Harper
Creek Community Schools Student
ACCEPTABLE
USE AGREEMENT (AUA)
for Technology Resources
Harper
Creek Community Schools (HCCS)
Students
in Grades K – 12
The
purpose of this agreement is to grant access to and define acceptable use of
HCCS's Technology Resources for legitimate educational purposes consistent with
HCCS’s mission statement. “Technology Resources” include, but are not limited
to: (1) internal and external network infrastructure, (2) Internet and network
access, (3) computers, (4) servers,
(5) storage
devices, (6) peripherals, (7) software, and (8) messaging or communication
systems. These resources may be provided to users to: (1) assist in the
collaboration and exchange of information, (2) facilitate personal growth in
the use of technology, and (3) enhance information gathering and communication
skills.
In exchange for the use of HCCS’s
Technology Resources either at school or away from school, you understand and
agree to the following:
A.
Your
use of the Technology Resources belonging to HCCS is a privilege that may be revoked by the district at
any time and for any reason.
B.
HCCS reserves all rights to any material
stored on HCCS Technology Resources. You should have no expectation
of privacy when using HCCS Technology Resources. HCCS
reserves the right to monitor all use of its Technology
Resources, including, without limitation, personal email and voice mail
communications, computer files, data bases, web logs, audit trails, or any
other electronic transmissions accessed, distributed, or used through the
Technology Resources. HCCS also reserves the right to remove any material from
the Technology Resources that, at its sole discretion, it chooses to,
including, without limitation, any information that HCCS determines to be
unlawful, obscene, pornographic, harassing, intimidating, or disruptive.
C.
The
Technology Resources do not provide you a "public forum." You may not use the Technology
Resources for commercial purposes or to lobby or solicit political
positions or candidates unless expressly authorized in advance by a teacher or
administrator as part of a class program or activity. You may, however, use the
Technology Resources to contact or communicate with public officials.
D.
The Technology Resources provided by
HCCS are intended for exclusive use by registered users. You
are responsible for your account/password and any access to the
Technology Resources made using your account/password. Any problems arising
from the use of your account/password are your responsibility. Use of your
account by someone other than you is forbidden and may be grounds for loss
of access privileges and other disciplinary consequences for both you
and the person(s) using your account/password.
E.
You may not use the Technology Resources
or any other communication/messaging devices (including devices not owned by
HCCS) to engage in cyberbullying. Cyberbullying
means “the use of email, cell phone and pager text messages, instant
messaging (IM), defamatory personal websites, and defamatory online personal
polling websites to support deliberate, repeated and hostile behavior by an
individual or group that is intended to harm others.” [Definition written by
Bill Belsy, available at http://www.cyberbullying.ca.]
F.
Misuse of Technology Resources may
result in suspension of your account privileges and/or other disciplinary
action, up to and including expulsion, as determined by HCCS.
Misuse includes, but is not limited to:
1.
Accessing
or attempting to access educationally inappropriate materials/sites including, without
limitation, material that is "harmful to minors," unlawful,
obscene, pornographic, profane, or vulgar. Material that is "harmful to
minors" includes "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, sex, or excrement; (2) depicts, describes, or
represents, in a potentially 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 lewd exhibition of the
genitals; and (3) taken as a whole lacks serious literary, artistic, political,
or scientific value as to minors." 47 USC§§ 254(h)(7). The determination of a material's "appropriateness"
is based on both the material's content and intended use.
Student
Acceptable Use Agreement Grade K-12 page 1
Harper
Creek Community Schools Student
2.
Cyberbullying (as
defined in paragraph E) or any other use of the Technology Resources that would
violate HCCS's anti-bullying rules or policies. Cyberbullying
may, without limitation, include posting slurs or rumors or other disparaging
remarks about another person on a website; sending email or instant messages
that are meant to threaten, harass, intimidate, or drive up a victim’s cell
phone bill; taking or sending embarrassing or sexually explicit photographs,
video, or other visual depictions of another person; or posting misleading or
fake photographs of others on websites.
3.
Sexting, which
includes, without limitation, possessing, sending, or distributing nude,
sexually explicit, or sexually suggestive photographs, videos, or other
visual depictions of yourself or another person using
the Technology Resources of HCCS or by any other means, including over
personally owned devices.
4.
Posting
personally identifiable information about
yourself or others over the internet even if the information is
solicited by a website that requests such information.
5.
Vandalism, which
includes, without limitation, any malicious or intentional attempt to harm,
steal, destroy, or disrupt user data, school materials, or school
hardware; violating the integrity of HCCS's Technology Resources; uploading or
creating viruses; downloading/installing unapproved, illegal, or unlicensed
software; or seeking to circumvent or bypass security measures.
6.
Hacking,
which
includes, without limitation, gaining or attempting to gain access to,
modifying, or obtaining copies of, unauthorized information or
information belonging to other users.
7.
Unauthorized
copying or use of
licenses or copyrighted software.
8.
Plagiarizing,
which includes the
unauthorized distributing, copying, using, or holding out as your own, copyrighted
material (most of the Internet is copyrighted), or material written by someone
else, without permission of, and attribution to, the author.
9.
Misrepresenting
others, including,
without limitation, posting confidential or inappropriate information (text,
video, photo) meant to harass, intimidate, or
embarrass other students or staff on any social media network or website.
10.
Allowing
anyone else to use an account or
not locking access to computer devices when leaving them unattended.
11.
Using
or soliciting the use of, or attempting to use or discover the account
information or password of, another user.
12.
Attempting
to or successfully disabling security features, including technology protection
measures required under the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA).
13.
Misusing
equipment or altering system software without
permission.
14.
Commercial
for-profit activities, advertising,
political lobbying, or sending mass mailings or spam. However, you may
contact a public official to express an opinion on a topic of interest.
15.
Using
HCCS’s Technology Resources in any way that violates the student code of
conduct, or any federal, state, or local law or rule.
G.
It
is the policy of HCCS, as a recipient of certain federal funds, to monitor the
online activities of its minor students and provide technology protection measures on its
computers with Internet access designed to prevent minors from accessing
visual depictions that are (1) obscene, (2) child pornography, or (3) harmful
to minors. HCCS staff must regularly monitor to ensure that technology blocks
are working appropriately. The technology blocks may be disabled by an
authorized person, during adult use, to enable access to bona fide
research or for other lawful purposes.
H.
It is the policy of HCCS to prohibit its minor students
from (1)
accessing inappropriate matter on the Internet;
(2) engaging in
hacking or other unlawful online activities; (3) disclosing, using, or
disseminating personal information online; or (4) accessing materials that are
harmful to minors. It is also the policy of HCCS to educate students about cyberbullying awareness and response and about appropriate
online behavior, including safely interacting with other individuals in social
networking websites, chat rooms, and by email.
I.
HCCS does not guarantee that measures
described in paragraphs G and H will provide any level of safety or security or
that they will block all inappropriate material from HCCS's minor students. You
agree that you will not intentionally engage in any behavior that was
designed to be prevented by paragraphs G and H.
Student
Acceptable Use Agreement Grade K-12 page 2
Harper Creek Community
Schools Student
J.
The HCCS does not warrant or guarantee
that its Technology Resources will meet any specific requirement, or that they
will be error free or uninterrupted; nor will HCCS or its
Internet provider be liable for any direct or indirect, incidental, or
consequential damages (including lost data, information, or time) sustained or
incurred in connection with the use, operation, or inability to use the
Technology Resources.
K.
When
utilizing the HCCS Technology Resources, you may use only HCCS authorized
messaging and communication systems. There is no expectation of privacy in
electronic communications. The HCCS reserves the right to monitor
electronic communications.
L.
As
soon as possible, you must disclose to your teacher or other school employee
any message you receive that is inappropriate or makes you feel
uncomfortable, harassed, threatened, or bullied, especially any communication
that contains sexually explicit content. You should not delete such content
until instructed to do so by a staff member.
M.
HCCS and/or the Internet provider will
periodically determine whether specific uses of the HCCS’s Technology Resources
are consistent with this acceptable-use policy. HCCS or its Internet
provider reserves the right to log Internet use and to monitor mail
space and file server utilization by users. The HCCS reserves the right to
remove a user account on the HCCS’s Technology Resources to prevent further
unauthorized activity.
N.
You
may not transfer intellectual property or software belonging to HCCS without
the permission of the HCCS Director of Technology or his/her designee. Without first
obtaining such permission, you will be liable for any damages and will
be required to pay the cost of any damages caused by such transfer, whether
intentional or accidental.
O.
You
are responsible for the proper use of Technology Resources and will be held accountable
for any damage to or replacement of the Resources caused by your inappropriate
use.
Student Acceptable Use
Agreement Grade K-12 page 3
Harper Community Schools Student
Technology Resources Acceptable Use
Agreement (AUA)
This
page must be signed and returned to your student’s school building before
he/she is allowed to use district Technology Resources.
_______ / ________
Building Name Student Name (please
print)
In
consideration for the privileges of using HCCS’s Technology Resources and in
consideration for having access to the information contained therein, I release
HCCS, its Board of Education, individual Board members, administrative
employees and agents, the Internet provider and its operators from any and all
claims of any nature arising from my use, or inability to use, the Technology
Resources. I agree to abide by this Acceptable Use Agreement and by any rules
or regulations that may be added from time-to-time by HCCS and its Internet
provider. All additional rules, regulations, and policies are available in
hardcopy in the Principal’s office.
I have read this Acceptable Use
Agreement and sign it knowingly and freely.
Student
Signature Date
As
the student’s parent or legal guardian, I acknowledge that I have read this
Acceptable Use Agreement. In consideration for the privilege of my student
using HCCS Technology Resources, I hereby release and covenant not to sue HCCS,
its Board of Education, individual Board of Education members, and its
administrative employees and agents for any and all claims, causes of action,
and damages of any nature arising from my student’s use of, or inability to
use, HCCS's Technology Resources. I agree to pay for, reimburse and indemnify
HCCS, its Board of Education, individual Board members, administrative
employees and agents for damages including any fees, expenses, liability or
other damages of every sort and nature incurred as a result of my student's
use, or misuse, of these Technology Resources.
I
also authorize HCCS to consent to the sharing of information about my student
to HCCS authorized website operators as necessary to enable my child to
participate in any program, course, or assignment requiring such consent under
the Children's Online Privacy and Protection Act. I understand and agree
that my student will not be able to use HCCS
Technology Resources until this policy
and agreement has been signed by both my student and me.
I have read this Acceptable Use
Agreement and sign it knowingly and freely:
Parent/Guardian
Signature Date
Parent/Guardian: Please initial one,
both or neither of these:
_____ I
give permission for my child’s photo, or name (first name only), or any
personal or directory information (no addresses or phone numbers), to be
published on web pages.
_____ I
give permission for my child’s photo and/or name (first name only) to be
published on web pages only as part of a “team” or other large group photo.
Revised: July 2010
Student
Acceptable Use Agreement Grade K-12 page 4