Students and faculty are encouraged to use the District’ s computers and Internet connection for educational purposes. Use of such resources is a privilege, not a right. Users must conduct themselves in a responsible, efficient, ethical and legal manner. Inappropriate use, including any violation of this Policy, may result in cancellation of the privilege, disciplinary action consistent with the Student Handbook, applicable collective bargaining agreements, and/or civil or criminal liability. Prior to accessing the Internet at school, students and faculty must sign the attached agreement. Parents/guardians who do not want their child to access the Internet from school must complete the attached form and return it to the building principal.

The Internet is a vast, global network linking computers at universities, schools, business and other sites. Using the Internet, one can communicate with people all over the world through a number of discussion forums, electronic mail, and various world wide web sites. In addition, files are available for downloading from the Internet, many of which are of educational value. Because of its enormous size, the potential educational benefit to students and faculty is immense. However, with such a vast quantity of information available, there is also the potential for abuse. The purpose of this Policy is to make sure that all individuals who access the Internet at the Midview Local Schools understand what is and is not appropriate use of this valuable resource.

The Board of Education of the Midview Local School District, along with the other organizations which enable the District’s access to the Internet, is not responsible for the actions of persons connecting to the Internet through its connection. Rather, users are responsible – legally, financially, and otherwise – for their behavior and communication while on the Internet.

1. Users may only access the Internet by using their assigned Internet/E-mail account. Use of another individual’s account/email address/password is prohibited. Users may not allow other persons to utilize their accounts/email addresses/passwords.
2. Use of the Internet and any information procured from the Internet is at the user’s own risk. The District is not responsible for any damage a user suffers, including loss of data resulting from delays, non-deliveries, misdeliveries, or service interruptions. The District is not responsible for the accuracy or quality of information obtained though the Internet. Information (including text graphics, audio, video, etc.) from Internet sources used in student papers, reports and projects should be cited the same as references to printed materials.
3. Users may encounter material which is objectionable and which users, parents, teachers and administrators may consider inappropriate or offensive. It is the user’s responsibility not to intiate access to such material. If such material is encountered accidentally, it is the user’ s responsibility to discontinue the access immediately, without downloading, copying or sharing the material with others.
4. Users should not intentionally seek information on, obtain copies of, or modify files, data or passwords belonging to other users, or misrepresent other users on the network.
5. Transmission of any material in violation of any state or federal law or regulation, or Board policy is prohibited.
6. Any use of the Internet for commercial purposes, advertising, or political lobbying is prohibited.
7. Users are expected to abide by the following generally accepted rules of network etiquette:

1. Be polite, courteous and respectful in your messages to others. Use language appropriate to school situations in any communications made through the District’s computers. Refrain from using obscene, profane, vulgar, sexually explicit, defamatory or abusive language in your messages.
2. Never reveal names, addresses, phone numbers or passwords of yourself or other students, family members, teachers, administrators or others staff members while communicating on the Internet.
3. Do not transmit pictures or other information that could be used to establish your identity without prior approval of a teacher.

1. Use of the Internet to access, process, distribute, display or print pornographic material, other offensive messages and pictures, inappropriate text files, or files dangerous to the integrity of school computer(s) and/or the school’s network is prohibited (i.e. viruses).
2. Malicious use of the network to develop programs that harass other users or infiltrate a computer or computer system and/or damage the software components of a computer or computing system is prohibited. Students may not use the school’s network in such a way that would disrupt the use of the network by other users. Student must avoid intentionally wasting limited resources.
3. All communications and information accessible via the Internet should be assumed to be private property (i.e. copyrighted and/or trademarked). All copyright issues regarding software, information, and attributions of authorship must be respected. The illegal distribution of computer files through the Internet is strictly prohibited.
4. Downloading of information onto the school’s hard drives is prohibited; all downloads must be to floppy disk. Only public domain software may be downloaded.
5. Students must secure prior approval from a teacher or the computer network administrator before joining a Listserv. (electronic mailing lists) and should not post personal messages on bulletin boards or "Listservs."
6. Privacy in communication over the Internet and the school network is not guaranteed. To insure compliance with this Policy, the District reserves the right to monitor, review and inspect any directories, files and/or messages residing on or sent using the school’s computers/network. Messages relating to or in support of illegal activities will be reported to the appropriate authorities.
7. Faculty members are responsible for providing reasonable supervision of students’ use of the Internet. All consequences for improper use of the Internet shall be administered by the building principal or his/her designee. The principal or designee is responsible for determining whether a user had violated this Policy.
8. The Board of Education prohibits the use of its Internet connection for the purpose of creating unauthorized web pages. All Midview Local web pages must be authorized but the Superintendent or his/her designee. Any use of the school name or seal without the written authorization of the Superintendent or designee is prohibited.
9. Users are responsible for reporting any potential security problems or violations to the District’s system administrator. The user should not demonstrate the problem to other users.

H.R. 4577, P.L. 106-554, Children's Internet Protection Act of 2000
47 U.S.C. 254(h), (1), Communications Act of 1934, as amended
20 U.S.C. 6801 et seq., Part F, Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965,
as amended
18 U.S.C. 2256
18 U.S.C. 1460
18 U.S.C. 2246