Acceptable Use of Technology

The school district provides computers and other technology equipment as part of classroom instruction. In accordance with Board Policy 363 (Board policies may be accessed on the school district’s website) the use of the technology, including using the district’s access to the internet in order to access on-line information, is intended to help students learn more effectively and efficiently. However, it is important for students and parents to keep in mind that the use of the district’s technology equipment and access is a privilege. Students need to ensure they are using the technology properly and appropriately in order to have the continued use of the technology. Acceptable use of the district’s technology includes the following:

1. Using the Internet for educational purposes only;
2. Not attempting to breach the district’s security by using unauthorized passwords or working from network accounts that are not your own;
3. Using your time on the computers efficiently in order to perform assigned tasks;
4. Not accessing any social networking sites while using computers or other electronic communication devices at school;
5. Not pretending to be another person when on-line;
6. Using “computer games” during the school day only with the teacher’s permission;
7. Not purchasing anything or signing up for any additional services while on Internet;
8. Not creating or displaying any obscene, sexually oriented, threatening, or offensive materials on the computer screen;
9. Observing all copyright laws with regard to software;
10. Never agreeing to get together with someone you “meet” on-line;
11. Giving credit for any information you decide to use in a school assignment by identifying the source of all text, graphic, video, and sound resources you use;
12. Not copying another student’s work or using their work as your own;
13. Not giving out personal information such as last name, address, telephone number, personal photograph, etc., to any Internet user without teacher and parent permission;
14. Respecting other people’s personal information by not giving out that information to any other Internet user;
15. Not using the computer or other electronic communication devices (such as cell phone texting, twitter, etc.) to send a message to another person that is threatening, intimidating, harassing, obscene or in any other way harmful to that person.

Students who do not follow these rules for acceptable or appropriate use will have their computer privileges revoked by the principal for an amount of time deemed appropriate by the principal based on the seriousness of the student’s infraction of the rules. The amount of time could extend from one week to one year. In addition, other disciplinary or legal action may be taken by the district as appropriate.