General User Policy



May 18, 1999

 

INTERNET

 

A professional Telecommunications Service of the

Williams Unified School District

Williams CA 95987

 

Acceptable Use Policy

 

We are pleased to announce that INTERNET electronic information services are now available to students, teachers and staff in our school district.  The Williams Unified School District strongly believes in the educational value of such electronic services and recognizes the potential of such to support our curriculum and student learning in our district.  Our goal in providing this service is to promote educational excellence by facilitating resource sharing, innovation, and communication consistent with the goals and policies of the Williams Unified School District.  The Williams Unified School will make every effort to protect its users from any misuses or abuses as a result of their experiences with an information service.  All users must be continuously on guard to avoid inappropriate and illegal interaction with such an information service.

 

Please read this document carefully.  When signed by you and/or your guardian/parent, it becomes a legally binding contract.  We must have your signature and that of your guardian/parent and a sponsoring teacher (if you are under 18) before we can provide you with an access account.

 

Listed below are the provisions of this contract.  If any user violates these provisions, access to the information service may be denied and you may be subject to disciplinary action.

 

Terms and Conditions of this contract

 

1.       Personal Responsibility

 

INTERNET users will accept personal responsibility for reporting any misuse of the network to the system administrator.  Misuse can come in many forms, but is commonly viewed as any message(s) sent or received that indicate or suggest pornography, unethical or illegal solicitation, racism, sexism, inappropriate language, and other issues described below.  All the rules of conduct described in the Board Policies of the Williams Unified School District will apply when you are on the network.

 

2.       Acceptable Use

 

The use of assigned accounts on the INTERNET must be in support of education and research and with the educational goals and objectives of the Williams Unified School District.  INTERNET users are personally responsible for this provision at all times when using the electronic information service.

 

          Use of other organization's networks or computing resources must comply with rules appropriate to that network. 

 

Transmission of any material in violation of any United States or other state organization laws is prohibited.  This includes, but is not limited to copyrighted materials or obscene material, or material protected by trade secret.

 

          Use of commercial activities by for-profit institutions is not acceptable.

 

          Use of product advertisement or political lobbying is also prohibited.

 

          Use of the network for financial gain or for any commercial or illegal activity is also prohibited.

 

Users must be aware of the finite capacity of the network and must cooperate with the network and must cooperate with the Network Administrator to conserve resources and assure equitable access for all

 

Inappropriate use of electronic information resources can be a violation of local, state and federal laws.  Users of the INTERNET can be prosecuted for violating those laws.

 

3.          Privileges

 

The use of the INTERNET is a privilege, not a right, and inappropriate use will result in a cancellation of those privileges.  The system operator (operating under the aegis of the school board and the district office) will decide what is appropriate use.  The system administrator(s) may close an account at any time deemed necessary.  The administration, or network administrator may deny, revoke, or suspend specific user accounts.

 

4.          Network Etiquette and Privacy

 

You are expected to abide by the general accepted rules of network etiquette.  These rules include (but are not limited to) the following:

         

          BE POLITE.  Never send, or encourage others to send, abusive messages.

 

          USE APPROPRIATE LANGUAGE.  Remember that you are a representative of our school district on a non-private system. 

          You may be alone with your computer, but what you say and do can be viewed globally!  Never swear, use vulgarities, or any

          inappropriate language.  Illegal activities of any kind are strictly forbidden.

 

          PRIVACY.  Do not reveal your home address or personal phone number or the addresses and phone numbers of students or

colleagues.     Students are strongly cautioned about arranging to meet someone privately as a result of communication on any electronic communication service.

 

ELECTRONIC MAIL.  Electronic mail (e-mail) is not guaranteed to be private.  Messages relating to or in support of illegal activities must be reported to the authorities.  The Williams Unified School District does not provide e-mail accounts for students.

 

DISRUPTIONS.  Do not use the INTERNET in any way that would disrupt use of the network by others.

 

REPOSTING.  Do not repost personal communications without the author’s prior consent.

 

          OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:

 

          Do be brief.  Fewer people will bother to read a long message.

 

          Do minimize spelling errors and make sure your message is easy to understand and read.

 

          Do use accurate and descriptive titles for your articles.

 

          Tell people what it is about before they read it.

 

          Do get the most appropriate audience for your message, not the widest.

 

          Do remember that humor and satire is very often misinterpreted.

 

          Do remember that if you post to multiple groups specify all groups in a single message.

 

          Do cite references for any facts you present.

 

          Do forgive the spelling and grammar errors of others.

 

          Do keep signatures brief.

         

          Do remember that all network users are human beings, don’t “attack” correspondents; persuade them with facts.

 

          Do post only to groups you know.

 

5.          Services

 

The Williams Unified school District makes no warranties of any kind, whether expressed or implied, for the service it is providing.  The Williams Unified School District will not be responsible for any damages suffered while on this system.  These damages include loss of data as a result of delays, non-deliveries, or service interruptions caused by the system or your errors or omissions.  Use of any information obtained via the information system is at your own risk.  The Williams Unified school District specifically disclaims any responsibility for the accuracy of information obtained through its services.

 

6.          Security

 

Security on any computer system is a high priority because there are so many users.  If you identify a security problem, notify the system administrator at once.  Never demonstrate the problem to other users.  Never use another individual’s account without written permission from that person.  All use of the system must be under your own account.  Users should change their passwords frequently.  Any user identified as a security risk will be denied access to the INTERNET.

 

7.          Vandalism

 

Vandalism is defined as any malicious attempt to harm or destroy data of another user or any other agencies or networks that are connected to the system.  This includes, but is not limited to, the uploading or creation of computer viruses.  Any vandalism will result in the loss of computer service, disciplinary action, and legal referral.

 

8.          Updating

 

The District may occasionally require new registration and account information from you to continue the INTERNET service.  You must notify the network administration of any changes in your account information.

 

 

 


Williams Unified School District

          P.O. Box 7

Williams, CA 95987

 

 

Acceptable Use Policy Required Signatures

 

I understand and will abide by the provisions and conditions of this contract.  I understand that any violations of the above provisions may result in disciplinary action, the revoking of my user account, and appropriate legal action.  I also agree to report any misuse of the information system to the Williams Unified School District system operator.  Misuse can come in many forms, but can be viewed as any message sent or received that indicate or suggest pornography, unethical or illegal solicitation, racism, sexism, inappropriate language, and other issues described above.  All the rules of conduct described in the Board Policies of the Williams Unified School District apply when I am on the network.

 

Signature __________________________________________________________________________ Date  ______/______/______

 

Check one:           Administrator _______                      Staff _______                      Student _______                 Guest _______

 

School Site or Office _________________________________________________________________________________________

 

(Students must have their parent/guardian sign this from)

 

Students under the age of 18 must also have the signature of a parent or guardian who has read this contract.

 

As the parent or guardian of this student, I have read this contract and understand that it is designed for educational purpose.  The Williams Unified School District is using filtering software to filter objectionable material but I understand that it is impossible for the District to restrict access to all controversial materials, and I will not hold the District responsible for materials acquired on the network.  I also agree to report any misuse of the information to the District system operator.  Misuse can come in many forms, but can be viewed as any messages sent or received that indicate or suggest pornography, unethical or illegal solicitation, racism, sexism, inappropriate language, and other issues described above.

 

I hereby give my permission to issue an account for my child and certify that the information contained on this form is correct.

 

Parent or Guardian Name (please print): _________________________________________________________________________

 

Signature __________________________________________________________________________ Date ______/______/______

 

Address ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

This page must be returned to the appropriate school site or office.

 

 

Board Approved: 6/14/01