September 2010
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Learning Community is pleased to offer internet access
for its students. This letter and packet describes the services, policies, rules,
regulations, regarding network usage and internet access. Before you sign the
attached forms, please read and discuss the following with your child:
- The LCCS
Acceptable Use Policy
- Rules and
Regulations for Internet Access
- Parental
Permission form ("Use of the Internet Agreement Form. . .")
- The Internet is
a global network that will provide your child with access to a wide range
of information resources from around the world. Use of the Internet for
educational projects will assist in preparing your child for success in
life and work in the 21st century.
It is possible that your child may find material on the
Internet that you might consider objectionable. The school’s Acceptable Use
Policy (AUP) gives guidance for use of the Internet in the school
environment. In addition, we have installed on the school computer network, a
filtering program which limits access to certain inappropriate areas. There may
be additional kinds of information on the Internet that are not in accord with
your family's values. We encourage you to use this opportunity to have a
discussion with your child about values and your expectations about how they
should guide your child's activities while she or he is using the Internet.
Teachers will be using the Internet for classroom group instruction. However,
so your child may participate on an individual basis, you must authorize your
child's use by signing in the appropriate area of the attached permission form.
After both you and your child have signed it and the form is returned
("Use of the Internet Agreement form for Students") to your student’s
homeroom teacher, your child will be allowed to utilize the school’s computers
to access the Internet for research and academic purposes.
You have the option of requesting that your child be
denied individual access to the Internet. If you want to exercise this option, please complete the permission form by
signing in the area "I do not want my child . . ." of the form.
If you have any questions or concerns about Learning
Community’s Network services, do not hesitate to contact me.
Thank you,
Jamie Rice
Assistant Principal
Acceptable Use Policy
(AUP)
Purpose
The Internet provides the district with a significant
opportunity to enhance its educational services. The Internet provides instant
access to a significant fraction of human knowledge including many of the world’s
best museums and libraries, global news services, major public and private
research institutions and Federal government data and allows participation in a
wide range of interactive discussions through electronic mail, newsgroups, and
other mechanisms. The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines with
respect to appropriate use of the Internet in the district.
Resource Allocation
Online access is a finite resource. Therefore, all
resource allocation, scheduling, and curricular decisions should be made in a
manner consistent with the districts commitment to educational equity.
Moreover, the administration should seek to ensure that increased
course-related computer usage occurs in a planned and conscious fashion.
Permitted Activities and Uses
The districts computers and networks exist to support its
curricular objectives. All uses consonant with these objectives are permitted.
Prohibited Activities and Uses
All of the districts existing regulations on conduct and
behavior are deemed applicable in the context of computer and network use. Any
use which violates any regulation is expressly prohibited. Moreover, prohibited
activities include, but are not limited to, actions which would:
- Violate any
local, state, or Federal law or any international accords or treaties to
which the U.S.
is a party;
- Compromise the
security of the districts computers or network, or the security of other
institutions computing resources accessible over the network;
- Invade someone’s
privacy;
- Infringe
copyright, software licensing rights and all other state and federal laws
governing intellectual property;
- Cause an event
or outage on the network that results in a denial of service to others;
- Result in the
destruction or damage of computer hardware, software, or data; or
- Be threatening
to others.
In addition, users of the
districts systems and networks shall not use district computing resources for:
- Partisan
political activity in support of candidates for elected office; or
"Acknowledgement, Consent and Waiver" Form
Required
Prior to receiving an account allowing Internet access,
each user of the LCCS Network (including, but not limited to students,
teachers, and other staff) must read a copy of the districts administrative
regulations on Internet use and sign and return the districts
"Acknowledgement, Consent, and Waiver" form as developed by the Principal
and the Board of Trustees. Such form shall include, at a minimum: (1) an
acknowledgement of the districts regulations governing its networks and
computer systems; (2) and acknowledgement that a user has no reasonable expectation
of privacy with respect to messages sent or data stored online; and (3) an
acknowledgement and acceptance of the risks inherent in Internet use, holding
the district harmless with respect to such risks. In the case of students, a
parent or guardian must also read the indicated materials and sign a copy of
the "Acknowledgment, Consent and Waiver" form on the student’s
behalf.
Revocation of Internet Access and other Penalties
The LCCS regulations on computer and Internet usage
promulgated hereunder are another part of the districts regulations on student
conduct and, as such, are subject to the same mechanisms of discipline and
punishment.
Approved: August, 2010
RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR INTERNET ACCESS
The use of the Network is a privilege, not a right, and
when it has been determined that inappropriate use has occurred, suspension of
that privilege will result. The Board of Education, school administration,
faculty, or staff may request that an individual’s access be temporarily denied,
revoked, or suspended by the system administrator. Serious infractions will
lead to permanent revocation of Network privileges. In these cases, the
decision will be determined at a formal Board of Trustees hearing.
CODE OF ETHICS AND ETIQUETTE
1. MAINTAIN PRIVACY.
- Your username
and password belong only to you. Keep your password secret. Do not allow
anyone to use your username or password.
- Do not allow
anyone to use a login session for which you have established with your
username and password.
- Do not use
anyone else’s username and password.
- Do not reveal
personal information (yours or someone else’s), including home addresses
and/ or telephone numbers to anyone you communicate with over the
Internet.
- Do not assume
that everything you read on the Internet is true.
- Assume that any
message you send or any data you store online may be read by others.
- Do not reveal
personal or sensitive information about yourself or others.
2. BE CONSIDERATE.
- Use appropriate
language.
- Do not send
abusive messages.
- Do not attempt
to read or modify the files of other users
- Do not use the
Network in a way that disrupts or hampers its use by others.
3. BE RESPONSIBLE.
- Do not review,
download, or print any materials that are obscene, rude, insulting, or
otherwise inappropriate.
4. BE HONEST AND ETHICAL.
- Do not send
anonymous messages.
- Conform to all
copyright and licensing laws.
- Cite all
information sources properly.
- The Network may
not be used to promote any unauthorized business, political, or religious
activity. All illegal activities are strictly forbidden.
- Do not attempt
to access resources to which you are not entitled.
- Do not make,
use, download or attempt to install unauthorized copies on any district
systems.
Network
information storage areas will be treated like school lockers. The rights of
privacy will be respected unless legal or ethical violations are suspected.
System administrators may review files and communications to maintain system
integrity and insure that the users are using the system in a responsible
manner. Users should not expect
that files stored on district servers will always be private.
USE OF THE INTERNET AGREEMENT FORM: STUDENT
ACCOUNT
Please read the Acceptable
Use Policy (AUP) in its entirety before signing this agreement. Return this form to your
child’s homeroom teacher.
STUDENT SECTION
____________________________________ ___________
Printed Name of Student Date
____________________________________
Grade / Homeroom Teacher
I have read the LCCS AUP and the accompanying rules and
regulations. I agree to follow the guidelines contained in the Policy. I understand
that if I violate them, my account will be subject to suspension or termination
and I may face other disciplinary or legal measures. Furthermore, I realize
that the general rights of privacy will be respected unless legal or ethical
violations are suspected. However, I do not expect that data stored on school’s
servers will always be private. Any file may be subject to school observation.
I am also aware that some information found on the Internet may not be
accurate.
____________________________________ ___________
Signature of Student Date
Parent/ Guardian Section on reverse….
PARENT OR GUARDIAN SECTION
I have read the LCCS AUP and the accompanying rules and
regulations.
I understand that Internet access is being provided for
educational and research purposes. I release the District, its personnel, and
any institutions with which it is affiliated, from any and all claims and
damages of any nature arising from my child’s use of, or inability to use, the
school’s system. I am also aware that some information found on the Internet
may not be accurate.
I will take the responsibility to instruct my child against
accessing materials that are in violation of the school’s AUP, the rules and
regulations, and the law. Furthermore, I realize that the general rights of
privacy will be respected unless legal or ethical violations are suspected.
However, I do not expect that data stored on District servers will always be
private. Any file may be subject to
the school’s observation.
I will emphasize to my child the importance of following the
general rules for personal safety.
YES. I give permission for
my child to have access to the LCCS Network.
____________________________________ _____________
Printed Name of Parent/ Guardian Phone
Number
____________________________________ _____________
Signature of Parent/ Guardian Date
NO. I do not want my child
to have access to the LCCS Network.
____________________________________ _____________
Printed Name of Parent/ Guardian Phone
Number
____________________________________ _____________
Signature of Parent/
Guardian Date