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