| POLICY |
Elmwood Park |
| Board of Education |
| Section: Program |
| 2361. ACCEPTABLE USE OF COMPUTER NETWORK/COMPUTERS AND RESOURCES (M) |
| Date Created: January, 2010 |
| Date Edited: January, 2010 |
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M
The Board of
Education recognizes that as telecommunications and other new
technologies shift the manner in which information is accessed,
communicated and transferred that those changes will alter the nature of
teaching and learning. Access to telecommunications will allow pupils
to explore databases, libraries, Internet sites, bulletin boards and the
like while exchanging information with individuals throughout the
world. The Board supports access by pupils to information sources but
reserves the right to limit in school use to materials appropriate to
educational purposes. The Board directs the Superintendent to effect
training of teaching staff members in skills appropriate to analyzing
and evaluating such resources as to appropriateness for educational
purposes.
The Board also
recognizes that telecommunications will allow pupils access to
information sources that have not been pre-screened by educators using
Board approved standards. The Board therefore adopts the following
standards of conduct for the use of computer networks and declares
unethical, unacceptable or illegal behavior as just cause for taking
disciplinary action, limiting or revoking network access privileges
and/or instituting legal action.
The Board
provides access to computer network/computers for educational purposes
only. The Board retains the right to restrict or terminate pupil access
to the computer network/computers at any time, for any reason. The
Board retains the right to have district personnel monitor network
activity, in any form necessary, to maintain the integrity of the
network and ensure its proper use.
Standards for Use of Computer Networks
Any individual
engaging in the following actions when using computer networks/computers
shall be subject to discipline or legal action:
A. Using
the computer network(s)/computers for illegal, inappropriate or obscene
purposes, or in support of such activities. Illegal activities are
defined as activities that violate Federal, State, local laws and
regulations. Inappropriate activities are defined as those that violate
the intended use of the network. Obscene activities shall be defined
as a violation of generally accepted social standards for use of
publicly owned and operated communication vehicles.
B. Using
the computer network(s)/computers to violate copyrights, institutional
or third party copyrights, license agreements or other contracts.
C. Using the computer network(s) in a manner that:
1. Intentionally disrupts network traffic or crashes the network;
2. Degrades or disrupts equipment or system performance;
3. Uses the computing resources of the school district for commercial purposes, financial gain or fraud;
4. Steals data or other intellectual property;
5. Gains or seeks unauthorized access to the files of others or vandalizes the data of another user;
6. Gains or seeks unauthorized access to resources or entities;
7. Forges electronic mail messages or uses an account owned by others;
8. Invades privacy of others;
9. Posts anonymous messages;
10. Possesses any data which is a violation of this policy; and/or
11.
Engages in other activities that do not advance the educational purposes
for which computer networks/computers are provided.
Internet Safety/Protection
The school
district is in compliance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act
and has installed technology protection measures for all computers in
the school district, including computers in media centers/libraries,
that block and/or filter visual depictions that are obscene as defined
in Section 1460 of Title 18, United States Code; child pornography, as
defined in Section 2256 of Title 18, United States Code; are harmful to
minors including any pictures, images, graphic image file or other
visual depiction that taken as a whole and with respect to minors,
appeals to a prurient interest in nudity, sex, or excretion; or depicts,
describes, or represents in a patently offensive way, with respect to
what is suitable for minors, sexual acts or conduct; or taken as a
whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value
as to minors.
The school
district will certify on an annual basis, that the schools, including
media centers/libraries, in the district are in compliance with the
Children’s Internet Protection Act and the school district enforces the
requirements of this policy.
This Policy also
establishes Internet safety policy and procedures in the district as
required in the Neighborhood Children’s Internet Protection Act. Policy
2361 addresses access by minors to inappropriate matter on the Internet
and World Wide Web; the safety and security of minors when using
electronic mail, chat rooms, and other forms of direct electronic
communications; unauthorized access, including “hacking” and other
unlawful activities by minors online; unauthorized disclosures, use, and
dissemination of personal identification information regarding minors;
and measures designed to restrict minors’ access to materials harmful to
minors.
Notwithstanding
blocking and/or filtering the visual depictions prohibited in the
Children’s Internet Protection Act, the Board shall determine other
Internet material that is inappropriate for minors. The Board will
provide reasonable public notice and will hold one annual public hearing
during a regular monthly board meeting or during a designated special
board meeting to address and receive public community input on the
Internet safety policy - Policy and Regulation 2361.
Consent Requirement
No pupil shall
be allowed to use the computer network and the Internet unless they
shall have filed a consent form signed by the pupil and his/her
parent(s) or legal guardian(s).
Violations
Individuals
violating this policy shall be subject to the consequences as indicated
in Regulation No. 2361 and other appropriate discipline, which includes
but are not limited to:
1. Use of the network only under direct supervision;
2. Suspension of network privileges;
3. Revocation of network privileges;
4. Suspension of computer privileges;
5. Revocation of computer privileges;
6. Suspension from school;
7. Expulsion from school; and/or
8. Legal action and prosecution by the authorities.
N.J.S.A. 2A:38A-3
Federal Communications Commission: Children’s Internet
Protection Act.
Adopted: 26 January 2010
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