FILE:  EFA

 

ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY FOR INTERNET AND

DISTRICT NETWORK RESOURCES

 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

Internet access is available to students and employees in the Cameron Parish School System.  System email accounts are only available to employees.  It is the belief of the Cameron Parish School Board that the Internet offers vast, diverse, and unique educational resources to all participants. 

 

The goal in providing this service to students is to enhance innovative education for students through access to unique resources and collaborations.  Furthermore, stakeholders will improve learning and teaching through research, teacher training, communication, collaboration, and dissemination of successful educational practices, methods, and materials.

 

Terms and Conditions are provided so that Internet users are aware of the responsibilities they will assume when using this Cameron Parish School System resource.  Responsibilities include efficient, ethical, and legal utilization of the network resources.  The user’s signature on the attached contract is legally binding and indicates that he/she has read the Terms and Conditions carefully and agrees to abide by them.

 

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

 

  1. Personal Safety and Privacy

 

    1. Users will not publish online any personal contact information (e.g., address, phone number) about themselves or any other person on any CPSB webpage.  Cameron Parish School Board home pages will use Cameron Parish School Board phone numbers and camsch.org email addresses.   Personal photos and work can be published if a signed district release form is on file.
       

    2. Users will not agree to meet with someone they have met online without appropriate approval.  Inappropriate contacts should be reported to school authorities immediately.

 

  1. Illegal Activities

 

    1. Users will not attempt to gain unauthorized access to the network, any computer system or another person’s account or files.
       

    2. Users will not intentionally attempt to disrupt or intentionally disrupt the computer system or destroy data by spreading computer viruses or by any other means.
       

    3. Users will not engage in any illegal acts, such as selling drugs, engaging in criminal gang activity or threatening the safety of a person or persons, etc.
       

    4. Users will not attempt to impersonate another individual or organization using CPSB network or other technology resources for any reason (i.e. “phishing.”)

 

  1. Security

 

    1. Users are responsible for their individual account and should take all reasonable precautions to prevent others from being able to use your account.  Under no condition should users give their password to another person nor post the password in written form where it can be easily seen by others.
       

    2. Users will log off or lock their personal accounts when away from the computer for more than a few moments to prevent unauthorized access.
       

    3. Users will immediately notify school authorities if they have identified a possible security problem.  However, testing or purposely looking for possible security problems may be considered as an illegal attempt to gain access.  Any security concerns should be addressed to the CPSB Tech Support.
       

    4. Users will avoid the spread of computer viruses by installing and maintaining up-to-date antivirus software provided by the district.
       

    5. Users will only use memory storage devices (i.e. disks, CDs, pen drives, flash drives, etc.) that have been scanned and found to be free of viruses.
       

    6. Users will not download or install unnecessary programs from the Internet, since most of this installs “spyware” on the computer and hinders the performance of the computer (i.e. Toolbar helpers, email add-ons, screen savers, search engine assistants, pop-up blockers, etc.).
       

    7. Users should be aware that the CPSB network, Internet use and system email is maintained and regularly monitored for inappropriate use.  If any misuse is detected by the staff, appropriate action will be taken against the person or persons involved.
       

    8. Users are not allowed to install software to capture or monitor the computer activity of other users on the network or network traffic.  Only authorized CPSB tech support staff is permitted to do this in the course of administering the network.

 

  1. Network

 

    1. All computers are to be setup and maintained with connection to the CPSB domain for network administration and security.  Removing a computer from the CPSB domain without the permission of a CPSB tech support member will be considered an act to circumvent district network security and is strictly prohibited.
       

    2. All wireless devices on the CPSB network will be setup by an authorized CPSB tech support member.  All wireless devices purchased must be equipment approved by the network department.  No unauthorized wireless devises will be attached to the CPSB network and doing so will be considered a network security breech and dealt with accordingly.
       

    3. Network bandwidth is a limited resource of which must be conserved to serve all of the network needs of the district.  Users must understand that listening to online radio stations, viewing streaming video sites, and downloading very large files, etc. will be considered a misuse of this limited resource.
       

    4. Important information regarding the CPSB network will be sent out to all employees from time to time during the year addressed from the email account [email protected].  It is the responsibility of all employees to open and read all emails from this account and then act accordingly.  Excuses such as “not reading” or deleting the messages from this account will not be acceptable.

 

  1. Inappropriate Language

 

    1. Users will not use obscene, profane, lewd, vulgar, rude, inflammatory, threatening, unprofessional, or disrespectful language.  This includes personal attacks or harassment of another person.

 

  1. Resource Limits

 

    1. Users will use the system email, Internet and network resources only for educational and professional development activities.  Personal use of these resources is prohibited.
       

    2. Users will avoid downloading large files.
       

    3. Users will not post or forward email “chain letters” or send annoying or unnecessary messages to others.
       

    4. Users will not use district email to mass email and “spam” any users (internal and external) with unauthorized communications or solicitations.
       

    5. Users will download and remove their email and sent messages from the server frequently.
       

    6. Users will subscribe only to high-quality discussion group mail lists that are relevant to education or professional development activities and not subscribe others without their consent.

 

  1. Access and Use of Materials

 

    1. Users will not take the ideas or writings of others and present them as if they were their own.
       

    2. Users will respect copyrighted materials and other intellectual property.  Users may not duplicate, copy or distribute electronic resources without the appropriate permissions, documentations or citations.
       

    3. Users will immediately report to school authorities any website they access with inappropriate content.

 

  1. Consequences of Misuse

 

    1. The use of the Internet is a privilege, not a right, and inappropriate use will result in a cancellation of privileges and/or other disciplinary action as deemed appropriate by administration, faculty, and staff.
       

    2. Users should expect no privacy of the contents of personal files and email on the district system.  Messages relating to, or in the support of, illegal activities must be reported to the authorities.
       

    3. The Cameron Parish School Board allows for the suspension of inappropriate or illegal use of the Internet by students and employees.  Other disciplinary action may also be warranted.
       

    4. Misuse of the system can result in possible legal action and/or prosecution, and will require restitution for costs associated with system restoration, hardware, or software costs.
       

    5. Users bringing illegal and/or inappropriate materials into the system’s electronic environment will be subject to disciplinary action.

  

DISCLAIMER

 

The District’s system is provided on an “as is, as available” basis.  The District does not make any warranties, whether expressed or implied, including, without limitation, those of fitness for a particular purpose with respect to any services provided by the system and any information or software contained therein.  The District uses a variety of vendor  supplied hardware and software.  Therefore, the District does not warrant that the functions or services performed by, or that the information or software contained on the system will meet the user’s requirements.  Neither does the District warrant that the system will be uninterrupted or error-free, nor that defects will be corrected.  Opinions, advice, services, and all other information expressed by system users, information providers, service providers, or other third party individuals in the system are those of the providers and not necessarily the District.

 

The District will cooperate fully with local, state, or federal officials in any investigation concerning or relating to misuse of the District’s computer systems and networks.

 

Revised:  July, 2000

Revised:  June, 2004

Revised:  June, 2003

Revised:  October, 2008

 

                                               

Ref:     La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:81, 17:100.7

Board minutes, 9-11-96, 7-14-03, 7-14-08, 9-8-08

 

Cameron Parish School Board