Student & Parent
Laptop Policy Handbook
Merkel ISD
2011-12
1. Receiving your laptop
Before laptops can be distributed: Student must attend a mandatory orientation/training meeting. Parent/guardian must attend a mandatory orientation meeting.
An Acceptable Use Policy must be on file for the current school year.
Students and parents must sign the Parent/Student Laptop Agreement and MISD Laptop Policy Handbook documents.
The annual Laptop Usage Fee of $25 must be paid.** This fee is not refundable.
Laptops, bags, and chargers must be returned at the end of each school year. During the summer, they will be cleaned, updated, & re-imaged. Be sure you save all important documents before turning in your laptop.
Whenever possible, students will keep the same laptop each year, at each campus (HS laptops stay at HS; MS stays at MS.)
2. Caring for the laptop
No food or drink around the laptop.
Close the cover before moving the laptop. The laptop must STAY in the case!!!
No stickers, writing or marking on the laptop or case.
Do not expose the computer to extreme temperatures or conditions.
Take care when inserting accessories or power cords into the laptop, to avoid damaging the connectors.
Allow the battery to drain completely at least once a month.
Clean the screen with a soft, lint-free cloth, or wipes specifically for LCD screens.
Don’t mash or poke the screen. Try to avoid touching it. Clean it with approved LCD screen cleaner only (available at office or discount stores).
The laptop comes with a MISD tag on the case. Do NOT remove, change, or tamper with the tag. If the tag comes off, please notify Mrs. Adams (MHS), Mrs. Miller (MMS), or the library immediately.3. Transporting the laptop
The laptops should always be transported in the case. Do not remove it from the case.
Make sure the laptop is turned off inside the case, except for quick trips between classes. Turn it OFF after school or last use.
DO NOT PUT BOOKS, BINDERS, OR OTHER ITEMS IN THE CASE WITH THE LAPTOP.Make sure that nothing is pressing on the screen.
Keep the chargers and other accessories in correct part of the case, and make sure they do not press on the screen.4. Daily and school use
Students are expected to bring the laptop to school, with battery charged each day.
Repeated failure to bring laptop to school violates this policy, and will result in disciplinary action. Loaners will NOT be issued if the laptop was left at home. Loaners are for broken computers only. Mute your sound at school, unless the teacher asks you to use headphones or ear buds.
Do not loan your charger or laptop to others.
Printing is discouraged at school. If you wish to print at home, you can install your home printer. Your computer is subject to monitoring at any time.
Computers are also subject to random searches.
If your computer is found to have inappropriate material, including music libraries or unauthorized programs, it will be reported to the office for disciplinary action. The computer will be re-imaged, and you will be charged a re-imaging fee.†
Don’t delete any files or folders that you didn’t create.
YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR BACKING UP YOUR OWN FILES.
o Use a USB Drive, H-Drive, or online storage on My Big Campus to make copies of your files. Do NOT copy music or personal files to MBC or the H-drive.
We recommend that you purchase an SD card as a backup for your files. The SD card won’t poke out the side, and can stay in your computer where it won’t get lost.
Do not enable BIOS or hard drive passwords.
o If you enable these, tech support will image your computer, and you will be charged a re-imaging fee.**
If you keep your laptop in a locker, it MUST have a lock.
Computers may be kept in the classroom with the teacher’s permission.
Do NOT leave laptops unattended! If a teacher or staff member finds a laptop unattended, she or he will turn it in to the office. The student must pay a “lost laptop fee”
†
to recover it.
Internet service will be available in the high school student parking lot, for use after school hours. Other downtown businesses might also have Internet service available.5. Virus protection and filtering
Do not attempt to tamper with the virus protection or filtering programs.
MISD does not provide Internet service to home computers, but the filtering mechanism on the laptops will filter Internet service, whether at home or school. Please remember that we cannot block 100% of objectionable material, and it is important for parents to be aware of their child’s Internet use at home.
6. Installed software
The laptops come with school-purchased software installed. Do not remove or tamper with, or update these programs:
o Microsoft Office
o Adobe Master Collection ( HS); Adobe Reader (MS) o Windows XP Professional
o Lightspeed Security Agent & Guide o Lanschool
o iTunes††
The school may add, delete, or update programs as needed. Students should not add software to the laptops.
o REMEMBER – your computer is school property, and is subject to being re-imaged at any time. You MIGHT lose programs and data! So be sure keep your data backed up.
7. Logging in and saving your work
Remove the check from the “workstation only” box at school before logging in. CHECK the “workstation only” box at home before logging in.
Saving your work:
o YOU are responsible for knowing where your files are, and keeping them safe!
o At school, you can save to H:\ for safekeeping. Don’t keep music or personal stuff on H. o Use My Big Campus, a SD card, or USB drive to keep copies of files.
o You MUST KEEP at least TWO copies of all your schoolwork. One on the desktop, one on SD / flash drive / cloud. ALWAYS keep more than one copy of your work!
It is the student’s responsibility to make sure that files are not lost due to computer malfunction or accidental deletion!!! Computer problems are NOT an acceptable excuse for not turning in work!
8. Repairs and maintenance
If a
laptop is not working, please take it to the Library. You will be issued a “loaner” while yours is being repaired. Fixing the laptop will generally involve re-imaging the computer. When a computer is re-imaged, all your files are deleted, and it is restored to its original condition. Make sure you have a copy of your
files, as they will be deleted from the computer.
If you have installed software or changed settings to cause the laptop problem, you will be assessed a re-image fee. †
If the computer is damaged by negligence or intentional abuse, you will responsible for the cost of repairs. Additionally, you will NOT be allowed to take it home after repair.*
Accessories: If the battery, charger, or case is damaged, the student is responsible for purchasing the replacement immediately.* Replacements can be purchased from the library.
Students or parents may wish to purchase insurance to cover the cost of loss or accidental damage. Please consult with your insurance agent for details about your personal coverage.
The district has also arranged for affordable laptop insurance from the Worth Group. If you wishto purchase this insurance, forms are available in the school office, or apply online at:
https://my.worthavegroup.com/merkelisdtx
9. Terms of loan
The
Laptop Usage Fee is $25/school year. This fee must be paid to the school office before a laptop can be issued to a student.** Payment plans are available. Laptops will not go home with studentsuntil the fee is paid in full.
The student and/or parent/guardian is responsible for compensating the district for the cost of any losses, damage, or replacement items.*
The laptop, case, & charger are the property of MISD.
In the case of loss or theft, the student or guardian must immediately notify the school administration, and file a police report in the case of stolen equipment. A copy of the police report must be turned in to administration. A student may be issued a replacement computer at no charge once the police report is submitted. If the laptop is lost or stolen a second time, a replacement will not be issued until a
replacement charge of $850 is paid.
Lost laptops will be assessed a replacement charge of $850. If the laptop is lost again, it will not be allowed to go home with the student.
The school reserves the right to reclaim or repossess the laptop without notice if this policy is violated. The laptops are intended to be used by the student. They are not intended to be a replacement for a
home computer. Family members may occasionally use the computer, keeping in mind that it is intended for educational purposes.
MISD will not provide technical support at home.
