Westchester Public Schools
District 92½
Acceptable Use Policy
We are pleased to
offer students of the Westchester Public Schools access to the district
computer network for electronic mail and the Internet. To gain access to the Internet and e-mail,
all students must obtain parental permission and must sign and return this form
to school.
Access to the
Internet and e-mail will enable students to explore thousands of libraries,
databases, and bulletin boards while exchanging messages with Internet users
throughout the world. Families
should be warned that some material accessible via the Internet may contain
items that are illegal, defamatory, inaccurate or potentially offensive to some
people. While our intent is to make
Internet access available to further educational goals and objectives, students
may find ways to access other materials as well. We believe that the benefits to students
from access to the Internet, in the form of information resources and
opportunities for collaboration, exceed any disadvantages. Ultimately, however, parents and
guardians of minors are responsible for setting and conveying the standards
that their children should follow when using media and information sources. To that end, the Westchester Public
Schools support and respect each family's right to decide whether or not to
apply for access.
DISTRICT INTERNET AND E-MAIL RULES
Students are
responsible for good behavior on school computer networks just as they are in a
classroom or a school hallway.
Communications on the network are often public in nature. General school rules for behavior and
communications apply. Access is a
privilege-not a right.
Individual users of
the district computer networks are responsible for their behavior and
communications over those networks.
It is presumed that users will comply with district standards and will
honor the agreements they have signed.
Beyond the clarification of such standards, the district is not
responsible for restricting, monitoring or controlling the communications of
individuals utilizing the network.
Network storage areas
may be treated like school lockers.
Network administrators may review files and communications to maintain
system integrity and insure that users are using the system responsibly. Users should not expect that files
stored on the district servers will always be private.
Within reason,
freedom of speech and access to information will be honored. During school, teachers will guide
students toward appropriate materials.
Outside of school, families bear the same responsibility for such
guidance as they do with information sources such as the television,
telephones, movies, radio, and other potentially offensive media.
In keeping with
district discipline guidelines, the following are not permitted:
• Sending
or displaying offensive messages or pictures
• Using
obscene language
• Harassing,
insulting or attacking others
• Damaging
computers, computer systems or computer networks
• Violating
copyright laws
• Using
another’s password
• Trespassing
in another’s folders, work or files
• Intentionally
wasting limited resources
• Revealing
personal addresses, phone numbers, personal information about yourself or
others
• Employing
the network for any other purpose other than class assignments
Westchester Public
Schools, District 92½
Acceptable Use Policy
Page Two
PARENTS MUST UNDERSTAND THAT THEIR CHILD MAY ENCOUNTER
MATERIAL IN A NETWORK/BULLETIN BOARD THAT THEY MAY CONSIDER INAPPROPRIATE (pornography, vulgar jokes, statements of belief that some
might consider immoral, etc.). The
student is responsible for avoiding material that could be considered
offensive.
Knowing that there
are multiple computers throughout the building for student access, I the
parent/guardian, understand that the teaching staff of the Westchester Public
Schools can NOT monitor all of the information my child is accessing or
downloading while in the classroom, nor while the child is away from the
school. Accessing such material
will result in the loss of network privileges at
ELECTRONIC DISPLAY OF STUDENT WORK
The staff at each
school will control and determine the content of student work and how it is displayed
on our school web sites. The policy
for all schools in District 92½ concerning the displaying the student
work on the Internet is as follows:
• First
names only will be used to identify student work
• No
names will be put on photographs of students
• No
personal information will be displayed
We are concerned with the privacy and safety of our
students. Because of this, we will
honor any and all limitations that you may place on the attached release to publish
the work of your child.
Westchester Public Schools
District 92½
User Agreement and
Parent/Guardian Form
As a user of the
Westchester Public Schools, District 92½, computer network, I hereby agree
to comply with the above stated rules to communicate over the network in a
reliable fashion while honoring all relevant laws and restrictions.
Student signature
_______________________________________________________________
As the parent or legal
guardian of the minor student signing above, I grant permission for my son or
daughter to access networked computer services such as electronic mail and the
Internet. I understand that
individuals and families may be held liable for violations. I understand that some materials on the
Internet may be objectionable, but I accept responsibility for setting and
conveying standards for my daughter or son to follow when selecting, sharing or
exploring information and media.
Parent/Guardian
signature ______________________________ Date ___________________
Name of student
________________________________________________________________
Release to Display Student Work
Electronically
____ I
give permission to display my child's work and/or photograph electronically on
the Internet during the time that my child is enrolled in the Westchester
Public Schools, District 92½.
I release the school and district from any liability resulting from the publication
of my child's work on the Internet.
____ I
do not give permission to publish my child's work and/or photograph
electronically.
____ I give permission with the
following restrictions:
__________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Student signature
_________________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian
signature ______________________________ Date _____________
Westchester Public Schools
District 92½
Employee Authorized Internet Use Agreement
Form
Staff Member
__________________________________
School
________________________________________
Principal
_______________________________________
Please read this document carefully before signing.
All Westchester
Public Schools, District 92½, Internet users are required to sign the
Acceptable Use Policy. The Board of
Education does not authorize any use of the Internet that is not conducted
strictly in compliance with this policy.
Your signature on this document indicates that you have read the terms
and conditions carefully and understand their significance.
As an employee of
Westchester Public Schools, District 92½, I have been informed of the
Acceptable Use Policy and hereby agree to abide by all of the terms and
conditions.
Signature
______________________________________
Date
__________________________________________