Acceptable Use

COMPUTER USE IN INSTRUCTION –6525 

The Clarkstown Central School District is committed to optimizing student learning and teaching. The District considers student access to a computer network, including the Internet, to be a powerful and valuable educational and research tool, and encourages the use of computers and computer‑related technology in district classrooms solely for the purpose of advancing and promoting learning and teaching.

The computer network can provide a forum for learning various software applications and through online databases, bulletin boards, electronic mail, collaborative tools, and other web based forums it can significantly enhance educational experiences and provide statewide, national and global communication opportunities for staff and students.

The director of instructional technology shall develop regulations to be established by the Superintendent governing the use and security of the district’s computer network.  All users of the district’s computer network and equipment shall comply with this policy and those regulations. Failure to comply may result in disciplinary action as well as suspension and/or revocation of computer access privileges.

The director of instructional technology shall oversee the use of district computer resources. S/he will coordinate in the preparation of in-service programs for the training and development of district staff in computer skills, and for the incorporation of computer use in appropriate subject areas.

The director of instructional technology, working in conjunction with the designated purchasing agent for the district, the assistant technology director and the district’s technology committee, will be responsible for making recommendations to the Superintendent for Board of Education approval for the purchase and distribution of computer software and hardware throughout district schools. S/he shall prepare and submit for the Superintendent and Board of Education’s approval a comprehensive multi‑year technology plan which shall be revised as necessary to reflect changing technology and/or district needs.

Adoption date:  June 8, 2009

Formal policy is located on the district webpage at http://www.ccsd.edu//files/filesystem/6000.pdf#aup.

COMPUTER USE IN INSTRUCTION REGULATION- 6525R

The following rules and regulations govern the use of the district’s computer network system and access to the Internet.

 I.          Administration

• The director of instructional technology is to oversee the district’s computer network.
• The director of instructional technology shall monitor and examine all network activities, as appropriate, to ensure proper use of the system.
• The director of instructional technology shall be responsible for disseminating and interpreting district policy and regulations governing use of the district’s network
• The director of instructional technology shall coordinate employee training for proper use of the network and will ensure, through school level administrators, that staff supervising students using the district’s network provide similar training to their students, including providing copies of district policy and regulations governing use of the district’s network.

 II.        Internet Access

•  Students will be provided access: during class time, during the school day when the students are not in class, and before or after school hours.
• Students will be provided with individual accounts and are responsible for all activity on their account
• Students may browse the World Wide Web for items related to the district’s instructional goals
• Students may only participate in district sponsored chat rooms (i.e. blogs.ccsd.edu, wikis.ccsd.edu, start.student.ccsd.edu). 
• Students may read news groups related to the district’s instructional goals
• Students may construct their own web pages using district computer resources if these pages are related to the district’s instructional goals and aligned with the district’s acceptable use policy.
• Students will have an individual e-mail address assigned by the district.  The content of any district sponsored email shall not be considered private and may be reviewed by teachers, administrators, and others with no prior notification.
• Students are allowed to belong to mailing lists related to the district’s instructional goals
• Staff members will be required to oversee the use of technologies that they assign.

III.       Acceptable Use and Conduct

•  Access to the district’s computer network is provided solely for educational purposes and research consistent with the district’s mission and goals.
• Each individual in whose name an access account is issued is responsible at all times for its proper use.
• All network users will be issued a login name and password.  Passwords must be changed periodically.
• Only those network users with written permission from the principal or computer network coordinator may access the district’s system from off‑site (e.g., from home).  Remote access to all other web based services (i.e. schoolweblockers, Google Apps for Domains, district blogs, district wikis) is available to students and staff “anytime /anywhere” the user has access to the Internet.
• All network users are expected to abide by the generally accepted rules of network etiquette.  This includes being polite and using only appropriate language.  Abusive language, vulgarities and swear words are all inappropriate and will be referred to the school administration for disciplinary action.
• Network users identifying a security problem on the district’s network must notify the appropriate teacher, administrator or computer network coordinator.  Under no circumstance should the user demonstrate the problem to anyone other than to the district official or employee being notified.
• Any network user identified as a security risk or having a history of violations of district computer use guidelines may be denied access to the district’s network.

IV.    Prohibited Activity and Uses

It is not possible to list all examples of unacceptable use, but below is a list of examples of activity that is prohibited on the district’s computer network. Unacceptable use of the District resources may result in discipline or other appropriate penalty, including suspension or revocation of a user’s access to the network.

• Using the network for commercial activity, including advertising.
• Infringing on any copyrights or other intellectual property rights, including copying, installing, receiving, transmitting or making available any copyrighted software on the district computer network.
• Using the network to receive, transmit or make available to others obscene, offensive, or sexually explicit material.
• Using the network to receive, transmit or make available to others messages that are racist, sexist, abusive or harassing to others.
• Using another user’s account or password.
• Attempting to read, delete, copy or modify the electronic mail (e-mail) of other system users and deliberately interfering with the ability of other system users to send and/or receive e-mail.
• Forging or attempting to forge e-mail messages.
• Engaging in vandalism.  Vandalism is defined as any malicious attempt to harm or destroy district equipment or materials, data of another user of the district’s network or of any of the entities or other networks that are connected to the Internet.  This includes, but is not limited to, creating and/or placing a computer virus on the network.
• Using the network to send anonymous messages or files.
• Using the network to receive, transmit or make available to others a message that is inconsistent with the district’s Code of Conduct.
• Revealing the personal address, telephone number or other personal information of oneself or another person.
• Using the network for sending and/or receiving personal messages not related to the district’s goals.
• Intentionally disrupting network traffic or crashing the network and connected systems.
• Installing personal software on the district’s computers and/or network without the permission of the director of instructional technology.
• Using district computing resources for commercial or financial gain or fraud.
• Stealing data, equipment or intellectual property.
• Gaining or seeking to gain unauthorized access to any files, resources, or computer or phone systems, or vandalize the data of another user.
• Wastefully using finite district resources, including bandwidth and storage.
• Changing or exceeding resource quotas as set by the district without the permission of the appropriate district official or employee.
• Using the network while access privileges are suspended or revoked.
• Using the network in a fashion inconsistent with directions from teachers and other staff and generally accepted network etiquette.

V.        No Privacy Guarantee

Students using the district’s computer network should not expect, nor does the district guarantee privacy for electronic mail (e-mail) or any use of the district’s computer network.  The district reserves the right to access and view any material stored on district equipment or any material used in conjunction with the district’s computer network.

VI.       Sanctions

All users of the district’s computer network and equipment are required to comply with the district’s policy and regulations governing the district’s computer network. Failure to comply with the policy or regulation may result in disciplinary action as well as suspension and/or revocation of computer access privileges.

In addition, illegal activities are strictly prohibited. Any information pertaining to or implicating illegal activity will be reported to the proper authorities.  Transmission of any material in violation of any federal, state and/or local law or regulation is prohibited.  This includes, but is not limited to materials protected by copyright, threatening or obscene material or material protected by trade secret.  Users must respect all intellectual and property rights and laws.

 VII.     District Responsibilities

The district makes no warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied, for the access being provided.  Further, the district assumes no responsibility for the quality, availability, accuracy, nature or reliability of the service and/or information provided.  Users of the district’s computer network and the Internet use information at their own risk.  Each user is responsible for verifying the integrity and authenticity of the information that is used and provided.

The district will not be responsible for any damages suffered by any user, including, but not limited to, loss of data resulting from delays, non-deliveries, misdeliveries, or service interruptions caused by its own negligence or the errors or omissions of any user.  The district also will not be responsible for unauthorized financial obligations resulting from the use of or access to the district’s computer network or the Internet.

Further, even though the district may use technical or manual means to regulate access and information, these methods do not provide a foolproof means of enforcing the provisions of the district policy and regulation.

Adoption date: June 2009

ACCEPTABLE STAFF USAGE OF INTERNET AND NETWORK  3513

The Clarkstown Central School District provides its employees access to District computers, network and the Internet service in order to enhance productivity, facilitate professional communication, and harness the resources of the Internet to further the education of the students of the Clarkstown Central School District.  The District’s goal in providing this service is to provide a technologically rich school environment that promotes active, higher order, collaborative learning and educational excellence.  The District network, email, and Internet service has a very specific, limited purpose, which is to enhance the delivery of educational and related activities.  In utilizing Internet resources for classroom activities, teachers will follow the policies and regulations outlined in the student’s acceptable usage policy.

The Superintendent of Schools shall designate the Director of Technology to oversee the District’s computer network.  The Director of Technology shall monitor and examine all network activities as appropriate to ensure proper use of the system.  The Director of Technology shall be responsible for disseminating and interpreting District policy and regulations governing the use of the District’s network at the District and building level with all network users.  The Director of Technology shall provide information for proper use of the network and will ensure that staff supervising students using the District network provides similar information to their students, including access to District policies and regulations governing use of the district network. In addition to the current regulations, the Director of Technology may establish more specific administrative procedures and rules governing day-to-day management and operations.

Policy adopted: October 9, 2007

Formal policy is located on the district webpage at http://www.ccsd.edu/files/filesystem/3000.pdf#StaffAUP