network or to any other computer system through The Butte Falls School District Network, nor go beyond your authorized access.  This includes attempting to log in through another person's Access or access another person's files.  These actions are illegal, even if only for the purposes of "browsing". 

 

2.         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.

                                                                                                                                                                               

3.         You will not attempt to upload, download, use, reproduce or distribute information, data            or software on the district’s system in violation of copyright law or applicable provisions     of use or license agreements

 

4.         You will not attempt to degrade, disrupt or vandalize the district’s equipment, software,             materials or data or those of any other user of the district’s system or any of the agencies      or other networks connected to the district’s system

 

5.         You will not use The Butte Falls School District Network 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.   

 

C.        System Security

 

1.         Protecting password confidentiality.  Passwords are the property of the district and are not to be shared with others.  Using another user’s account or password or allowing such access by another may be permitted with supervising teach or system coordinator approval only.

 

2.         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.

 

3.         You will avoid the inadvertent spread of computer viruses by following the standard virus protection procedures.

 

4.         Report violations of the district’s policy and administrative regulation or security             problems to the supervising teacher, system coordinator and administrator.


D.        Inappropriate Language

 

1.         Restrictions against Inappropriate Language apply to public messages, private messages, and material posted on Web pages.

 

2.         You will not use obscene, profane, lewd, vulgar, rude, inflammatory, threatening, or disrespectful language.

 

3.         You will not post information that could cause damage or a danger of disruption.

 

4.         You will not engage in personal attacks, including prejudicial or discriminatory attacks. 

                                                                                                                                                           

5.         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.

 

6.         You will not knowingly or recklessly post false or defamatory information about a person or organization.

 

E.         Respect for Privacy

 

1.         You will not repost a message that was sent to you privately without permission of the person who sent you the message. 

 

2.         You will not post private information about another person.

 

F.         Respecting Resource Limits

 

1.         You will use the system only for educational and career development activities and limited, high-quality, personal research.  

 

2.         You will not download large files unless absolutely necessary.  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.

 

3.         You will not post chain letters or engage in "spamming".  Spamming is sending an annoying or unnecessary message to a large number of people. 

 

G.        Plagiarism and Copyright Infringement

 

1.         You will not plagiarize works that you find on the Internet.  Plagiarism is taking the ideas, art or writings of others and presenting them as if they were yours.


2.         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. 

 

 

H.  Inappropriate Access to Material

 

1.         Technology protection measures that protect against Internet access by both adults and

            minors to visual depictions that are obscene, child pornography, or with respect to the use

            of computers by minors, harmful to minors.  An administrator, supervisor or other

            individual authorized by the superintendent may disable the technology protection

            measures to enable access for bona fide research or other lawful purposes, as deemed

            appropriate;

 

2.         Prohibit access by minors, as defined by CIPA and this regulation, to inappropriate

            matter on the internet and world wide web;

 

3.         Provide staff supervision to monitor the on-line activities of students to attempt to

            prevent unauthorized access, including ‘hacking’ and other unlawful activities on-line,

            and attempt to ensure the safety and security of  minors when authorized to use e-mail,

            chat rooms and other forms of direct electronic communication.

 

4.         You will not use The Butte Falls School District Network to access material that is profane or obscene (pornography), that advocates illegal or dangerous acts, or that advocates violence or discrimination towards other people (hate literature).  

 

5.         If you mistakenly access inappropriate information, you should immediately tell your teacher or another district employee.  This will protect you against a claim that you have intentionally violated this policy.

 

6.         Your parents should instruct you if there is additional material that they think would be inappropriate for you to access.  The district fully expects that you will follow your parent's instructions in this matter.

 

7.         The Butte Falls School District uses a district-wide Internet filtering service called "BESS" produced by N2H2 and provided by the Jackson Educational Services District. This filter is on all computers accessible by students.

 

8.         Parents may not over ride district restrictions or rules set in this policy.

 

           


Your Rights

 

A.        Free Speech

 

1.         Your right to free speech, as set forth in the district student conduct regulations, applies also to your communication on the Internet. The Butte Falls School District Network is considered a limited forum, 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.

                                                                                                                                   

B.        Search and Seizure

 

1.         You should expect only limited privacy in the contents of your personal files on the         district system and records of your on-line activity.   The situation is similar to the rights       you have in the privacy of your locker.  Files and other information, including e-mail,

            sent or received, generated or stored on district servers are not private and may be subject

            to monitoring.  By using the district’s system, individuals consent to have that use

            monitored by authorized district personnel. The district reserves the right to access and

            disclose, as appropriate, all information and data contained on district computers and

            district-owned e-mail system.

 

2.         The district may establish a retention schedule for the removal of email.

 

3.         Routine maintenance and monitoring of The Butte Falls School District Network may lead to discovery that the you have violated this Policy, the district student conduct regulations or the law. 

 

4.         An individual search will be conducted if there is reasonable suspicion that you have violated this Policy, the district student conduct regulations or the law.  The investigation will be reasonable and related to the suspected violation.

 

C         Due Process

 

1.         The district will cooperate fully with local, state, or federal officials in any investigation related to any illegal activities conducted through The Butte Falls School District Network.

 

2.         In the event there is a claim that you have violated this Policy or the district student conduct regulations in your use of The Butte Falls School District Network, you will be provided with notice and opportunity to be heard in the manner set forth in the district student conduct regulations.

 

3.         If the violation also involves a violation of other provisions of the district student conduct            regulations it will be handled in a manner described in the district student conduct      regulations.  Additional restrictions may be placed on your use of your District Network.

 

            Violations/Consequences

 

A.        Students

                  1.    Students who violate general system user prohibitions shall be subject to discipline up to and including expulsion and/or revocation of district system access up to and including permanent loss of privileges.

2.     Violations of law will be reported to law enforcement officials.

                   3.   Disciplinary action may be appealed by parents, students and/or a       representative in accordance with established district procedures.

 

B.         Staff

 

                   1.  Staff who violate general system user prohibitions shall be subject to discipline up to and including dismissal in accordance with Board policy, collective bargaining agreements and applicable provisions of law.

                   2.  Violations of law will be reported to law enforcement officials.

                   3.  Violations of applicable Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC), Standards for Competent and Ethical Performance of Oregon Educators will be reported to TSPC as provided by OAR 584-020-0041.

                   4.  Violations of ORS 244.040 will be reported to GSPC.

 

C.        Others

 

                   1.  Other guest users who violate general system user prohibitions shall be subject to suspension of system access up to and including permanent revocation of privileges.

                   2.  Violations of law will be reported to law enforcement officials or other agencies, as appropriate.

 

Limitation of Liability

 

A.        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.         Your parents can be held financially responsible for any harm to the system as a result of      intentional misuse.

 

B.         The district assumes no responsibility or liability for any membership or phone charges

            including, but not limited to, long distance charges, per minute (unit) surcharges and/or

            equipment or line costs incurred by any home usage of the district’s system.

 

 

 

 

Definitions

 

1.         “Technology protection measure,” as defined by the Children’s Internet Protection Act                 (CIPA) means a specific technology that blocks or filters District Network to visual                          depictions that are:

a.      Obscene, as that term is defined in Section 1460 of Title 18, United States Code;

b.      Child pornography, as that term is defined in Section 2256 of Title 18, United States Code; or

c.      Harmful to minors.

2.         “Harmful to minors” as defined by CIPA means any picture, image, graphic image file or             other visual depiction that:

a.      Taken as a whole and with respect to minors, appeals to a prurient interest in nudity, sex or excretion;

b.     Depicts, describes or represents, in a patently offensive way with respect to what is suitable for minors, an actual or simulated sexual act or sexual contact, actual or simulated normal or perverted sexual acts, or a lewd exhibition of the genitals;                                                                                            and

c.      Taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value to minors.

3.         “Sexual act; sexual contact” as defined by CIPA have the meanings given such terms in                Section 2246 of Title 18, United States Code.

4.         “Minor” as defined by CIPA means an individual who has not attained the age of 17.  For             the purposes of Board policy and this administrative regulation, minor will include all                  students enrolled in district schools.

5.           “Inappropriate matter” as defined by the district means material that is inconsistent with general public education purposes, the district’s mission and goals.

                The Butte Falls School District Network includes all district computers and related               equipment, email and Internet access.