Student Computer Use and Internet Safety Policies Rules

Code No. 605.4R2
Student Computer Use and Internet Safety Policy
Rules and Procedures
A. Educational Purpose
Anamosa Community School District’s computer systems, Internet system and network is limited to educational purposes. Activities that are acceptable include classroom activities and career development.
It is not a public access service or a public forum. You may not use it for commercial purposes. You may not offer, provide, or purchase products without permission. Anamosa Community School District has the right to place reasonable restrictions on the material you access or post through the system. You are expected to follow the expectations and rules set forth at each school, as well as the law, in your use of the Anamosa Community School District’s Internet system and network. This is School Equipment, and as such, you should use discretion in your personal use of these devices. You are not to use them in any manner that would be demeaning to the School District. You are cautioned not to use them in any illegal activity or try to install applications that you do not have the requisite permissions for. Do not access or store inappropriate images on the school’s devices.
B. Student Internet Access
The World Wide Web is a global database system providing access to information from around the world.
Students may have access to the web information resources through their classroom, library, or school computer lab.
E-mail is an electronic mail system, which allows students to communicate one-to-one with people throughout the world. Students shall be issued a domain email account for their use. This email account shall be set up by the Information Technology Department at Anamosa Community Schools. The district shall have the authority to set up or shut down accounts, reset passwords, and monitor usage. The students shall not make use of their email in an inappropriate manner. Inappropriate usage shall result in suspension of their account and school system appropriate consequences.
C. Unacceptable Uses
The following uses of Anamosa Community School District’s internet system and network are considered
unacceptable:
1. Personal Safety and Personal Privacy of Students. You will not post personal contact information about yourself. Personal contact information includes your address, telephone, school address, work address, etc. This information may not be provided to an individual, organization, or company, including web sites that solicit personal information. You will not agree to meet with someone you have met online. You will promptly disclose to your teacher or other school employee any message you receive that is inappropriate or makes you feel uncomfortable.
2. Illegal Activities. You will not attempt to gain unauthorized access to Anamosa Community School District’s Internet system and network or to any other computer system through the Anamosa Community School District’s Internet system and network, or go beyond your authorized access. This includes attempting to log in through another person’s account or access another person’s files. You will not make deliberate attempts to disrupt the computer system or destroy data by spreading computer viruses, or by any other means. You will not use the Anamosa Community School District’s internet system and network to engage in any other illegal act, such as arranging for a drug sale or the purchase of alcohol, engaging in a criminal gang activity, threatening the safety of persons, etc.
3. System Security. You are responsible for your individual account and must take all reasonable precautions to prevent others from being able to use your account. Under no conditions should you provide your password to another person. You will immediately notify a teacher or the system administrator if you have identified a possible security problem. Do not look for security problems, because this may be construed as an illegal attempt to gain access.
4. Inappropriate Language. Restrictions against inappropriate language apply to public messages, private messages, and material posted on web pages. You will not use obscene, profane, lewd, vulgar, rude, inflammatory, threatening, or disrespectful language. You will not post information that could cause damage or a danger of disruption. You will not engage in personal attacks, including prejudicial or discriminatory attacks. You will not harass another person. Harassment is persistently acting in a manner that distresses or annoys another person. If you are told by a person to stop sending messages, you must stop. You will not knowingly or recklessly post false or defamatory information about a person or organization.
5. Respect for Privacy. You will not repost a message that was sent to you privately without permission of the person who sent you the message. You will not post private information, including personal contact information, about another person.
6. Respecting Resource Limits. You will use the system only for educational and career development activities. You will not download files without permission. You will not post chain letters or engage in “spamming”. Spamming is sending annoying or unnecessary message to a large number of people.
7. Plagiarism. You will not plagiarize works that you find on the internet. Plagiarism is taking the ideas or writings of others and presenting them as if they were yours.
8. Copyright. You will respect the rights of copyright owners. Copyright infringement occurs when you inappropriately reproduce a work that is protected by a copyright. If a work contains language that specifies appropriate use of that work, you should follow the expressed requirements. If you are unsure whether or not you can use a work, you should request permission from the copyright owner. If you have questions, ask the library/media specialist.
9. Inappropriate Access to Materials. You will not use the Anamosa Community School District’s Internet system and network to access material that is designated for adults only or is profane or obscene (pornography), that advocates illegal or dangerous acts, or that advocates violence or discrimination towards other people (hate literature). If you mistakenly access inappropriate information, you should immediately tell your teacher. This will protect you against a claim that you have intentionally violated this policy. Your parents/legal guardians should instruct you if there is additional material that they think it would be inappropriate for you to access. The district fully expects that you will follow your parent’s/legal guardians instructions in this manner.
D. Disciplinary Actions
The Anamosa Community School District’s Internet system and network is a limited forum, similar to the school newspaper, and therefore the District may restrict your speech for valid educational reasons. The District will not restrict your speech on the basis of a disagreement with the opinions you are expressing. You should expect only limited privacy in the contents of your personal files or record of web research activities on the Anamosa Community School District’s Internet system and network. Routine maintenance and monitoring of the Anamosa Community School District’s internet system and network may lead to discovery that you have violated this policy or the law. An individual search will be conducted if there is reasonable suspicion that you have violated this policy or the law. Your parents/legal guardians have the right to request to see the contents of your files.
The District will cooperate fully with local, state, or federal officials in any investigation related to any illegal activities conducted through the Anamosa Community School District’s internet system and network. In the event there is a claim that you have violated this policy in your use of the Anamosa Community School District’s internet system and network, you will be provided with notice of the suspected violation and an opportunity to present an explanation. Appropriate discipline is determined by analysis of the situation and circumstances and according to site based procedures for any inappropriate activity as explained in student handbooks.
E. Limitation of Liability
The District makes no guarantee that the functions or the services provided by or through the District system will be error-free or without defect. The District will not be responsible for any damage you may suffer, including but not limited to, loss of data or interruptions of service. The District is not responsible for the accuracy or quality of the information obtained through or stored on the system. The District will not be responsible for financial obligations arising through the unauthorized use of the system. You may be held financially responsible for any harm to the system as a result of the intentional misuse.
Approved 1/15/96
Reviewed 11/15/99
Revised 6/3/02
Reviewed 2/16/04
Revised 1/5/09
Revised 1/24/11
Revised 3/23/15