366
Computer Network System Acceptable Use Policy
The Waupun Area School District is committed to increasing access to learning opportunities through technology tools and resources. The District’s goal in providing this computer network system, which includes the Internet and E-mail, is to promote educational excellence in schools by facilitating resource sharing, innovation, communication, and instruction to meet the expectations of Wisconsin’s Model Academic Standards and District standards and benchmarks. This policy is established to delineate use of network resources for District administrative and educational purposes. “Educational purposes” include the use of the computer network system for classroom and professional development activities.
District Responsibilities
• The District Administrator shall be responsible for the overall implementation of technology within the District; maintain communication about technology issues with the School Board and the community; and oversee the actions of the Information Technology Director.
• The Information Technology Director shall be responsible for network administration to include establishing and maintaining staff and student accounts and security; troubleshooting; budgeting; establishing a system of staff training in coordination with the Director of Instruction; facilitating curricular integration and administrative application of technology; working with the School Board to create and maintain policies; coordinating hardware and software purchases, licenses, inventory, and installation; and representing the District in technology matters.
• Building principals shall be responsible for notifying parents about computer network system policies and interpreting and administering these policies. Principals shall also ensure maintenance of user agreements and supervision of staff and students using the system.
Users’ Responsibilities
Users have limited privacy expectations for contents of personal files on the District network system as computers and network accounts are the property of the District. Records and communications are subject to discovery via routine maintenance and monitoring of the system and are subject to state open records requirements. The District requires responsible use of the computer network system by its users who must adhere to District policies, procedures, and guidelines as well as federal and state regulations. Misuse shall result in
disciplinary action determined by the District. Users may appeal disciplinary actions in accordance with District policy.
Limitation of District Liability
The District cannot guarantee that the computer network system or services provided through the system are error-free. The District is not responsible for users’ loss of data or network service. The District is not responsible for the quality and accuracy of information obtained or stored on the network system. The District is not responsible for financial or legal obligations incurred by users through unauthorized use of the system.
I. User Access
A. District Employees
All District employees shall be provided access to the District computer network system including personal log-ins/passwords and the ability to save files on the network. The Information Technology Director shall have full administrative access to the network. Others designated by the Information Technology Director shall have limited administrative network access.
B. Students
District students shall have access to their building’s local area network. Personal log-ins and passwords may be provided for printing and saving files to the network. Students shall have access to the wide area network, including the Internet, under the terms of the Internet/Electronic Mail Acceptable Use Policy.
C. Guests
Guest accounts shall be provided as one of two types: an individual account as approved by the Information Technology Director (e.g., student teachers, long-term subs, school board members), or a workstation account (e.g., community classes and Open House sessions).
D. Contracted Network Technical Support
Contracted network technical support personnel shall have access to the network in an administrative capability to the extent that troubleshooting, installation, and maintenance functions of the computer network system can be carried out.
II. System Security
The District computer network shall utilize virus protection software and desktop security software. Users shall be provided with individual log-in passwords to ensure reasonable security of personal files. Users shall not provide their password to another person. Users shall not access another individual’s materials, information, or files. Users shall not vandalize, damage, or disable the property or data of the District, another individual or organization.
III. Network Programs and Files A. Procuring Software
Software requests/orders shall be approved by the Information Technology Director. Requests for software may be submitted and evaluation/reviews of the program shall be provided as possible. Software programs for installation on the network must provide applications that serve overall curriculum and building needs. Software for individual workstations must meet curricular needs.
B. Installation
Software and other programs shall be installed on the network by the Information Technology Director, technology staff, contracted technical support personnel, or others as designated by the Information Technology Director. Software shall be installed with respect to current licensing, purchasing, or registration agreements. Certain programs and upgrades may be downloaded from the Internet with approval of the Information Technology Director only.
C. Saving Files
Users may save files to a CD, a flash drive, and to the system network. Student data files saved to the network may be deleted at the end of each school year.
D. Copyright
Users shall abide by copyright law (Public Law 94-553,1976) and Fair Use Guidelines For Educational Multimedia (1996) when incorporating text, data, audio, video, and graphics for multimedia presentations and documents.
IV. Student Use of Internet and E-mail
The District recognizes the increasing prominence of the Internet and other telecommunications networks for accessing and exchanging information on an international scale. To maximize positive educational experiences, students shall be provided with opportunities to gain the understanding and skills needed to use the Internet in ways appropriate to their educational needs and personal safety. The use of the Internet is a privilege, not a right, and users are responsible for using the Internet to support educationally appropriate activities. The District utilizes an Internet filtering service that blocks access to sites designated as inappropriate to an educational setting. Due to the ever-changing nature of the Internet, it is not possible for the filter to completely prevent access to all educationally unsuitable materials. It is the user’s responsibility not to initiate access to such material. The use of information obtained on the Internet does not dictate endorsement of its content by school officials, nor does making electronic information available to students imply endorsement of any information. The School District believes that the benefits of Internet access, in the form of information resources and opportunities for collaboration, exceed any disadvantages.
A. Students shall access the Internet for classroom/educational purposes and shall be responsible for their own actions while using the Internet, e-mail and other telecommunications. Student training shall include being informed of their rights and responsibilities, safety guidelines, effective electronic search strategies, and evaluation of resources.
B. Students shall not participate in the following unacceptable activities: • play, download, or install any games, programs, or executable files • access streaming multimedia (e.g., radio, videos, games)
• download music (e.g., .mp3 files)
• transfer files using File Transfer Protocol (ftp) or other transfer methods
• use the Internet/network for personal financial or commercial gain • violate any local, state or federal statute or District policy (e.g., access
or transmit harmful, pornographic, obscene, hateful, or sexually explicit material); District policy regarding harassment applies to electronic communication
• violate copyright or plagiarize the intellectual property of another individual or organization
C. All computer activities are subject to monitoring.
V. CREATING AND PLACING WEB PAGES
The availability of Internet access in the Waupun Area School District provides an opportunity for students and staff to contribute to the School District’s presence on the World Wide Web. The District’s Web sites provide information about school curriculum, instruction, school-authorized activities, and other general information related to our schools and our District’s mission. Creators of Web pages need to familiarize themselves with and adhere to all policies and responsibilities.
Given the rapid change in technology, some of the technical standards outlined in this policy may require periodic change. Such changes shall be approved by the Information Technology Director and the District Administrator.
LEGAL REF.: Sections 120.13(1) Wisconsin Statutes
943.70 947.0125
PL 94-553, 1976 Federal Copyright Law
CROSS REF.: 366 Exhibit I, Student Computer Network System
Acceptable Use Agreement
361, Selection and Adoption of Instructional Materials 363, Supplementary Materials Selection and Adoption 364, Library/Media Services
372, Student Publications
411, Equal Educational Opportunities 411.1, Student Sexual Harassment 446, Student Discipline
522.4, Staff Use of Electronic Mail
522.4 Exhibit I, Staff Computer Network System Acceptable Use Agreement
871, Public Complaints About Instructional Materials
APPROVED: June 21, 1999
REVISED: February 21, 2005
April 17, 2006 December 21, 2009
