Policy

Board of Education

Haddonfield

No.6142.10

Revised Current

ACCEPTABLE USE

For School Technology

  The MISSION of the Haddonfield Public Schools, working in partnership with families and community, is to develop the unique potential of each individual by creating a challenging and diverse learning climate that promotes the development of the whole student and prepares its students with the knowledge and skills to meet life’s challenges and enrich their community.  

Please read the following carefully before signing the attached agreement.

INTRODUCTION: The Haddonfield Public Schools (HPS) offers world wide web Internet access to your child at his/her school.  HPS provides computer equipment, computer services, and Internet access to its students and staff for educational purposes only, offering vast, diverse, and unique resources to promote educational excellence in the Haddonfield Schools.

 The purpose of this document is to inform parents, guardians and students and all district users of the availability of the Internet resources, as well as the rules governing its use, and to obtain express parental or guardian permission for an individual student to use technology and the Internet while at school. 

Because of the complex association between many government agencies and networks, the end user of these networks must adhere to strict guidelines. They are provided here so that staff, community, student users and the parents/guardians of students are aware of their responsibilities.

This is a living document, and subject to revisions. The district may modify these rules and guidelines at any time by publishing modified rules on the system. The signatures on the AUP at the end of this document are legally binding and indicate that the parties have read the terms and conditions carefully, understand their significance, and agree to abide by established rules.

The Haddonfield Board of Education is in compliance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act and has installed technology protection measures for all computers in the school district, including computers in media centers/libraries, that block and/or filter visual depictions that are obscene as defined in section 1460 of Title 18, United States Code, child pornography, as defined in section 2256 of Title 18, Unite States Code; are harmful to minors including any pictures, images, graphic image file or other visual depiction that taken as a whole and with respect to minors, appeals to a prurient interest in nudity, sex or excretion; or depicts, describes, or represents in a patently offensive way, with respect to what is suitable for minors, sexual acts or conduct; or taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value as to minor.

 The school district will certify on an annual basis, that the schools, including media centers/libraries, in the district are in compliance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act and the school enforces the requirements of this Policy. 

 Notwithstanding blocking and/or filtering the visual depictions prohibited in the Children’s Internet Protection Act, the Board shall determine other Internet material that is inappropriate for minors.  The Board will provide reasonable public notice and will hold one annual public hearing during a regular monthly board meeting or during a designated special board meeting to address and receive public community input on the Internet safety policy.

When creating a password a user should not choose a breakable code.  In other words, a word associated with them, any part of their name, etc. The best choice is a combination of words and numbers.

 The educational value of appropriate information on the Internet is substantial and invaluable. The Internet is composed of information provided by institutions and people all over the world however, and hence, also includes material that is not of educational value in the context of the school setting. There is information which may be judged as inaccurate, abusive, profane, sexually oriented or illegal.  HPS does not condone or permit the use of this material. The use of technology within the school setting is a privilege, not a right and it is a joint responsibility of school personnel and the parent or guardian of each student to educate the student about his or her responsibility when using the Internet.

 Internet access is available to students only on computers that are in highly traveled areas of the school building such as classrooms, computer laboratories and the media center, and school personnel will, to the extent possible, supervise technology access. However, parents and guardians must be aware that while at school, direct supervision by school personnel of each student using the computers is not always possible. Thus, students are expected to use the resources in a manner consistent with this contract and will be held responsible for their use. Additionally, parents should discuss with their children their own expectations for their child's Internet use.

E-MAIL:  Students will not be assigned or required to have e-mail addresses. 

K-8: If for a particular curricular purpose e-mail needs to be used, the teacher will notify the Director of Technology or Systems Administrator and the teacher will be assigned an account for any requested class.  The teacher will be the sole owner of the password, which will not be shared.   This allows for communication as a class or as individuals, with teacher supervision.  E-mail is not to be used by K-8 students on district computers under circumstances other than those described.  This includes Instant Messenger and other network/web communication options.

9-12: Students will have access to any web based e-mail accounts that are theirs.  All e-mail must follow the rules of appropriate use.  Please see Rules for Communicating with Others Via E-Mail for more information.

 CHAT ROOMS: are not to be used on district machines.  If for a curricular purpose a chat room needs to be accessed, the teacher will notify the System Administrator or Instructional Technology Coordinator and that can be accommodated for the required period of time.

FILTERING TECHNOLOGY: HPS has installed and engaged Internet filtering software. This software is employed both in compliance with the Federal Children’s Internet Protection Act as well as our belief that we must do our best to support our students’ learning in a manner that supports the district mission and provides for them a safe learning environment. The filtering criteria employed is based upon the requirements of the Internet Protection Act as well as the district mission.  Use of filtering software cannot guarantee that all inappropriate sites can never be accessed.  However, it drastically reduces that opportunity..

 PROPER & ACCEPTABLE USE:The use of the Internet in any Haddonfield School must be in support of education and academic research and consistent with the mission of the Haddonfield Public Schools.

 PLAGIARISM: "To use another person’s ideas or expressions in your writing without acknowledging the source is to plagiarize. Plagiarism, then constitutes intellectual theft.”

Taken from the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers [New York:Modern Language Association, 1999, 30]

 USER SAFETY: Users are not to post, publish or send personal information about themselves or others, nor are they to engage in any kind of personal contact with individuals they meet online.  Attempts at contact from such individuals shall be reported immediately to the staff person monitoring that student’s access to the Internet.

Personal contact information includes but is not limited to names, home/school/work addresses, telephone numbers, or personal photographs.   

ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY
For School Technology

Penalties for Student Misuse of Technology
 

  Technology and Internet use is a privilege extended by the school district, and not a right. Breaking any of the rules is therefore a violation of that privilege and will have consequences which will be enforced by each building principal.
 

Those disciplinary actions may include, but are not limited to:

1. Use of networks/computers only under direct supervision;
2. Suspension of network privileges;
3. Revocation of network privileges;
4. Suspension of computer privileges;
5. Revocation of computer privileges;
6. Suspension from school;
7. Legal action and prosecution by the authorities.

The severity and/or frequency of the offense will determine the consequence, from an unspecified length of time to permanent exclusion from technology use. Offenses such as threats, theft, and violation of another person's rights will result in prosecution to the full extent of the law.

RELIABILITY: Haddonfield Public Schools makes no warranties of any kind, whether expressed or implied, for the service it is providing. HPS will not be responsible for any damages you suffer. (While we continue to work to prevent the presence of viruses, you are reminded to scan disks before they are used in your home computer.) This includes non-deliveries, mis-deliveries, or service interruptions caused by its own negligence or your errors or omissions. Use of any information obtained via the Internet is at the user's own risk. HPS specifically denies any responsibility for the accuracy or quality of information obtained through the Internet.  HPS will not be held responsible for the loss of information due to network or equipment errors.

Questions or concerns, please contact:
John P Miller
Director of Technology
Haddonfield Public Schools
401 Kings Highway East
Haddonfield, NJ 08033
856/429-3960 x163
jpmiller@haddonfield.k12.nj.us

 This is a living document, and subject to revisions. The district may modify these rules and guidelines at any time and will publish the current AUP documents on its web site at: 

http://www.haddonfield.k12.nj.us/district_info/Instruc_Tech/AUP.htm  

AUP

STUDENT CONTRACT

                              GRADES 1-5    *Printer friendly copy

This is a review of the AUP document written especially for elementary school students. Please read attached document for further explanation.

I will never share my password – even with my best friend!

Traveling on the Internet is a lot like going to a big city:

·         There are many wonderful and exciting places that I can visit, like museums, art galleries, zoos, and hospitals, but there are also many places that I should not visit.

·         I will never give my name, address or telephone number, because the people on the Internet are strangers to me.

·         I will not go into any parts of the Internet that are not appropriate for my learning at school.

·         I will back out, and tell my teacher right away if I come across anything that is not appropriate.I should not invite other students to come to see it, but back out and tell a teacher.

   

The computer and the Internet are there to help me with my learning, just like the books, assemblies and videos that the teachers share with me at school.

·         I will not copy things to include in my papers unless I give credit to the author and/or site.

·         I will share the computer with others and be willing to give up my seat if someone else needs a turn.

·         I will treat the computers with respect, and not cause damage to them.

   

It is up to the school to decide how the computer is set up and what software programs should be used to help me learn.

·         I will not install software that I bring in from home because this could break the law.

·         I will not change the way the computer is set up to run.

   

E-mail gives me a chance to communicate with many people, but there are rules I must follow:

·         The only times I can use e-mail are when a teacher sets it up for me.

·         I will always use proper and appropriate language and my best writing skills.

·         I will not give out any personal information that tells who I am or where I live.

·         I will never use a chat room or talk session unless an adult is with me.

  PENALTY for MISUSE: I understand that if I break any of these rules, I may lose the privilege of using the computer and/or the Internet.

I understand that the principal will decide what the punishment will be for breaking the rules, and that it can include anything from removal of computer privileges for a short time to not ever being able to use the computers in school again.

I have talked about these rules with my parents and by signing this contract I agree to follow them.

  Student’s Name (please print): ______________________ Student’s Signature_______________________

  Parent/Guardian Signature: ________________________________Date: ____/____/____

  Student’s Present Grade:________________ Present Teacher____________________

  AUP

STUDENT CONTRACT and PARENT/GUARDIAN AGREEMENT

                                                                                                     GRADES 6-12  *Printer friendly copy

Student's Name (please print): ________________________________________________________________

 School: ________________________    Present Grade:  ________     Present Teacher (Homeroom)__________

 Directions: After reading the Acceptable Use Policy for school technology please read and fill outand completely and sign. Parents and guardians, you must sign below if your child is under the age of 18.  Students, please return the contract to the teacher who gave it to you.

 STUDENT:  By signing below I certify that:

• I have read the Acceptable Use Policy for School Technology and I understand its significance.

• I have discussed the rules for technology use with my parents or guardians.

• I understand that school technology is available to me as a tool to support my education and is afforded to me as a privilege.

• I understand and agree to abide by the rules stated in the Acceptable Use Policy

• I know that if I violate this contract disciplinary actions including but not limited to the following, may be taken against me:

1. Use of networks/computers only under direct supervision;
2. Suspension of network privileges;
3. Revocation of network privileges;
4. Suspension of computer privileges;
5. Revocation of computer privileges;
6. Suspension from school;
7. Legal action and prosecution by the authorities.

 PARENT OR GUARDIAN:  By signing below I certify that:

• I have read the Acceptable Use Policy for School Technology and I understand its significance.

• I have discussed the rules for technology use with my child.

• I understand that access to technology is designed for educational purposes and it is the student’s obligation to use the resources in a responsible manner.

• I recognize it is impossible for the school district  to totally restrict access to controversial materials. and I will not hold them responsible for materials my child may acquire on the network.

• I accept full responsibility for supervision of my child's technology use outside of school.

• I hereby give my permission for my child to use school technology and certify that the information contained on this form is correct.

Parent or Guardian Name (please print): _______________________________________________________ ____

Your relationship to student: ____________________ Daytime Phone: ________  Evening Phone: ____________

Signature: _________________________________________ Date: ____/____/____

EXCEPTION OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS All terms and conditions as stated in this document are applicable to the Haddonfield Public School District.  These terms and conditions reflect the entire agreement of the parties and supersedes all prior oral or written agreements and understandings of the parties for the use of district technology and Internet access.  These terms and conditions shall be governed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey, United States of America..

portions of this document are adapted from the Boulder Valley School District contract

AUP Adopted by the Haddonfield Board of Education February 21, 2002