7540.02 - BAY SCHOOLS INSTRUCTIONAL NETWORK (I-NET)

Bay Village City School District

Bylaws & Policies

7540.02 - BAY SCHOOLS INSTRUCTIONAL NETWORK (I-NET)

Purpose

The District provides staff and students with access to the District's Instructional Network (I-Net). I-Net consists of:

			a.	Internet access to the World Wide Web
			b.	paid electronic resources such as online encyclopedias, magazine indexes, and educational games (Many of these are also available for home use by students.)
			c.	individual folder space on the District's servers for storage of student and staff documents
				Public folder space is provided for group projects and teacher assignments. These folders are available in the classroom, library, or school computer lab and are purged at the end of each school year.
			d.	e-mail accounts, provided through LEECA for District staff only

		2.	The District Instructional Network (I-Net) has a limited educational purpose. The purpose of I-Net is to assist in preparing students for success in learning, life, and work by providing them with electronic access to the wide range of information available via the Internet and through paid electronic resources. Additionally, the system will be used to increase and improve communication within the District, enhance productivity, and assist District employees in upgrading their skills through greater exchange of information with their peers. I-Net will also assist the District in sharing information with the local community, including parents, social service agencies, government agencies, and businesses.
		3.	The District has the right to place reasonable restrictions on the material accessed or posted through the system. The I-Net has not been established as a public access service or a public forum. The I-Net may not be used for political lobbying, though it may be used for communication of opinions on political issues to elected representatives. The I-Net may not be used for commercial services, that is, services or products may not be purchased or offered for purchase.

Parental Notification and Responsibility

		1.	The District will notify the parents about the District network and the policies governing its use and will provide students and parents with guidelines for student safety while using the Internet.
		2.	A parent/guardian must sign an agreement to allow their student to have I-Net access. Parents have the right to request the termination of their child(ren)'s privilege at any time and may request alternative activities for their child(ren) that do not require I-Net access.
		3.	This policy contains restrictions on accessing inappropriate material. There is a wide range of material available on the Internet, some of which may not be fitting with the particular values of the families of the students. While Internet content is filtered (see below), it is not feasible for the District to monitor and enforce a wide range of social values in student use of the Internet. Further, the District recognizes that parents bear primary responsibility for transmitting their particular set of family values to their children. The District encourages parents to specify to their child(ren) what material is and is not acceptable for their child(ren) to access through I-Net.
		4.	The District's Internet content is filtered according to the guidelines of the Children's Internet Protection Act (H.R. 4577 December 15, 2000) using Bess from N2H2.

	C.	District Acceptable Use Policy
		The following describes the acceptable and unacceptable uses of I-Net:

		1.	The use of the Internet is a privilege, not a right. District administrators will deem what is inappropriate use and their decision is final.
		2.	Personal Safety (Restrictions are for students only)

			a.	Users will not post personal contact information about themselves or other people. Personal contact information includes address, telephone, school address, work address, etc.
			b.	Personal photos will not be posted without permission of parent/legal guardian, and be connected with a teacher-approved project.
			c.	Users will promptly disclose to their teacher or other school employee any message they receive or site they access that is inappropriate or makes them feel uncomfortable.

Illegal Activities

			a.	Users will not attempt to gain unauthorized access to I-Net or to any other computer system through I-Net, or go beyond their authorized access. This includes attempting to long in through another person's account or access another person's folder or files. These actions are illegal, even if only for the purposes of "browsing".
			b.	Students will not attempt to circumvent the District's Internet content filtering software. If web sites needed for classroom assignments are blocked, request alternate, unblocked sites from the teacher or librarian.
			c.	Students may not download any type of software, either from CD/disk, or through the Internet. This includes but is not limited to games, software programs, music or video players, etc. In addition, students may not download any music or video clips unless given specific permission by the teacher.
			d.	Users will not make deliberate attempts to disrupt the computer system performance or destroy data by spreading computer viruses or by any other means. These actions are illegal.
			e.	Users will not use I-Net to engage in any other illegal act, including but not limited to arranging for a drug sale or the purchase of alcohol, engaging in criminal gang activity, threatening the safety of another person, etc.

System Security

			a.	Users are responsible for the use of their individual account and should take all reasonable precautions to prevent others from being able to use their account. Under no conditions should users provide their passwords to another person.
			b.	Users will immediately notify the teacher or librarian if they have identified a possible security problem. Users will not intentionally look for security problems, since this may be construed as an illegal attempt to gain access.
			c.	Users will avoid the inadvertent spread of computer viruses by following the District virus protection procedures.

Inappropriate Language

			a.	Restrictions against inappropriate language apply to public messages, private messages, and material posted on the schools' public folders or web pages.
			b.	Users will not use obscene, profane, lewd, vulgar, rude, inflammatory, threatening, or disrespectful language.
			c.	Users will not post information that, if acted upon, could cause damage or a danger of disruption.
			d.	Users will not engage in personal attacks, including prejudicial or discriminatory attacks.
			e.	Users will not harass another person. Harassment is persistently acting in a manner that distresses or annoys another person.
			f.	Users will not knowingly or recklessly post false or defamatory information about a person or organization.

Respecting Resource Limits

			a.	Users will use the system only for educational, professional or career development activities, and limited, high-quality, self-discovery activities.
			b.	Users will not download large files. This includes, but is not limited to audio and video files. With the permission of the appropriate staff member, users may download the file at a time when the system is not being heavily used.
			c.	Students may not use school computers to access their personal e-mail accounts unless given permission by the teacher of librarian for educational purposes. However, many electronic resources provide a method for sending documents to personal e-mail accounts. Sending articles using this feature is an acceptable use.
			d.	Students will print only those articles needed for classroom assignments. Printing is limited to one copy of the document and limited draft copies.

Plagiarism and Copyright Infringement

			a.	Users will not plagiarize works that they find on the Internet. Plagiarism is taking the ideas, artistic creations or writings of others and presenting them as if they were original to the user. Appropriate citation will be given to all text, graphic, music, video, and any other files used in reports, Power Point or other visual presentations, etc.
			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 users are unsure whether or not they can use a work, they should request permission from the copyright owner. Additional information on Copyright and Fair Use can be obtained from your library staff.

Inappropriate Access to Material

			a.	Users will not use the I-Net system to access material that is profane or obscene (pornography), that advocates illegal acts, or that advocates violence or discrimination towards other people (hate literature). District Internet content filtering software blocks most but not all of this type of information.
			b.	If a user inadvertently accesses such information, s/he should immediately disclose the inadvertent access to a teacher or librarian. This will protect users against an allegation that they have intentionally violated the Acceptable Use Policy.

Search and Seizure

		1.	System users have a limited privacy expectation in the contents of their personal files on I-Net.
		2.	Routine maintenance and monitoring of the system may lead to discovery that the user has or is violating the District's Acceptable Use Policy, the Student Code of Conduct, or the law.
		3.	An individual search will be conducted if there is reasonable suspicion that a user has violated the law or the Student Code of Conduct. The nature of the investigation will be reasonable and in the context of the nature of the alleged violation.
		4.	District employees should be aware that their personal files are discoverable under public records laws.

Due Process

		1.	The District will cooperate fully with local, State, or Federal officials in any investigation concerning or relating to any illegal activities conducted through I-Net.
		2.	In the event there is an allegation that a student has violated the District's Acceptable Use Policy, the student will be provided with a written notice of the alleged violation and have an opportunity to present an explanation during an informal hearing with a building administrator.
		3.	Disciplinary actions will be tailored to meet specific concerns related to the violation and to assist the student in gaining the self-discipline necessary to behave appropriately on an electronic network. If the alleged violation also involves a violation of other provisions of the Student Code of Conduct, the violation will be handled in accord with the applicable provision of the Student Code of Conduct.
		4.	Student consequences of violations include but are not limited to:

			a.	temporary loss of computer access
			b.	revocation of computer access
			c.	in-school restriction
			d.	out-of-school suspension
			e.	school expulsion
			f.	legal action and prosecution by the authorities

	F.	District Limitation of Liability
		The District makes no warranties of any kind, either express or implied, that the functions or the services provided by or through I-Net will be error-free or without defect. The District will not be responsible for any damage users 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.
	G.	Academic Freedom, Selection of Material, Student Rights to Free Speech

		1.	Board policies on academic freedom and free speech will govern the use of the Internet.
		2.	When using the Internet for class activities, teachers will select material that is appropriate in light of the age of the students and that is the relevant to the course objectives. 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. Teachers will require citations (appropriate credit to the original source) for Internet resources used in reports or presentations.

Adopted 9/9/02