Rochester School District Computer & Communications Policy Statement
Introduction
The Rochester School Board recognizes the value of computer and other
electronic resources to improve student learning and enhance the administration
and operation of its schools. To this end, the Board encourages the
responsible use of computers, computer networks, including the Internet,
and other electronic resources, in support of the mission and goals
of the Rochester School Department and its schools
Because the Internet is an unregulated, worldwide vehicle for communication,
information available to staff and students is impossible to control
fully. Therefore, the Board adopts this policy governing the voluntary
use of electronic resources and the Internet in order to provide guidance
to individuals and groups obtaining access to these resources on School
Department-owned equipment or through School Department-affiliated organizations.
School Department Rights and Responsibilities
It is the policy of the Rochester School Board to maintain an environment
that promotes ethical and responsible conduct in all computer and communications
equipment activities by staff and students. It shall be a violation
of this policy for any employee, student, or other individual to engage
in any activity that does not conform to the established purpose and
general rules and policies of computer/communications equipment use.
Within this general policy, the School Department recognizes its legal
and moral obligation to protect the well being of students in its charge.
To this end, the School Department retains the following rights and
recognizes the following obligations:
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To monitor the use of computer network and the communications
network activities. This may include real-time monitoring of Internet
access and/or maintaining a log of Internet activity, or attempted
activity, for later review.
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To provide internal and external controls as appropriate
and feasible. Such controls shall include the right to determine who
will have access to School Department owned equipment and, specifically,
to exclude those who do not abide by the School Department’s
acceptable use policy, or other policies governing the use of school
facilities, equipment, and materials.
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To restrict on-line destinations, including in-coming
signals, through software or other means.
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To remove a user’s access, a device, or connection
to the network that is not approved and secure.
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To provide guidelines and make reasonable efforts
to train staff and students in acceptable use and policies governing
on-line, wide-area, and local use of computers and communication equipment.
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Prior to allowing user access, a signed statement
of compliance will be executed, certifying that the user understands
and agrees to comply with Rochester School District policy.
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School district reserves the right to “block”
at any time any sites or services that could cause bandwidth issues
that affect the overall stability of the network.
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Staff members who supervise students, control electronic
equipment, or otherwise have occasion to observe student use of said
equipment shall make reasonable efforts to monitor the use of this
equipment to assure that it conforms to the mission and goals of the
Rochester School District.
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Staff should make reasonable efforts to become familiar
with the Internet and its use so that effective monitoring, instruction,
and assistance may be achieved.
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Use of the computer and communication equipment provided
by the School Department is a privilege that offers a wealth of information
to improve research and productivity. Where it is available, these
resources are provided to staff, students, and other patrons at no
cost. In order to maintain the privilege, users agree to learn and
comply with all of the provisions of this policy.
The School Department reserves the right to monitor, review, and copy
any communications at any time.
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Failure to report breaches of this policy is itself
a violation.
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Users will be individually responsible for their
own behavior and violation of this policy may result in discipline
actions in the form of written reprimand, suspension, expulsion, termination
of employment, or others forms decided by the school board and superintendent.
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Staff will be responsible for maintaining their own
systems for reliability, integrity, availability, and for physical
protection.
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Disciplinary or legal action including, but not limited
to, criminal prosecution under appropriate local, state, and federal
laws. Violation of local, state, and federal laws will be reported
to the proper enforcement authorities.
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All use of the computer and communications equipment
must be in support of educational and research objectives consistent
with the mission and objectives of the School Department.
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Proper codes of conduct in electronic communication
must be used. All users are representing the Rochester School District
and must use polite and respectful language in any dealings through
this equipment.
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Use network etiquette which includes being polite
and using it in a safe and legal manner.
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Use of the network is a privilege, not a right.
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Confidential information will be sent under a secure
medium.
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Protecting your own data.
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Users will use extreme caution to verify messages
go to the correct address/user.
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Any software/hardware must be pre-approved by the
CIC Staff.
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Immediate notification of a system compromise to
CIC Staff (Virus, Trojan, hackers, unauthorized access, etc).
Unacceptable Use
Prohibited activities include, but are not limited to, the following:
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Users will not obtain, or provide to others, illicit
copies of copyrighted software or documents. Only software provided
by or approved by the Rochester School District may be installed on
a School District computer. Users will not download or install software,
or upgrades to approved software already installed, unless directed
to do so by the Superintendent or his designee(s). Users will not
download or install any unauthorized software, including freeware
and shareware, on School District computers.
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Users will not use the computer network to attempt
to gain unauthorized access to any computer or communications system.
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Users will not use the computer or communications
equipment to give out any personal information about another person.
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Any use of the computer or communications system
for commercial, advertising, profit, or political purposes is prohibited.
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Users shall not intentionally seek information on,
obtain copies of, or modify files, other data, or passwords belonging
to other users, or misrepresent other users on the network.
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No use of the network shall serve to disrupt the
use of the network by others. Hardware and/or software shall not be
destroyed, modified, or abused in any way.
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Malicious or mischievous use of the network to develop
programs that harass other users or infiltrate a computer or computing
system and/or damage the software components of a computer or computing
system is prohibited.
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Hate mail, chain letters, harassment, profanity,
obscenity, racist and other antisocial behaviors are prohibited on
the network.
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Use of the network to access or process pornographic
material, inappropriate text files (as determined by the system administrator
or building administrator), or a file dangerous to the integrity of
the network is prohibited.
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Use of the network for any unlawful purpose is prohibited.
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Playing games is prohibited unless specifically authorized
by a teacher for instructional purposes.
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Establishing network or Internet connections to live
communications, including voice and/or video (relay chat) is prohibited
unless specifically authorized by a teacher and a system administrator.
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Sending offensive email (racist, pornographic, or
otherwise inappropriate)
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Harass, intimidate, threaten, or engage in any illegal
activity.
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Sending proprietary or confidential information to
any unauthorized person.
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Allowing other users access to your password or account.
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Make changes to the operating system or networking
settings.
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Open up devices for repairs, etc.
- Use of gambling, pornographic, or on-line actions sites/programs.
- Use of Home/Personal equipment or software for use on the school
network.
- Use of dial-up networking or other technologies to bypass the firewall.
- Tampering with any communications devices, i.e.; computers, phones,
etc.
- Changing of wiring, connections, or placement of computers resources
is prohibited.
- Use of school resources for any cheating or academic dishonesty.
- Use of any hacking, cracking, password cracking, scanners, or any
other hacking or network discovery tools.
- Attempting to circumvent any security.
- Starting any denial of services attacks.
- Any unauthorized access to include wireless devices or any other
communication devices.
- Use of email systems or accounts other than one’s approved
by the CIC staff and Superintendent.
The School Department cannot be held accountable for the information that is retrieved via the network. Pursuant to the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 (18 USC 2510 et seq.), notice is hereby given that there are no facilities provided by this system for sending or receiving private or confidential electronic communications. System administrators have access to all mail and will monitor messages. Messages relating to or in support of illegal activities will be reported to the appropriate authorities. The School Department will not be responsible for any damages you may suffer, including loss of data resulting from delays, non-deliveries, or service interruptions caused by our own negligence or your errors or omissions. Use of any information obtained is at your own risk. The School Department makes no warranties (expressed or implied) with respect to:
• The content of any advice or information received by a user, or any costs or charges incurred as a result of seeing or accepting any information;
• Any cost, liability or damages caused by the way the user chooses to use his or her access to the network.
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