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Report
Electronic Technologies Acceptable Use Policy
I. PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to set forth guidelines for access to acceptable and safe use of Summit School, Inc. electronic technologies and Summit School approved district and parent provided technologies. Electronic technologies include but are not limited to computers and peripherals, Chromebooks, iPads, printers, telephones, and the applications they support and /or access.
II. GENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY
Summit School, Inc. provides technology resources to its students and staff for educational, administrative, and informational purposes. The goal in providing these resources is to promote educational excellence by facilitating resource sharing, innovation and communication with the support and supervision of parents, teachers and support staff.
III. EDUCATIONAL PURPOSE
Access to technology at Summit School, Inc. has been established for educational purposes. All electronic technologies must be used to support the educational program of the School. This access is a privilege, not a right, and may be revoked at any time for abusive or inappropriate conduct related to the use of electronic technologies. Students and staff should not presume a right of privacy of communication when using Summit School, Inc technologies. Refer to Section VII.
School computers, Chromebooks, iPads, telecom, memory devices, networks and related hardware and software are the property of Summit School, Inc. At no time does the school relinquish its exclusive control of electronic technologies. Inappropriate use of Summit School, Inc.'s electronic technologies, including interfering with network functions and the standardization of technologies, may result in the limitation or revocation of access.
Depending on the nature and degree of the violation and number of previous violations, unacceptable use of electronic technologies may result in one or more of the following consequences: Suspension or cancellation of use or access privileges; payment for damages and repairs; discipline under other appropriate Summit School, Inc. policies, including suspension, expulsion, exclusion or termination of employment; or civil or criminal liability under other applicable laws. Use of Electronic Technologies during the employee duty day should be restricted exclusively to educational purposes.
IV. DEFINITIONS
The term "users" refers to any person using Summit School, Inc.'s electronic technologies.
The term "Internet" refers to an electronic communications network that connects computer networks and organizational computer facilities around the world.
The term "intranet" refers to the Summit School, Inc.'s network, which restricts access to authorized users, which may include staff and contractors.
The term "electronic technologies" refers to, but is not limited to, computers and peripherals, such as Chromebooks, iPads, printers, telephones, and the applications they support and/or access.
V. UNACCEPTABLE USES
Users are responsible for anything set on the network with their name and/or other individual identified, e.g., IP address, on it. Users shall not engage in any activity that disrupts or hinders the performance of the Schools electronic technologies. Specifically, the following uses of the School's electronic technologies are considered unacceptable:
A. Users will not use Summit School, Inc.'s electronic technologies to access, review, upload, download, store, print, post, receive, transmit or distribute:
1. Pornographic, obscene or sexually explicit material or other visual depictions that are harmful to minors;
2. Obscene, abusive, profane, lewd, vulgar, rude, inflammatory, libelous, threatening, disrespectful, or sexually explicit language;
3. Materials that use language or images that are inappropriate in the educational setting or disruptive to the educational process;
4. Information or materials that could cause damage or danger of disruption to the educational process;
5. Materials that use language or images that advocate violence or discrimination toward other people (hate literature) or that may constitute harassment or discrimination, or any other material that would violate any law.
6. Orders made by shopping online during time designated as off-limits;
7. Personal photos, files or music not related to educational purposes for any extended length of time.
B. Users will not use Summit School, Inc.'s electronic technologies to knowingly or recklessly post, transmit or distribute false or defamatory information about a person or organization, or to harass another person, or to engage in personal attacks, including prejudicial or discriminatory attacks.
C. Users will not use the Summit School, Inc.'s electronic technologies to engage in any illegal act or violate any local, state or federal statue or law.
D. Users will not use the Summit School, Inc.'s electronic technologies for political campaigning.
E. Users will not physically or electronically vandalize Summit School, Inc. technologies nor use the electronic technologies to vandalize damage or disable the property of another person or organization.
1. Users will not make deliberate attempts to degrade or disrupt equipment, software or system performance by spreading computer viruses or by any other means.
2. Users will not tamper with, modify or change the Summit School, Inc.'s electronic technologies software, hardware or writing or take any action to violate the Summit School, Inc.'s security system.
3. Users will not use the Summit School, Inc.'s electronic technologies in such a way as to disrupt the use of the system by other users.
4. Users may not add or remove any software nor modify the equipment, software configuration, or environment. All electronic technology requests must go through the approval process by filling out the proper form and getting signatures of the School Principal and/ or Early Learning Director. Software and applications may only be loaded by approved staff.
F. Users will not use the Summit School, Inc.'s electronic technologies to gain unauthorized access to information resources or to access another person's materials, information or files without the implied or direct permission of that person.
G. Users will not use Summit School, Inc.'s electronic technologies to post information in public access areas regarding private information about another person. Private information includes personal contact information about themselves or other persons, or other personally identifiable information including, but not limited to, addresses, telephone numbers, identification numbers, account numbers, access codes or passwords, labeled photographs or other information that would make the individual's identity easily traceable, and will not repost a message that was sent to the user privately without permission of the person who sent the message.
H. Users will not attempt to gain unauthorized access to Summit School, Inc.'s electronic technologies or any other system through the Summit School, Inc.'s electronic technologies. Users will not attempt to logon through another person's account, or use computer accounts, access codes or network identification other than those assigned to the user. Access through any means other than an individual's user logon and password is not permitted.
I. Messages, files and records on the Summit School, Inc.'s electronic technologies may not be encrypted without the permission of appropriate administrative school authorities. Users must keep all account information and passwords private.
J. Users will not use the Summit School, Inc.'s electronic technologies in any way that may violate trademark copyright laws or usage licensing agreements:
1. Users will not use another person�s property without the person's prior approval or proper citation,
2. Users will not load, download or exchange pirated software or copy software to or from any school computer including freeware and shareware;
3. Users will not plagiarize works they find on the Internet or other information resources.
K. Users will not use the Summit School, Inc.'s electronic technologies for unauthorized commercial purposes or for financial gain.
L. Summit School Inc. does not support personal equipment. Users will not install any personal equipment or software on any School-owned systems.
VI. FILTER
A. With respect to any of its computers with Internet access, Summit School, Inc. will monitor the online activities of minors and employ technology protection measures during any use of such computers by minors and adults. The technology protection measures utilized will use best efforts and industry standard approaches to block or filter internet access to any visual depictions that are obscene, violent, child pornography, or harmful to minors.
B. The term "harmful to minors" means any picture, image, graphic image file, or other visual depiction that:
1. Taken as a whole and with respect to minors, appeals to a prurient interest in nudity, violence, sex, or excretion; or
2. Depicts, describes, or represents, in a patently offensive way with respect to what is suitable for minors, an actual or simulated sexual act or sexual contact, actual or simulated normal or perverted sexual acts, or a laws exhibition of the genitals; and
3. Taken as a whole, lacks serious literacy, artistic, political or scientific value as to minors.
C. Access to chat rooms, discussion boards, school-issued email and other forms of direct electronic communications are limited to applications approved by Summit School, Inc. and/or hosted within Summit School, Inc. for the safety and security of minors.
D. An administrator, supervisor or other person authorized by the CEO may disable the technology protection measure, during use by an adult, to enable access for bona fide research or other lawful purposes.
E. Summit School, Inc. is obligated to monitor and/or review filtering activities.
F. Summit School, Inc. will educate students about appropriate online behavior, including interacting with other individuals on social networking websites and in chat rooms and cyberbullying awareness and response.
VII. LIMITED EXPECTATION OF PRIVACY
By authorizing use of Summit School, Inc. electronic technologies, Summit School, Inc. does not relinquish control over content or data transmitted or stored on the network or contained in files. Users should expect only limited privacy in the contents of personal files on Summit School, Inc.'s electronic technologies.
A. Routine maintenance and monitoring of Summit School, Inc. electronic technologies may lead to a discovery that a user has violated this policy, or the law.
B. An individual investigation or search will be conducted if school authorities have a reasonable suspicion that the search will uncover a violation of law.
C. Parents have the right at any time to investigate or review the contents of their child's files and email files. Parents have the right to request the modification of their child's individual account at any time.
D. Summit School Staff and students are advised that Summit School, Inc. retains the right at any time to investigate or review the contents of their files and e-mail files based upon legal complaints or specific allegations regarded as misuse of technologies. In addition, staff is advised that data and other materials in files maintained on or transmitted through Summit School, Inc. electronic technologies may be subject to review, disclosure or discovery.
E. Summit School, Inc. will cooperate fully with local, state and federal authorities in any investigation concerning or related to any illegal activity or activities.
VIII. ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGIES ACCEPTABLE USE AGREEMENT
A. The proper use of the Internet, and educational value to be gained from proper Internet use, is the joint responsibility of students, staff, and administration of Summit School, Inc.
B. This policy requires the permission of and supervision by the school's designated professional staff before a student may use a school account or resource to access the Internet.
C. The Electronic Technologies Acceptable Use Agreement for students must be read and signed by the user and parents or guardians. Authorization for Technology Use must be signed by the employee. The form must then be filed with the school.
D. All users shall be responsible for the protection and security of their passwords.
IX. LIMITATION ON SCHOOL LIABILITY
Use of Summit School Inc.'s educational technologies is at the user's own risk and is provided on an "as is, as available" basis. Summit School, Inc. will not be responsible for any damage users may suffer, including, but not limited to, loss, damage or unavailability of data stored on the organization's systems or for delays or changes in or interruptions of service, misdeliveries, or non-deliveries of information, materials, regardless of the cause. Summit School, Inc. is not responsible for the accuracy or quality of any advice or information obtained through or stored on Summit School, Inc. electronic technologies. Summit School, Inc. will not be responsible for financial obligations arising through unauthorized use of the Summit School, Inc.'s educational technologies or the Internet and/or district or parent supplied technologies.
X. CONSISTENCY WITH OTHER SCHOOL POLICIES
Use of Summit School, Inc.'s electronic technologies must not violate other policies and regulations of the organization, including but not limited to policies on Gifts and Donations, Nondiscrimination, Harassment and Violence, Web site and Intranet, Instructional Materials Selection and Review, and Curriculum Goals.
XI. USER NOTIFICATION
A. All users shall be notified of Summit School, Inc. policies relating to Electronic Technologies Acceptable Use.
B. This notification shall include the following:
1. Notification of Unacceptable Use of Summit School, Inc. Electronic Technologies;
2. Notification that Internet use is subject to compliance with Summit School, Inc. policies.
3. Disclaimers limiting Summit School, Inc. liability relative to:
a. Information stored on Summit School, Inc. systems including diskettes, hard drives, or servers, CD, DVD memory stick or similar devices, or any other storage devices.
b. Information retrieved through Summit School, Inc. computers, networks or online resources;
c. Personal property used to access Summit School, Inc. computers, networks or online resources;
d. Unauthorized financial obligations resulting from the use of Summit School, Inc. resources/accounts to access the Internet.
4. A description of the privacy rights and limitations of school, sponsored/managed Internet accounts.
5. Notification of password ownership and password protection procedures.
6. Notification that, even though Summit School, Inc. may use technical means to limit student Internet access, these limits are not impenetrable and are not the sole means of enforcing the provisions of this policy.
7. Notification that goods and services can be purchased over the Internet that could potentially result in unwanted financial obligations and that any financial obligation incurred by a student through the Internet is the sole responsibility of the student.
8. Notification that, should the user violate Summit acceptable use policy, the user's access privileges may be revoked, school disciplinary action may be taken and/or appropriate legal action may be taken.
9. Notification that all provisions of the Electronic Technologies Acceptable Use Policy are subordinate to local, state and federal laws.
XII. PARENTS' RESPONSIBILITY AND NOTIFICATION OF STUDENT INTERNET USE
A. Outside of school, parents bear responsibility for the same guidance of Internet use as they exercise with information sources such as television, telephones, radio, movies and other possibly offensive media.
B. Parents will be notified that their students will be using Summit School, Inc. resources to access the Internet and that Summit School, Inc. will provide parents the option to request alternative activities not requiring Internet access. This notification should include:
1. Copy of the Electronic Technologies Acceptable Use Agreement provided to the student user;
2. A description of parent/guardian responsibilities; and
3. A statement that the Electronic Technologies Acceptable Use Agreement must be signed by the user, parent or guardian, and the supervising teacher prior to use by the student.
XIII. IMPLEMENTATION AND POLICY REVIEW
A. The CEO, or designee, is directed to develop the necessary guidelines for the implementation of this policy. The CEO, or designee, may develop appropriate user notification forms, guidelines and procedures necessary to implement this policy.
B. The CEO or designee, shall revise the user notifications, including student and parent notifications, if necessary, to reflect the adoption of these guidelines and procedures.
C. Summit School, Inc.'s Internet policies and procedures are available for review by all parents, guardians, staff, and members of the community.
XIV. DISSEMINATION OF POLICY
A. This policy shall be included in the Faculty Handbook, Student/Parent Handbook, posted to the school website, and otherwise distributed upon request.