BLISSFIELD COMMUNITY SCHOOLS ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY
Advances in telecommunications and other related technologies have fundamentally altered the ways in which information is accessed, communicated, and transferred in society. Such changes are driving the need for educators to adapt their means and methods of instruction, and the way they approach student learning, to harness and utilize the vast, diverse, and unique resources available on the Internet. The Board of Education is pleased to provide Internet services to its students. The Board encourages students to utilize the Internet in order to promote educational excellence in our schools by providing them with the opportunity to develop the resource sharing, innovation, and communication skills and tools which will be essential to life and work in the 21st century. The instructional use of the Internet will be guided by the Board’s policy on Instructional Materials.
The District’s Internet system has not been established as a public access service or a public forum. The Board has the right to place restrictions on its use to assure that use of the District’s Internet system is in accord with its limited educational purpose. Student use of the District’s computers, network, and Internet services (Network) will be governed by this policy and the related administrative guidelines, and the Student Code of Conduct. The due process rights of all users will be respected in the event there is a suspicion of inappropriate use of the Network. Users have no right or expectation to privacy when using the Network including, but not limited to, privacy in the content of their personal files, e-mails, and records of their online activity while on the Network.
The Internet is a global information and communication network that provides students and staff with access to up-to-date, highly relevant information that will enhance their learning and the education process. Further, the Internet provides students and staff with the opportunity to communicate with other people from throughout the world. Access to such an incredible quantity of information and resources brings with it, however, certain unique challenges and responsibilities.
First, and foremost, the Board may not be able to technologically limit access, to services through the Board’s Internet connection, to only those services and resources that have been authorized for the purpose of instruction, study and research limited to the curriculum. Unlike in the past when educators and community members had the opportunity to review and screen materials to assess their appropriateness for supporting and enriching the curriculum according to adopted guidelines and reasonable selection criteria (taking into account the varied instructional needs, learning styles, abilities, and developmental levels of the students who would be exposed to them), access to the Internet, because it serves as a gateway to any publicly available file server in the world, will open classrooms and students to electronic information resources which have not been screened by educators for use by students of various ages.
Pursuant to Federal law, the Board has implemented technology protection measures which block/filter Internet access to visual displays that are obscene, child pornography or harmful to minors. The Board utilizes software and/or hardware to monitor online activity of students to restrict access to child pornography and other material that is obscene, objectionable, inappropriate and/or harmful to minors. Nevertheless, parents/guardians are advised that a determined user may be able to gain access to services on the Internet that the Board has not authorized for educational purposes. In fact, it is impossible to guarantee students will not gain access through the Internet to information and communications that they and/or their parents/guardians may find inappropriate, offensive, objectionable or controversial. Parents/Guardians assume risks by consenting to allow their child to participate in the use of the Internet. Parents/Guardians of minors are responsible for setting and conveying the standards that their children should follow when using the Internet. The Board supports and respects each family’s right to decide whether to apply for independent student access to the Internet.
The technology protection measures may not be disabled at any time that students may be using the Network, if such disabling will cease to protect against access to materials that are prohibited under the Children’s Internet Protection Act. Any student who attempts to disable the technology protection measures will be subject to discipline.
Pursuant to Federal law, students shall receive education about the following:
A. Safety and security while using email, chat rooms, social media, and other forms of direct electronic communications
B. The dangers inherent with the online disclosure of personally identifiable information
C. The consequences of unauthorized access (e.g., “hacking”) cyber bullying and other unlawful or inappropriate activities by students online, and
D. Unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal information regarding minors
Staff members shall provide instruction for their students regarding the appropriate use of technology and online safety and security as specified above. Furthermore, staff members will monitor the online activities of students while at school.
Monitoring may include, but is not necessarily limited to visual observations of online activities during class sessions; or use of specific monitoring tools to review browser history and network, server, and computer logs.
Building principals are responsible for providing training so that Internet users under their supervision are knowledgeable about this policy and its accompanying guidelines. The Board expects that staff members will provide guidance and instruction to students in the appropriate use of the Internet. Such training shall include, but not be limited to, education concerning appropriate online behavior, including interacting with other individuals on social networking websites and in chat rooms, and cyber bullying awareness and response.
Disabling BCS technology protection measures includes the unauthorized use of a computing device on the BCS network. Use of laptops, chromebooks (including those once owned by the district) or cell phones on the BCS network is not permitted for students. Consequently, accessing the BCS network with a device that is not managed by the District safe computing systems achieves the same results as disabling protection or hacking as discussed above.
The use of a computing device on the BCS network that boots from a legacy operating system that does not meet our District safe computing standards will not be permitted on the network. This includes devices needed by vendors and 3rd party service providers. Prior contact with the Director of Technology may provide a path forward. However, in all cases BCS reserves the right to deny access to non-conforming devices.
All Internet users (and their parents if they are minors) are required to sign a written agreement to abide by the terms and conditions of this policy and its accompanying guidelines.
Students and staff members are responsible for good behavior on the Board’s computers/network and the Internet just as they are in classrooms, school hallways, and other school premises and school sponsored events. Communications on the Internet are often public in nature. General school rules for behavior and communication apply. The Board does not sanction any use of the Internet that is not authorized by or conducted strictly in compliance with this policy and its accompanying guidelines.
Students shall not access social media for personal use from the District’s network, but shall be permitted to access social media for educational use in accordance with their teacher’s approved plan for such use.
Users who disregard this policy and its accompanying guidelines may have their use privileges suspended or revoked, and disciplinary action taken against them. Users granted access to the Internet through the Board’s computers assume personal responsibility and liability, both civil and criminal, for uses of the Internet not authorized by this Board policy and its accompanying guidelines.
The Board designates the Superintendent and District Technology Director as the administrator responsible for initiating, implementing, and enforcing this policy and its accompanying guidelines as they apply to the use of the Network and the Internet for instructional purposes.
BLISSFIELD COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
Acceptable use Policy for Network Computers and the Internet
I understand, and will abide by, the above Acceptable Use Policy for Network Computers and the Internet. I further understand that any violation of the regulations above is unethical and may constitute a criminal offense. Should I commit any violation, my access privileges may be revoked, school disciplinary action and/or appropriate legal action may be taken.
User’s Name (please print):________________________________________________________
User’s Signature:________________________________________________________________
Date:_______________________________
PARENT OR GUARDIAN
As the parent or guardian of this student, I have read the Acceptable Use Policy for Network computers and the Internet. I understand that this access is designed for educational purposes. Blissfield community Schools has taken precautions to eliminate controversial material. However, I also recognize it is impossible for Blissfield Community Schools to restrict access to all controversial materials and I will not hold them responsible for materials acquired on the network. Further, I accept full responsibility for supervision when my child is not in a school setting. I thereby give permission to issue an account for my child and certify that the information contained on this form is correct.
Parent or Guardian’s Name (please print):_______________________________________________
Parent or Guardian’s Signature:_______________________________________________________
Date:______________________________
APPLICANT INFORMATION FOR NETWORKING PURPOSES
Home Phone:_______________________
Work Phone:______________________
Year of Graduation:________________
Note: Your assigned login name will be (if not already existing) your first name, a period, and your last name. If not as stated above, you will be notified