INTERNET ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY FOR STUDENTS

The Tantasqua Regional and Union 61 School Districts offer Internet access to their students, faculty, and staff. The intent of this policy is to ensure that student users of the Districts' network utilize this access in a manner consistent with the purpose of providing Internet service.

Purpose:

The Internet is a vast, global network linking computers across the world. Internet use provides valuable opportunities for research, curriculum support, and career development. The primary purpose of the Tantasqua Regional and Union 61 School Districts' Internet service is to support the educational objectives of the Tantasqua Regional, Brimfield, Brookfield, Holland, Sturbridge, and Wales School Districts, and the Districts' educational community in general.

Technology Protection Measures:

The following technology protection measures are in place for all Tantasqua/Union 61 Schools:

• Firewall:  Watchguard Firebox II
• Content Filtering:  Webblocker.  Blocks visual depictions of material that is obscene, child pornography or harmful to minors.
• Monitoring Capability:  Graphical interface to the Firebox firewall and Webblocker system.

This system has been located at the Office of the Superintendent since September 1998 and is maintained by the District Technology Director.

Network Usage Guidelines:

All use of the Tantasqua Regional and Union 61 School Districts' Internet service must be consistent with its purpose as stated above. This policy does not attempt to articulate all required or prescribed behaviors by users of the network. General guidelines to appropriate behavior follow:

• The Districts' Internet connection is for educational purposes, and may be used by students only with the permission of a faculty or staff member.


• Individual schools and the District are not responsible for information acquired over the Internet.


• Users of the Internet must conduct themselves in a respectful, ethical, and legal manner.


• Users may not attempt to examine or acquire violent, obscene, abusive, or offensive language or graphics. If users find materials, which are inappropriate for a school setting, they should leave the site immediately, and should not download, copy, or share the material with others.


• Users may not use direct Internet communication such as chat rooms, email and instant messaging unless under direct supervision of supervising staff.


• Users must refrain from any financial transactions while using the Internet.


• Users are expected to protect themselves and others by not issuing any names, addresses, telephone numbers or photographic images.


• Users must not alter or damage any system, software, or hardware, nor disrupt the operation of the network.


• Users shall neither download nor install any commercial software, shareware, or freeware onto network drives or disks without prior permission of the building principal. Users shall not change settings on the browser or any other application.


• Users must not attempt to gain unauthorized access to any file servers in the Tantasqua Regional and Union 61 School Districts' systems, outside file servers, or to go beyond the users' authorized access.


• Users shall not seek information on, obtain copies of, or modify files, other data, or passwords belonging to other users.


• Users must not engage in "hacking" or other unlawful activities.


• Users are expected to honor all copyright laws and licensing agreements.


• Users should report any problems or breaches of these responsibilities to the supervising staff member.

Users of the Tantasqua Regional and Union 61 School Districts' Internet connections should be aware of the public nature of information transmitted over the network and should understand that privacy and confidentiality cannot be assumed.

All consequences for improper use of the Internet shall be administered by the building principal or his or her designee. The Tantasqua Regional and Union 61 School Districts will not be liable for the actions of anyone connecting to the Internet through the schools' links. All users shall assume full liability, legal, and financial or otherwise for their actions.

Students and their parents/guardians are expected to sign the Students' Acceptable Use Agreement prior to the students' using the Internet. Faculty members have the right to conduct whole ­group educational sessions without having to determine who has/has not signed the Internet Agreement. The faculty member will control Internet use in this instance.

This policy supersedes all previously signed agreements, and may be revised as needed.

STUDENTS' INTERNET ACCEPTABLE USE AGREEMENT

(*A separate copy of this agreement will be sent home with each student at the beginning of each school year and must be signed and returned prior to them using the Internet at school.)

The Internet is a vast, global network linking computers across the world. As such, it also places a responsibility on all users of the network. The Tantasqua Regional School District users will abide by the following policy. All users should be aware of the public nature of information; privacy cannot be assumed.

All consequences for improper use of the Internet shall be administered by the building principal or his or her designee. The School District will not be liable for the actions of anyone connecting to the Internet through this link. All users shall assume full liability, legal, financial or otherwise, for their actions.

As a condition of a user's right to access to the Internet at school, a student must agree to use the Internet as described below.

1. I shall use the Internet connection for educational purposes with the permission of a staff member.
2. I understand that the school is not responsible for information acquired over the Internet.
3. I shall conduct myself in a respectful, ethical and legal manner while using the Internet.
4. I shall not attempt to examine or acquire inappropriate language or graphics. If I should find materials inappropriate for a school setting, I shall leave that site immediately and shall not download, copy or share this material with others.
5. If I am under 18 years of age I shall not use chat rooms, email, instant messaging or other forms of direct communication without the direct supervision of a supervising staff member.  If I am 18 years of age or older, I shall not use direct communication without permission from a supervising staff member.
6. I shall refrain from any financial transactions while using the Internet.
7. I shall protect others and myself by not issuing any names, addresses, telephone numbers, photographic images or other personal identifying information.
8. I shall not alter or damage any system, software, or hardware, nor shall I disrupt the operation of the network.
9. I shall not engage in "hacking" or other unlawful activities on the Internet.
10. I shall honor all copyright laws and licensing agreements.
11. I shall report any problems or breaches of these responsibilities to the supervising staff member.

________________________           ___________________________                       ____________

           Student's Signature                           Parent's Signature *                                              Date

Please check all that apply.

____ I give permission to release a project for use on the school website provided that only the first name and last initial of my child is used.

____ I give permission to release a photograph/video of my child for use on the school website provided that my child's name is not used.

___  Student is 18 years of age as of ____________.

_________________________                 _______________

Parent's Signature                                           Date

* Parent's signature not required if student has reached the age of 18

Download and print:
Internet Policy
Student Internet Acceptable Use Agreement

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