Network Acceptable Use Policy
Revised: 07/13/10
NETWORK ACCEPTABLE USE 8.60+
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I.
The network system of the District is available for all employees and
students of the District in order to provide them with equal access to
the computing resources which serve public education. The network system
is an electronic highway which connects thousands of computers all over
the world and millions of individual subscribers. The term network may
include electronic mail, worldwide Web browsing, or any method of
connecting with other computer equipment. All personnel having
authorization to use the network will have access to a variety of
information.
II.
Some material on the network might not be considered to be of
educational value in the context of the school setting. In addition,
some material, individual contacts, or communications may not be
suitable for school-aged children. The District views information
retrieval from the network in the same capacity as information retrieval
from reference materials identified by schools. Specifically, the
District supports information retrieval from the network which enhances
the research and inquiry of the learner and which faculty and staff
direct. The District network will filter inappropriate material. At each
school, each student's access to use of the network will be under the
teacher's direction and monitored as a regular instructional activity.
III.
The District cannot prevent the possibility that some users may access
material that is not consistent with the educational mission, goals and
policies of the District. This is particularly possible since access to
the network may be obtained at sites other than school.
IV.
At each school and facility owned or operated by the District, in each
room where computers are present, notices shall be conspicuously posted
that state the following:
Users
of the network system of the School District of Osceola County are
responsible for their activity on the network. The School District has
developed a data network acceptable use policy. All users of the network
are bound by that policy. Any violation of the policy will result in
the suspension of access privileges or other disciplinary action,
including student expulsion and employee dismissal. This notice shall
also become part of the login process.
V.
The use of the network shall be consistent with the mission, goals,
policies, and priorities of the District. Successful participation in
the network requires that its users regard it as a shared resource and
that members conduct themselves in a responsible, ethical, and legal
manner while using the network.
Any
use of the network for illegal, inappropriate, or obscene purposes, or
in support of such activities, will not be tolerated. For compliance
with the requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
(ESEA) and the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA), please see
procedures entitled "Student Internet Use Procedures."
Examples of unacceptable uses of the network include, but are not limited to:
1.
Violating the conditions of The Code of Ethics and Principles of
Profess ional Conduct of the Education Profession of Florida dealing
with student's rights to privacy, employee rights to privacy, or
violating any other section of the Code;
2.
Using, accessing, visiting, downloading, or transmitting inappropriate
material, messages or images such as pornography, profanity or
obscenity;
3. Reposting personal communications without the author's consent;
4.
Copying, sending (uploading) or receiving (downloading) commercial
software in violation of copyright law or other copyright protection of
trademarked material;
5. Using the network for financial gain or for any commercial or illegal activity;
6. Using the network for political advertisement or political activity;
7.
Taking any actions that affect the ability of the District to retrieve
or retain any information contained on the computer equipment, in the
data network system or acting to modify any software or any data without
specific written permission;
8.
Sending any student identifying information, via e-mail, over the
network system, may be done only when the sender and receiver are
members of the District's FirstClass e-mail. FirstClass e-mail is
encrypted to protect the confidentiality of the message. E-mail
containing confidential student information must adhere to the
District's E-Mail and Student Confidentiality policy;
9.
Creating and/or forwarding advertisements chain letters, mass mailings,
get rich quick schemes, and pyramid schemes to individual mailboxes
and/or mailing lists;
10. Gambling or conducting any illegal activity;
11. Posting personal views on social, political, religious or other nonbusiness related matters;
12.
Creating and/or forwarding messages, jokes, etc., which violate School
Board harassment policies and/or create an intimidating or hostile
environment.
VI.
The e-mail system and the hardware are owned by the District and are
intended for District business use. Minor personal use of e-mail and the
internet by school district employees is acceptable, but should not
interfere or conflict with District business.
VII.
District business conducted by e-mail must be done using the e-mail
account that the district supplies. When an employee conducts official
business of the District via e-mail, the employee must retain a copy of
the e-mail including attachments in paper form or store these documents
electronically on district owned equipment in accordance with the
Florida Public Records law and the District Records Management Manual.
VIII.
Failure to adhere to this policy may result in suspending or revoking
the offender's privilege of access to the network and other disciplinary
action up to and including termination of the employee or expulsion in
the case of a student.
IX.
Any student shall be exempt from accessing the internet upon request in
writing from the parents, as defined by Florida Statutes, to the
principal. The request for exemption shall expire at the end of each
school year. It shall be the responsibility of the parent to renew the
request yearly.
X.
The District reserves the right to monitor and/or retrieve the contents
of e-mail messages for legitimate reasons such as, but not limited to,
ensuring the integrity of the system, complying with investigations of
wrongful acts, or recovering from a system failure.
XI.
District employees' and students' passwords are confidential, and in
order to maintain network security, employees/ students shall:
A. Change passwords at least four (4) times a year, or whenever the employee feels his/her password may have been compromised;
B. Use passwords that contain letters and numbers and that are difficult to guess, or
C. Type in passwords at each log in.
D. Employees shall not share passwords and shall not set passwords to an automatic log in mode.
E.
It may become necessary to know employee or student passwords for
maintenance purposes. Only authorized computer maintenance personnel
will be allowed to know passwords. Upon completion of the maintenance
activity, the user will need to change their password.
XII.
All Web sites representing any District employee pursuant to their
official District role and duties must have their Web site hosted on a
school district file server. File server space, Web site design
software, and technical assistance are provided to school district
employees to facilitate posting of District business-related Web pages.
Using free or paid outside Web servers for public dissemination of
District business is not permitted.
STATUTORY
AUTHORITY: 1001.41, 1001.42, F.S. LAW(S) IMPLEMENTED: 1000.21, 1001.43,
F.S. HISTORY: REVISION(S): 12/06/05, 05/01/07, 02/05/08, 10/21/08,
08/25/09, 07/13/10 FORMERLY: 3.21