Acceptable Use Policy - Staff

The Ardsley Union Free School District is committed to optimizing student learning,  teaching, employee performance, and productivity. The district considers access to a computer network, including the Internet, a powerful and valuable tool to enhance education, research, productivity, and communication. It requires the use of computers and computer-related technology throughout the District.

 

As a user of technology, I understand and agree to follow the rules of the Acceptable Use Policy in all of my work with and any digital device, (computers, smartphones, tablets, e-readers) and Internet resources in the Ardsley School District: 

 

• Computer, network, and Internet facilities (including, without limitation, e-mail and discussion groups) are to be used only for purposes directly related to work, teaching or scholarship. However, the School District also recognizes that some incidental personal use is acceptable, subject to the limitations described in greater detail below.

 

• Using the District’s computer network is a privilege, not a right. Inappropriate use may result in the suspension or revocation of that privilege.

 

• Each individual is issued a network account with a unique login name and password. Passwords must be changed periodically. 

 

• External access will be provided to authorized users by the assignment of unique log-in identification codes ("usernames" and passwords) and, where appropriate, with limited hard disk space on School District hardware, for their own individual use. Authorized users will be personally responsible for maintaining the integrity of the School District's access policy, and may not permit other persons to use their usernames, passwords, accounts or disk space, or disclose their usernames, passwords, or account information to any third party.

 

• Users must respect the integrity and security of the School District's systems and network and the access privileges, privacy, and reasonable preferences of other users. The School District reserves the right to limit access time and disk space to optimize an equitable allocation of resources among users.

 

• All network users are expected to abide by the accepted rules of network etiquette;

 

• Abusive language, racism, sexism, vulgarities, political views, and swear words are prohibited. 

• If you are using your own device at school, users are required to have up-to-date virus protection before being connected to the network.   The District is not responsible if your device is damaged in any way, misplaced or stolen, and will not offer any restitution for loss. Your personal equipment is not insured by the district nor will the district provide repairs or maintenance. 

 

• Network users identifying a security problem on the District's network must notify the appropriate teacher, administrator or technology department. 

 

• Any network user identified as a security risk or having a history of violations of District computer use guidelines may be denied access to the District's network. 

 

• Any user who is suspected to have engaged in an illegal activity while using the network may be referred to the appropriate legal authorities. 

 

Internet /Social Networking / Email Access

Within reason, freedom of speech and access to information will be honored. Users should be warned that some material accessible via the Internet might contain items that are illegal, defamatory, inaccurate or potentially offensive to some people. While our intent is to make Internet access available to further educational goals and objectives, students may find ways to access other materials as well. Filtering software is in use to block content as specified in the Children’s Internet Protection Act, but no filtering system is capable of blocking 100% of the inappropriate material available on the Internet. Ardsley School District believes that the benefits to students accessing the Internet and using social networking resources outweigh the disadvantages. By using these resources responsibly, opportunities for collaboration provide the skills that young people need for success in college and careers.  

 

Rules of Conduct and Compliance

 

Employees who violate this Acceptable Use Policy may have their access privileges suspended or revoked by the network administrator. In addition, further disciplinary action may be taken as permitted by applicable law and the terms of any applicable collective bargaining agreement. Except as otherwise indicated below, all policies and prohibitions regarding users of the network also apply to users of individual School District computers.

 

• The network may not be used to download, copy, or store any software, shareware, or freeware. In order to avoid copyright issues, this prohibition applies to any such downloading, copying or storage, regardless of copyright status, unless approved by a network administrator. Only the network administrator is authorized to consent to the terms of any software license with respect to downloaded programs.

 

• With the exception of educational software installed and/or modified by a faculty member for instructional purposes, users may not add any software or applications to the School District's network or computers, or add to or modify any existing software or applications, without the express permission of the network administrator. Any software that is installed must be properly licensed from the copyright owner thereof, and any modifications must comply with the terms of the applicable license(s).

 

• The network may not be used for any commercial purposes, and users may not buy or sell products or services through the system.

 

• The network may not be used for advertising, political campaigning, or political lobbying.

 

• The network may not be used for any activity, or to transmit any material, that violates United States, New York State, or local laws. This includes but is not limited to, fraudulent acts, violations of copyright laws, and any threat or act of intimidation or harassment against another person.
   

•  The School District is a place of tolerance and good manners. Use of the network or any School District computer facilities for hate mail, defamatory statements, statements intended to injure or humiliate others by disclosure of personal information (whether true or false), personal attacks on others, and statements expressing animus towards any person or group because of race, color, religion is prohibited. Network users may not use vulgar, derogatory, or obscene language. Network users may not post anonymous messages or forge e-mail or other messages.

 

• Users are strongly advised to use caution about revealing any information on the Internet that would enable others to exploit them or their identities: this includes last names, home addresses, Social Security numbers, passwords, credit card numbers or financial institution account information, and photographs. Under no circumstances should a user reveal such information about another person without that person's express prior written consent.

 

• Network users may not log on to someone else's account, attempt to access another user's files, or permit anyone else to log on to their accounts. Users may not try to gain unauthorized access ("hacking") to the files or computer systems of any other person or organization. However, employees must be aware that any information stored on or communicated through the School District network may be susceptible to "hacking" by a third party.

 

• Network users may not access Web sites, newsgroups, or chat areas that contain material that is obscene or that promotes illegal acts. Likewise, the use of the network to access or process pornographic material (whether visual or written), or material that contains dangerous recipes, formulas, or instructions, is prohibited.

 

• Users may not access newsgroups, chat rooms, list servers, or other services where they may communicate with people outside of the School District (specifically including e-mail) except for District business. While some incidental personal use of such facilities may be permitted, such incidental use will not be deemed a waiver of the School District's right to prohibit all such use, either on an individually applicable or a generally applicable basis.

 

• Users may not engage in "spamming" (sending irrelevant or inappropriate electronic communications individually or en masse) or participate in electronic chain letters other than for official School District purposes.

 

• Users who maliciously access, alter, delete, damage, or destroy any computer system, computer network, computer program, or data will be subject to criminal prosecution as well as disciplinary action by the School District. This includes but is not limited to, changing or deleting another user's account; changing the password of another user; using an unauthorized account; damaging any files; altering the system; using the system to make money illegally; destroying, modifying, vandalizing, defacing or abusing hardware, software, furniture or any School District property. Users may not develop programs that harass other users or infiltrate a computer or computer system and/or damage the software components of a computer or computer system (e.g., create viruses, or worms).

 

• Users may not intentionally disrupt information network traffic or crash the network and connected systems; they must not degrade or disrupt equipment or system performance. They must not download or save excessively large files without the express approval of the network administrator.

 

• Users may not plagiarize, which is a serious academic offense. Plagiarism is "taking ideas or writings from another person and offering them as your own." Credit must always be given to the person who created the article or the idea. A person who, by cutting and pasting text or data, leads readers to believe that what they are reading is the person's original work when it is not, is guilty of plagiarism.

 

• Users must comply with the "fair use" provisions of the United States Copyright Act of 1976. "Fair use" in this context means that the copyrighted materials of others may be used only for scholarly purposes and that the use must be limited to brief excerpts. The School District's library professionals can assist employees with fair use issues.

• Users may not copy any copyrighted or licensed software from the Internet or the network without the express permission of the copyright holder: software must be purchased or licensed before it can legally be used.
   

•  Users may not take data, equipment, software, or supplies (paper, toner cartridges, disks, etc.) for their personal use. Such taking will be treated as theft. The use of School District printers and paper must be reasonable.

 

• The School District assumes no responsibility for student, faculty, or staff websites created and hosted outside of the School District network.

 

Violations and Consequences

 

• Consequences of violations include but are not limited to:

• Suspension or revocation of information network access;

• Suspension or revocation of network privileges;

•  Suspension or revocation of computer access;

•  Disciplinary action, up to and including termination of services.

 

In addition, the School District will seek monetary compensation for damages in appropriate cases. Repeated or severe violations will result in more serious penalties than one-time or minor infractions.

 

This Acceptable Use Policy is subject to change. The School District reserves the right to restrict or terminate information network access at any time for any reason. The School District further reserves the right to monitor network activity as it sees fit to maintain the integrity of the network and to monitor acceptable use. School and District-wide administrators will make the final determination as to what constitutes an unacceptable use.

 

Disciplinary penalties involving adverse employment action will be determined by applicable state law and the terms of applicable collective bargaining agreements. However, suspension or revocation of access privileges will be determined by the network administrator, acting in consultation with school and District-wide administrators.

  

 

No Privacy Guarantee 

Employees must be aware that material created, stored on, or transmitted from or via the system is not guaranteed to be private. In addition to the fact that the Internet is inherently insecure, School District network administrators may review the system at any time to ensure that the system is being used properly. For this reason, employees should expect that emails, materials placed on personal Web pages, and other work that is created on the network may be viewed by a third party.

 

The following policies are intentionally broad in scope and, therefore, may include references to resources, technology, and uses not yet available.

 

Required Signature

Ardsley School District Network User

I understand and will abide by the provisions and conditions of the district's Acceptable Use Policy. I understand that any violations of the above provisions may result in disciplinary action, the revoking of my user account, and appropriate legal action. As a condition of network use, I am obligated to report any use of the District technology in a manner inconsistent with or in violation of the Terms and Conditions listed above.

 

Staff Name (please print) ______________________________________________________________
 

Staff Signature ________________________________________________________________________
 

Staff Title/Building __________________________________________________________________
 

Date _________________________

 

Please complete and email the last page to techsupport@ardsleyschools.org