Introduction

Harper Creek Community Schools (HCCS) is pleased to offer its employees access to technology, the Internet, email and other networked information resources. Please read the following carefully. Your signatures are required on the attached form before your network account will be reactivated and you are allowed use of HCCS equipment. Any questions or concerns regarding these guidelines and/or the accompanying form should be directed to the HCCS Director of Technology.

General Use of Technology and Network Privileges

The HCCS network and the district’s technology has been provided to assist in the collaboration and exchange of information, conduct research, facilitate personal growth in the use of technology and enhance communication with others. Access to these tools and this network is given to employees who agree to act in a reasonable, responsible and respectful manner. Access is a privilege – not a right. Employees are expected to model the same good behavior with and while using technology as they do throughout the performance of the rest of their job tasks.

Network storage area(s) should be thought of as a “school locker”. Network administrators may view files and communications to maintain the network’s integrity and to insure that users are responsibly using the system. No users should expect that district servers and the files on them are entirely private.

Internet and Email Access

Access to the Internet and email will enable employees to use resources stored in thousands of libraries and databases as well as communicate with experts, colleagues, parents, community members and students. How the district handles employee use of the Internet and email is guided by public records law, several Federal mandates (including the Freedom of Information Act and the Children’s Internet Protection Act/CIPA) and common sense.

HCCS has licensed web services through eChalk™, a K-12 web services provider. This service includes email for students and employees. However, employees will direct their eChalk email to be forwarded to their former groupwise (harpercreek.net) account. District issued email should be used for transmitting district business/classwork. HCCS recommends that email for personal communication should be conducted through an alternate email system such as Yahoo mail, MSN, Google, or a local ISP. Email sent through a public school email system is subject to publication requests and discovery. Users of school email systems should assume no personal privacy when using the school’s email system. The district will monitor email usage during either routine maintenance or when requested to do so by an investigating authority. Classroom teachers are encouraged to monitor student email more frequently especially when guiding students through threaded discussions.

Users should be warned that some materials accessible via the Internet might contain items that are inaccurate, illegal, defamatory, or potentially offensive to some people. HCCS is a K-12 school system with a network designed to serve the classroom needs of a population primarily under the age of 18 years old. Therefore, to be eligible for Federal funding the district must comply with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA, n.2000) which mandates filtering of Internet content. Filtering software is in use, but no filtering software is capable of blocking 100% of the inappropriate material on the Internet.

Copyright

Federal law makes it illegal to duplicate copyrighted materials without authorization of the holder of the copyright, except for certain exempt purposes. Severe penalties may be imposed for unauthorized copying or using audio visual or printed materials and computer software, unless the copying or using conforms to the “fair use” doctrine. All materials “published” to the Internet are protected by U. S. copyright law. The

U. S. copyright laws protect the “intellectual property” of others (art, music, maps, drawings, compositions, videos, logos, trademarks, photos, etc). While the “Fair Use” doctrine would protect a user and allow him/her to copy and use an image, audio/video clip or text item for a non-profit classroom setting, at HCCS, all users at the very least must provide a complete citation crediting the author and/or seek the author’s permission to use the item.

Handling Confidential Records

HCCS stores and maintains most students and employees records on electronic databases The district is also obligated by several state and Federal mandates to secure the information stored in those databases and provide for procedures to safeguard the handling of that data. Employees whose job may require them to access, input, or retrieve data from any district database (including but not limited to, grade books, insurance and health care requests, attendance reports, room rental, payroll and finance, bus transportation routes, etc) may do so only by exercising the strictest form of confidentiality. Releasing information, even in casual conversation, without authorization to do so, may range from a violation of ethics to a violation of law.

Employees who handle student and employee records and other confidential district databases must be sure that they regularly use password protected logins to the network and to the databases in which they are working. The district recommends that this passwords be changed often. When the employee leaves his/her workstation they need to secure that workstation by either logging off the site where they are currently working or logging off the entire workstation. Students shall not be sharing workstations with employees who use that same equipment to access confidential school databases.

Sanctions/Consequences for Violating This Agreement

Employees who violate the guides of good conduct using HCCS technology and networked resources may receive disciplinary action in accordance with the guidelines outlined in their employee contracts. Law enforcement agencies may be involved when applicable.

Publishing to the Internet

Teachers may publish webpages via eChalk.™ Each building and the district office will also publish a webpage of current calendar events and resources for the district. Groups associated directly with the school system (including but not limited to student clubs, booster organizations, HC Board of Education, etc) may also apply for and receive a linked webpage. When school logos, student work, pictures, etc. appear on the school’s website they are protected by copyright. Anyone seeking to reproduce or use the work should request permission through the school system. Additionally all work published to the website and its linked pages must have written copyright permission/consent.

Only unidentified photos of individuals will be published on the website. You may restrict permission for publication of your photo to appear on the district website or any linked webpage on the form that follows.

Modified July, 2006

Harper Creek Community Schools Employee Technology and Networked Resources User Agreement Form

To use technology and networked information resources, all employees must sign these forms.

Inappropriate use of school technology, email, the Internet and other networked information resources includes, but is not limited to:

ƒ Any illegal activity (including copyright infringement, rights to privacy issues and fraud).

ƒ Any activity, commercial or otherwise, unrelated to the mission of the school or district (including but not limited to wagering, gambling, junk mail, chain letters, jokes, private business activities, raffles, fundraisers, religious activities, political lobbying, or activities which may cause disruptions or misrepresent the district/district personnel).

ƒ Any activity that constitutes harassment, intimidation or bias. ƒ Any activity involving profanity, obscenities, threats or actual violence, hate crimes or pornography. ƒ Any attempt to disclose personal information such as logins, passwords, addresses, telephone

numbers for the user or others. ƒ Any attempt to use the login(s), password(s) or security clearance of another individual. ƒ Any intentional waste of limited resources. ƒ Any damage or modification of technology, or computer systems (including downloading

software, sites, etc. and/or attempting to bypass the proxy filters). ƒ Any entry into another user’s folders, work files, desktop/laptop, etc (trespassing). ƒ And, any personally owned equipment that is/is not attached (wired or wirelessly) to district

equipment without the permission of the Director of Technology.

Violations may result in loss of access, other disciplinary or legal action.