Regulation

InternetAcceptableUse

DescriptorCode:IFBGR

TechnologyResourcesAcceptableUsePolicy
SavannahChathamCountyPublicSchoolSystem(SCCPSS)providesafullrangeofelectronic
informationsystems,includingInternetresources,forallstudentsandstaff.Theuseofthe
Internetandotherelectronicresourcesisintegraltoinnovativeteachingandlearning.
SCCPSSstronglybelievesintheeducationalopportunitiesthattechnologyresourcesbring
andrecognizestheirvalueinenablingeducatorsandstudentstocommunicate,learn,share,
collaborate,create,andsolveproblems.Useofallelectronicresourcesshallsupportthe
vision,mission,andgoalsestablishedbytheSCCPSS.Accesstotheseresourcesis
automaticallyprovidedtostudentsandstaffmembersandmayberequestedbyvendorsand
otheroutsideagents.

Definitions
AuserisanyonewhoisauthorizedtogainaccesstotheSCCPSSNetwork,Internet,or
IntranetbyuseofSchoolDistrictequipmentorresources.
TheNetworkconsistsofcomputersandotherdeviceslinkedtogethertocommunicate
andsharedata.
Technologyresourcesarelocalandnetworkedelectronicresourcesprovidedbythe
Districtsuchas,butnotlimitedto:computers,personaldigitalassistants(PDAs),cell
phones,digitaldevices,electronicreferencedatabases,Internet,
communication/assessmenttools,audioandvideoequipment,distancelearning,virtual
fieldtrips,andothereducationaloradministrativeprogramstoincludeallportable
devices.
TheInternetisaworldwidecollectionofcomputernetworksthatservesasaconduitfor
communicationandtheglobalexchangeofinformation.
TheIntranetisaninternalnetworkthatservesasaconduitforemployee
communicationandtheexchangeofinformationonlywithintheSchoolDistrict.
Cyberbullyingistheintentionaland/orrepeatedharmofothersthroughtheuseof
computers,cellphones,orotherelectronicdevicestotorment,threaten,harass,
humiliate,orembarrassothers.
Vandalismisanymaliciousattempttoharmordestroythedataofanotheruserorany
othernetwork.
Hackingisanyattempttogainunauthorized/unapprovedaccesstolocaltechnology
resourcesorothercomputersystems.
Illegalactivitiesincludeanyactivitythatviolatesstateorfederallawormunicipal
ordinancesuchasaccessingortransmittingvisualdepictionsofobscenity,pornography,
materialsthatareharmfultominors,materialsthatencourageotherstoviolatethelaw,
confidentialinformation,copyrightedmaterials,sellingorpurchasingillegalitemsor

substances,obtainingand/orusinganonymousemailsites,spamming,orspreading
viruses.
Socialnetworkingisparticipationinonlinecommunitiesforthesharingofinterests
andinformation.ThetoolsusedconsistofvariousInternetservices,includingblogging,
videos,MP3s,chatrooms,andthecreationofpersonalprofiles.
TechnologyProtectionMeasureisspecifictechnologythatblocksorfiltersInternet
accesstovisualdepictionsthatare:
1.Obscene,asdefinedinsection1460oftitle18,UnitedStatesCode,
2.ChildPornography,asdefinedinsection2256oftitle18,UnitedStatesCode,or
3.Harmfultominors.
UserResponsibilities
Usershaveanobligationtoberesponsibleparticipantswhileexploringthevastresourcesthat
areavailableontheNetwork,Internet,andIntranet,andmustadheretothegenerally
acceptedrulesofonlinebehavior.Illegalactivitiesofanykindarestrictlyforbidden.The
standardsinclude,butarenotlimitedto,thefollowing:
Educational/AdministrativePurposes.Userswillusealltechnologyresourcesfor
educationaloradministrativepurposes.Usersshallnotaccessinappropriatesitesonthe
Internetoruseschoolresourcesforcommercialpurposes.
Safety.Userswillnotreleasestudentinformationorpictureswithlastnamesonthe
Internetunlessapprovedbythestudent'sparent/guardian.Publishingthefullnames
and/orcontactinformationofstudentswithoutparentalpermissionisprohibited.The
StudentCodeofConductrulesforbullyingarealsoapplicabletocyberbullyingand
violatorsaresubjecttothesamedisciplinaryprocedures.Ifstudentsencounter
inappropriateinformationormessages,theyshallnotifyaschooladministrator.
Privacy.Allactivitiesconductedusingschooltechnologyarenottobeconsidered
private.SCCPSSreservestherighttorecord,monitor,review,andreportallactivities.If
deemedappropriate,informationshallbedisclosedtothecourts,lawenforcement,or
otherthirdpartieswithoutusers'consent.Allworkproducedusingschoolresourcesis
consideredtobethepropertyoftheschoolsystemunlessotherwiseindicated.
Passwords.Passwordsarethefirstlevelofsecuritytothenetwork.Useraccountsare
tobeusedonlybytheowneroftheaccountforauthorizedDistrictpurposes.Allusers
shallsafeguardandprotecttheirpasswords.Userpasswordsshallbechangedata
minimumofonceperyear.Facultyandstaffpasswordsshallbechangedataminimum
ofonceeverysix(6)months.Studentpasswordsshallbechangedataminimumof
onceperyear.
Security.Usersareexpectedtoaccessauthorizedwebsitesandfilesonly.Ifitis
suspectedthatasecurityproblemexistsontheNetwork,Internet,orIntranet,
employeesarerequiredtonotifyanadministratororcalltheEthicsHotlineat1800
6385093.Usersshallnotdemonstratetheproblemtootherusers.Anyuseridentified
asasecurityriskmaybedeniedaccesstotheNetwork,Internet,orIntranet.The
DistrictprovidesafirewalltoregulateoutsideaccesstoDistrictresourcesand
information.TheDistrictprovidesInternetfilteringtopreventaccesstoinappropriate
andunauthorizedsites.DuetotheconstantchangesandadditionstoInternet
websites,filteringsoftwareisnot100%effective.Specifically,asrequiredbythe
Children'sInternetProtectionAct,blockingshallbeappliedtovisualdepictionsof
materialsdeemedobsceneorchildpornography,oranymaterialsdeemedharmfulto
minors.Ifawebsiteisdeniedthatisnotwithintheprohibitionofthispolicy,arequest
canbemadethroughthehelpdesksystembyateacheroradministratorforreviewand
resolution.

Supervision.Totheextentpractical,stepsshallbetakentopromotethesafetyand
securityofuserswhenusingtechnologyresources.Itshallbetheresponsibilityofall
employeestosuperviseandmonitorusageofonlineactivitiesinaccordancewiththis
policyandtheChildren'sInternetProtectionAct.
Subjecttostaffsupervision,technologyprotectionmeasuresmaybedisabledor,inthe
caseofminors,minimizedonlyforbonafideresearchorotherlawfulpurposes.
Disablingorcircumventingtechnologyprotectionmeasureswithoutadministrative
approvalisstrictlyforbidden.

Vandalism.Usersshouldnotknowinglyuploadorcreatecomputerviruses,spyware,
malware,ormodifyanotherpersonsfileswithoutproperauthorization.Hacking,
identitytheft,falsifyingdocuments,andreleasingconfidentialinformationarestrictly
prohibited.
Transmittingandreceivingmaterials.Transmittingorreceivinganymaterialsin
violationofanystateorfederallawisstrictlyprohibited.Thisprohibitionincludes,butis
notlimitedto,copyrightedmaterialthreatening,obscene,orsexuallyexplicitmaterial
ormaterialprotectedbypatent.
Copyright.Usersareprohibitedfromillegallydownloadingorillegallycopyingfromany
electronicresource.Usersareexpectedtofollowcopyrightlawsandfairuseguidelines
asspecifiedbyboardpolicyandfederal/statelaws.
Webpages.StudentworkcanbepostedonanyoftheDistrictsinternalwebsitesoron
externaleducationalsites.Postingofstudentworkonnoneducationalwebsitesshall
requiretheapprovalofanadministrator.Allwebsitepostingsshallbeendorsedbya
teacheroradministrator.Postingsshallbemonitored,maintained,andremovedwhen
nolongerrequired.
Socialnetworking.Studentswhopostorcontributeanycommentorcontentonsocial
networkingsitesthatcausesasubstantialdisruptiontotheinstructionalenvironment
aresubjecttodisciplinaryprocedures.Employeeswhopostorcontributeanycomment
orcontentonsocialnetworkingsitesthatcausesasubstantialdisruptiontothe
instructionalenvironmentaresubjecttodisciplinaryproceduresuptoandincluding
termination.
Internetuse.Internetaccessisprovidedforthepurposeofenhancingandsupporting
theinstructionalandadministrativeprocess.Itisnottobeusedforcommercial
activities,profitmaking,postingoraccessinginformationthatisunrelatedtosupporting
thevision,mission,goals,orobjectivesofSCCPSS.Suchuseisaviolationofpolicywith
regardtoemployeetimecommitmentsanduseofSCCPSSequipment.
Networkconnectivity.Personallaptops/PDAsarepermittedtoconnecttotheDistrict
networkprovidedbySCCPSS.AllconnectedLaptops/PDAsaresubjecttothe
TechnologyResourcesAcceptableUsePolicy.Alllaptopsarerequiredtohaveupdated
virusprotectionandthelatestpatchestotheoperatingsysteminstalledpriorto
connectingtothenetwork.Maintenanceandsupportofsaidlaptops/PDAsarethesole
responsibilityoftheowner.
Consequences
TheuseoftheSCCPSStechnologyresourcesisaprivilege,notaright.Inappropriateuse
mayresultindisciplinaryactionorcancellationofthatprivilege.UseofSCCPSStechnology
resourcesiscontingentuponcompliancewithstateandfederallaws,Districtregulations,and
theuserresponsibilitiesoutlinedinthisdocument,andtheCodeofEthicsforGovernment
Service.

Violationsmayresultinalossofsomeorallprivilegestoaccesscomputerresources.
Specificdisciplinaryactionsinvolvingstudentmisusewillbedeterminedattheschool
levelinaccordancewithBoardofEducationpoliciesandtheSCCPSSStudentCodeof
Conduct.
EmployeesoftheDistrictwhoareinviolationofthispolicyaresubjecttodisciplinary
actionuptoandincludingtermination.
Outsideagenciesincludingbutnotlimitedtoguests,volunteers,andvendorsrequiring
SCCPSSnetworkaccesswhoviolatethisusepolicymayhaveuseprivilegesorany
contractswiththeSCCPSSterminated.
AnyonewhointentionallydamagesBoardpropertyshallmakerestitutionfordamages.
TheDepartmentofNetworkandEngineeringServicesshallberesponsiblefor
conductinginvestigationsandmakingwrittenreportstotheadministrationforreview
anddecisionmaking.
Disclaimer
SCCPSSmakesnowarrantiesofanykind,whetherexpressedorimplied,fortheservice
provided.SCCPSSwillnotberesponsibleforanydamagesufferedincluding,butnotlimited
to,lossofdataresultingfromdelays,serviceinterruption,and/orexposuretooffensiveor
threateningmaterial.UseofanyinformationobtainedviatheNetwork,Internet,orIntranet
isattheusersownrisk.SCCPSSspecificallydeniesanyresponsibilityfortheaccuracyor
qualityofanyinformationobtainedthroughitsservices,Network,Internet,orIntranet.
Nothinginthispolicyshallbeconstruedtopermitanyaccesstomaterialsthatcanbeharmful
tominorsorthatviolateanylocal,state,orfederallaws.

SavannahChathamCountyPublicSchools

DateIssued:11/28/2001
LastRevised:6/10/2015