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| Section 22.1 | Purpose |
| Section 22.2 | Definitions |
| Section 22.3 | Computer System Administration |
| Section 22.4 | Privacy and Retention of E-mail and Internet Transmissions Records |
| Section 22.5 | District Rights |
| Section 22.6 | Access to System |
| Section 22.7 | Internet Access By Students |
| Section 22.8 | Acceptable Use Conduct |
| Section 22.9 | Prohibited Activity Uses |
| Section 22.10 | Penalties For Violation |
| Section 22.11 | Website Webpages |
Article 22
COMPUTER USE
Adopted 3/06/02
(A) The purpose of this policy is to:
(1) promote the use of computers, including the Internet and computer-related technology, as educational and research tools;
(2) encourage the use of computers and computer-related technology in District classrooms solely for the purpose of advancing and promoting learning and teaching; and
(3) establish appropriate controls to prevent the misuse, impairment, disruption, and damage to the District computer system or any of its component hardware, software or data, or expose the same to any unnecessary risks and dangers.
(B) This policy applies to all District officials and employees, as well as to any third parties doing business with the District who have been granted access to the District's computer system.
For the purpose of this policy, the terms below shall be defined as follows:
(A) "Computer System" or "system" shall mean all computer hardware, equipment, software, cables and wires, as well as electronic mail and internet services and connections, and network facilities.
(B) "Electronic Mail" shall mean electronic transfer of information in the form of electronic messages, memoranda and attached documents from a sending party to one or more receiving parties via an intermediate telecommunications system. Electronic mail shall also be referred to as "e-mail".
(C) "Network Coordinator" shall mean the person designated by the Superintendent to supervise, manage and direct the administration, design, operation and use of the computer system.
Section 22.3 Computer System Administration
The Network Coordinator shall administer, design, manage and supervise the operation and use of the computer system, including but not limited to the following duties:
(A) Monitor and examine all network activities, as appropriate, to ensure proper use of the system.
(B) Disseminate and interpret District policy and regulations governing use of the District's network at the building level with all network users.
(C) Provide employee training for proper use of the network and ensure that staff supervising students provide similar training to their students and provide copies of District policy and regulations governing use of the District's network.
(D) Ensure that all disks and software loaded onto the computer network have been scanned for computer viruses.
(E) Be responsible for determining and controlling access to the District computer system or any component part thereof as provided in this policy, including:
(1) assigning authorization(s) for access to the system;
(2) investigating violations and/or attempted violations of this policy, breach security;
(3) advising the Superintendent of needs for changes to the system, problems, violations of this policy and/or similar activities;
(4) recommending to the Superintendent that authorization(s) for and access to the computer system be terminated relative to persons violating or attempting to violate this policy; and
(5) determining user access requirements, establishing forms for user access, and assigning user identifications for each person authorized to have access.
Section 22.4 Privacy and Retention of E-mail and Internet Transmissions & Records
All e-mail and internet transmissions and records shall be governed by and subject to the following:
(A) E-mail and internet transmissions and records are not the personal or private property of any user, and pursuant to the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 (18 USC 2510 et seq.) notice is hereby given that there are no facilities provided by the District computer system for sending or receiving private or confidential electronic communications. Students and staff using the system should not expect, nor does the District guarantee, privacy for e-mail or any use of the system.
(B) The District shall have access to, and the right to view, all e-mail, internet and user access requests, as well as any material stored on and/or used in conjunction with the system. Designated District officials shall have access to and the right to monitor messages and internet access records in accordance with the following:
(1) as necessary to assure efficient performance and appropriate use of the system;
(2) although District officials will not routinely monitor a user's e-mail or internet access and will take reasonable precautions to protect the privacy of e-mail and internet use, access to a user's e-mail and internet access records is authorized
(a) for a legitimate business purpose, such as the need to access information when a user is absent for an extended period of time,
(b) to diagnose and resolve technical problems involving system hardware, software, or communications, and/or
(c) to investigate possible misuse of e-mail and/or internet access when there is reasonable suspicion thereof, or in conjunction with an authorized investigation, of abuse; and
(3) Messages or information relating to or in support of illegal activities will be reported to the appropriate authorities.
(C) E-mail security shall be the joint responsibility of the Network Coordinator and e-mail users, and it shall be the responsibility of all users to take all reasonable precautions, including safeguarding and changing passwords, to prevent access to e-mail by unauthorized persons.
(D) E-mail messages, transmissions and records of an official nature, as well as those which are personal in nature, may be subject to
(1) disclosure to the public under the Freedom of Information Law (New York Public Officer's Law Article 6),
(2) special measures to comply with the Personal Privacy Protection Law,
(3) discovery proceedings in legal actions; and/or
(4) records management and/or retention requirements under the New York Arts and Cultural Affairs Law.
(E) Except as provided in paragraph (D) of this section, e-mail messages, transmissions and records shall not be retained for extended periods of time, and shall be governed by the following:
(1) users shall remove all e-mail communications in a timely fashion and delete records which are not reasonably required for the user's legitimate future use,
(2) if a user needs to retain information in an e-mail message for an extended period, or if the message is required to be retained as provided in paragraph (f) of this section, such user shall transfer it from the e-mail system to an appropriate electronic or other filing system or print it on paper, and then dispose of such e-mail,
(3) the Network Coordinator is authorized to remove any information retained in an e-mail system that is more than 30 days old.
(F) Records communicated or transmitted by e-mail shall be
(1) identified, managed, protected, and retained as long as they are needed to meet operational, legal, audit, research or other requirements,
(2) retained, managed, and accessible in an existing filing system outside the e-mail system in accordance with the appropriate practices as may be recommended by the Network Coordinator,
(3) disposed of within the record keeping system in which they have been filed in accordance with a Records Disposition Authorization (RDA) approved by the New York State Archives and Records Administration (SARA).
Notwithstanding any other provision of this policy, the District:
(A) Reserves the right to log computer system use and monitor file server space utilization by users and assumes no responsibility or liability for files deleted due to violation of file server space allotments.
(B) Reserves the right to remove a user from the computer system, from any LAN, or from any e-mail or internet service.
(C) Shall not be responsible for:
(1) any information obtained by a user, such information being obtained at the user's sole and exclusive risk;
(2) any damages, including but not limited to the loss of data resulting from delays, non-deliveries, or service interruptions whether or not caused by negligence, errors or omissions of the District;
(3) any costs, liabilities or damages caused by the way the user chooses to use internet service;
(4) any consequences of service interruptions or changes, even those arising from circumstances under the control of the District; and/or
(5) any unauthorized financial obligations, costs or charges incurred by a user's use of or access to the system or the internet.
(D) Makes no warranties, either express or implied, with regard to:
(1) system hardware;
(2) software obtained from or installed on the system;
(3) e-mail or internet service;
(4) the content, quality, availability, accuracy, nature or reliability of the services and/or information received by a user.
(E) Not responsible for any viruses, worms or cookies imparted to a user's home computer from the District's computer system.
(F) Reserves and retains the right to amend, modify or change this policy or any provision hereof.
Access to the computer system shall be in strict conformance with the following:
(A) Only authorized users will be granted access.
(B) Each authorized user will have only one User ID and one password (which will be changed periodically) which will be unique to that user, and which shall not be given to any other official, employee or student except as otherwise provided in this policy.
(C) Log-in to the system shall only occur or be permitted when the user is in the immediate vicinity of the computer terminal, and the user shall log off the network when leaving the terminal or area for any reason or time period.
(D) The Network Coordinator shall be notified whenever the system refuses to allow access to any site following four consecutive unsuccessful log-in attempts, and no further access shall be granted or permitted except by the Network Coordinator.
(E) Authorization for access shall terminate for:
(1) an official or employee when he/she leaves District service or employment;
(2) for a student when he/she is no longer enrolled in the District; and/or
(3) for any user when he/she is no longer is authorized to have access.
Section 22.7 Internet Access By Students
Students will be provided with access to the internet only in accordance with the following:
(A) Access shall only be provided:
(1) during class time;,
(2) during the school day when the students are not in class;
(3) before or after school hours; and
(4) after receiving training and/or receiving their Internet license.
(B) Students will be provided with individual accounts and e-mail addresses.
(C) Students may, subject to monitoring by a District official or staff member:
(1) browse the world wide web;
(2) read news groups;
(3) construct their own web pages using District computer resources; and
(4) belong to mailing lists.
Section 22.8 Acceptable Use & Conduct
Use of the computer system and/or any component thereof, shall be in strict conformance with the following:
(A) Use of and access to the computer system shall only be for:
(1) the performance by District officials and staff of official District business and the furtherance of official District educational purposes and research, and
(2) the educational instruction and advancement of District students.
(B) No unauthorized software shall be permitted to be installed or used on the system or any component part thereof.
(C) Personal software will only be allowed on the computer system, or any component part thereof, provided that the software:
(1) is licensed;
(2) does not compromise any security mechanisms implemented on the system; and
(3) has been approved in writing by the Network Coordinator.
(D) Each user shall have the duty to:
(1) respect the privacy and confidentiality of other users;
(2) respect the legal protection provided to computer programs, software and data by copyright and license;
(3) protect data from unauthorized use or disclosure as required by state and federal laws and District policies;
(4) respect the integrity of computer system and/or any component thereof;
(5) safeguard their accounts and passwords, and change passwords only in accordance with guidelines for valid passwords;
(6) abide by generally accepted rules of network etiquette, including being polite and using only appropriate language (abusive language, vulgarities and swear words are not appropriate);
(7) report any observations of attempted security violations, and/or violations of this policy, to the appropriate teacher, administrator or the Network Coordinator, and under no circumstance should the user demonstrate the problem to anyone other than the District official or employee being notified;
(8) respect all intellectual and property rights and laws; and
(9) verify the integrity and authenticity of the information that is used, provided or obtained.
(E) Only those users with written permission from the principal or Network Coordinator may access the District's system from off-site (e.g. from home).
(F) Any user identified as a security risk or having a history of violations of District computer use guidelines may be denied access to the District's network.
Section 22.9 Prohibited Activity & Uses
The following is a list of prohibited activity concerning use of the District's computer network. Violation of any of these prohibitions may result in discipline or other appropriate penalty, including suspension or revocation of a user's access to the system:
(A) Using the network for commercial activity, including advertising.
(B) Infringing on any copyrights or other intellectual property rights, including copying, installing, receiving, transmitting or making available any copyrighted software on the District's computer network.
(C) Using the network to receive, transmit or make available messages that are racist, sexist, abusive or harassing to others.
(D) Using another person's account or password.
(E) Attempting to read, delete, copy or modify the electronic mail (e-mail) of other system users and deliberately interfering with the ability of other system users to send and/or receive e-mail.
(F) Forging or attempting to forge e-mail messages.
(G) Engaging in vandalism (any malicious attempt to harm or destroy District equipment or materials or the data of another user of the District's network, and includes, but is not limited to, creating and/or placing a computer virus on the network).
(H) Using the network to send anonymous messages or files.
(I) Using the network to receive, transmit or make available to others a message that is inconsistent with the District's code of conduct.
(J) Revealing the personal address, telephone number or other personal information of oneself or another person.
(K) Using the network for sending and/or receiving personal messages.
(L) Intentionally disrupting network traffic or crashing the network and connected systems.
(M) Installing personal software or using personal disks on the District's computers and/or network without the permission of the appropriate District official or employee.
(N) Using District computing resources for commercial or financial gain or fraud.
(O) Stealing data, equipment or intellectual property.
(P) Gaining or seeking to gain unauthorized access to any files, resources or computer or phone systems, or vandalizing the data of another user.
(Q) Wastefully using finite District resources.
(R) Changing or exceeding resource quotas as set by the District without the permission of the appropriate District official or employee.
(S) Using the network while access privileges are suspended or revoked.
(T) Using the network in a fashion inconsistent with directions from teachers and other staff and from generally accepted network etiquette.
(U) Transmitting any material in violation of any federal, state and/or local law or regulation, including but not limited to materials protected by copyright, threatening or obscene material, or material protected by trade secret.
(V) Participating in chat rooms.
Section 22.10 Penalties For Violation
(A) Any user of the system and/or any of its components who violates any provision of this policy shall be subject to a penalty consisting of disciplinary action, suspension and/or revocation of computer access privileges or internet driver's license and password, or a combination thereof.
(B) In addition to the penalties referred to in paragraph (A) of this section, any information pertaining to or implicating illegal activity will be reported to the proper authorities.
Section 22.11 Website & Webpages
(A) The District will create and maintain a website and web pages for the following purposes:
(1) to support the District's mission;
(2) to provide the community with information about the District and its schools, including but not limited to policies, curriculum, extracurricular programs, opportunities for students, student/staff achievements, calendars, schedules, operations, etc.;
(3) to provide students and the community with support for learning; and
(4) to serve as a channel for feedback from students, families, and the community.
(B) Websites and webpages operated by or on behalf of the District shall be considered District publications over which the District maintains full editorial control. The Computer Network Coordinator (CNC) will be responsible for overseeing District websites and webpages throughout the District.
(C) The Superintendent or his/her designee shall approve or deny proposed websites and/or webpages based upon the following considerations B websites/webpages:
(1) must serve one or more of the District's stated purposes;
(2) content and construction must adhere to the laws, policies, and rules governing computer use, including, but not limited to, copyright laws, rights of software publishers and proprietors, license agreements, and rights of privacy established by federal and state laws;
(3) must reflect high standards of content, design, respectability, good taste, and appropriateness for the Saranac Lake school community.
(D) Persons seeking to publish a webpage on the District's website must comply with the following procedure:
(1) an application, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, together with a printed copy of the proposed webpage shall be submitted to the building principal for preliminary approval of content and design;
(2) the building principal may refer the application to department leaders or other staff as needed for informational purposes and input;
(3) upon approval by the building principal, the application shall be forwarded to the CNC, and the applicant shall also furnish the CNC with the proposed webpage on computer media (CD, diskette, etc) to review the technical aspects thereof, modify the same, and for approval;
(4) upon approval by the CNC, the application and a printed copy of the proposed webpage (as modified by the CNC) to the Superintendent for approval of content and design and to ensure compliance with District policies and regulations;
(5) upon approval by the Superintendent, the webpage will be added to the District website as soon as possible.
(E) Changes to the website and webpages may be made by the CNC or his/her designee to keep information current and/or responsive to changing curricular or co-curricular needs. As long as the general nature of the website or web pages remains the same, such changes do not require prior approval from the Superintendent.
(F) Websites/pages created by school groups, extracurricular organizations, athletic organizations, or departments:
(1) must include the name of the sponsoring group, etc.;
(2) may include school related material such as student work, school and department news, events and activities, calendars, class work, and assignments;
(3) must be designed to protect students, families, employees, and any other persons from unwanted disclosure of personally identifying information;
(4) may include group photographs of students, but individuals may not be identified by name, provided that none of the parents of the students depicted in the photograph have requested that the District not release directory information pursuant to Section 66.18; and
(5) must include the following notice:
This is a [NAME OF ORGANIZATION] web page.
EXHIBIT A
Application for Website/Webpage Publication
(To be completed by sponsor)
Directions: Complete this form and submit it to your building administrator for approval of the general concept of your website/page. After receiving approval, send the approved form and printed copy of the web page to the Superintendent's Office for approval of content and design and compliance with District policies and regulations.
Name of Sponsor Date
Building/School/Department
Name/Title of website/page
Purpose of the website/page
Description of the website/page
Links associated with this publication
On behalf of the applicant for the website/page, I ___________, agree to adhere to the Saranac Lake Central School District policy for websites/pages.
|
Building Principal |
Computer Network Coordinator |
Superintendent's Office |
|
___ Concept Approved |
___ Concept/Construction Approved |
___Publication Approved |
|
___ Concept Denied |
___ Concept/Construction Denied |
___ Publication Denied |
|
Signed |
Signed |
Signed |
|
Date |
Date |
Date |
Websites/pages may not include student and/or staff names without written permission from the person(s) affected, and under no circumstances shall any of the following information be included: student/staff telephone numbers, addresses, e-mail addresses, or other identifying information such as names or family members.
Website/pages may mention commercial interests only in the context of school programs. Web pages must not include for-profit advertising or promotions of commercial interests.
With the exception of the sites/pages of the school library media centers, websites/pages may NOT contain links to non-District websites unless approved by the CNC and the building principal or their designees. However, sponsors may link to a comprehensive District web page listing links that would be valuable to anyone accessing their pages. Sponsors may suggest to the Technology Coordinator links that they would like added to the list.
Neither staff nor students may publish personal web pages as part of the District's web presence.
Websites/pages that do not comply with these criteria will have their approval revoked and the sites/pages will be removed from the District's web presence.