Central Berkshire Regional School District
Acceptable Use Policy
The policies
that follow govern the use of the
myriad technology offerings we have within our district.
The primary purpose of the CBRSD Internet service is to support the educational objectives of the CBRSD and the district’s community in general. The CBRSD Internet service is not a public forum, and the CBRSD shall place limits on materials posted or accessed through the CBRSD Internet service.
While the Internet’s possibilities are tremendous, it also has potential for
abuse. To use the CBRSD Internet service, the user must take full responsibility
for his or her own actions. The CBRSD shall not be liable for the actions of
anyone accessing the Internet through this or any other Internet connection.
Users assume full responsibility for any costs, liabilities or damages arising
from the way the user chooses to use his/her access to the CBRSD Internet
service.
This Policy states expected behavior required by users of the network. In any
specific situation, the district shall prescribe appropriate conduct. The
following general Policies include:
1. Users are expected to abide by the generally accepted rules of network etiquette which include, but are not limited to, the following:
a. Be polite. Use appropriate, non-abusive language.
b. Users shall not reveal personal information such as last names, addresses, phone numbers and photos that could identify the user or CBRSD students or staff on any website or email, whether school sanctioned or personal, except the user’s information to the extent necessary for any lawful purpose related to their capacity in the CBRSD.
c. Do not use the network in such a way as to disrupt its use by others.
d. The Internet service is a resource. Please do not be wasteful.
e. Defamatory remarks, racial slurs or obscene or profane language will not be tolerated.
f. Network and Internet usernames and passwords are provided for each authorized user. Passwords will not be shared with anyone, and users must not use another person’s password. If you suspect that someone has discovered your password, you must change it immediately.
2. Any use for illegal purposes or activities is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, gaining unauthorized access to other systems, arranging for the sale or purchase of drugs, alcohol, or any retail purchases, participating in criminal activity, gambling, threatening others, transferring obscene material or attempting to do any of the above.
3. Any use for commercial purposes is prohibited. Users shall not create web pages that advertise or sell products or services and may not offer, provide, or purchase products or services through the CBRSD Internet service except for purchases involving any lawful purpose related to employment in the CBRSD. Online purchase order practices are not approved and must be done under current Policies.
4. Any use relating to, involving, or involved in party politics purposes is prohibited. The Internet service may only be used to communicate with elected officials.
5. Users should be aware that all materials available on the Internet are protected by copyright. Any material obtained from the Internet and included in one’s own work must be cited and credited by name or by electronic address or path on the Internet. Information obtained through email or news sources must also be credited as to sources. The CBRSD and its Internet service make no guarantees, implied or otherwise, regarding the factual reliability of data collected through the Internet.
6. Faculty, staff and students will have access to the Internet service in the computer lab, classroom or library. Faculty, staff and students are restricted to using the Internet service for educational and school related purposes only.
7. The Technology Coordinator and/or designee for each school facility shall approve school specific web pages before they are uploaded. All material on the web page shall be related to school activities.
8. Faculty and staff shall not access chat rooms or news groups except for any lawful purpose related to their employment in the CBRSD.
9. Non-educational online games are prohibited and shall not be accessed.
10. Users shall neither download nor install any commercial software, shareware or freeware without prior permission from the Technology Coordinator. All licenses and media will be available on site. Users are responsible for making use of software and electronic materials in accordance with copyright and licensing restrictions. CBRSD equipment and software may not be used to violate copyright or the terms of any license agreement. Users shall not change settings on the browser or any other application.
11. Users shall not upload, download or distribute pornographic, obscene, sexually explicit or threatening material.
12. Users shall not receive or transmit information pertaining to dangerous instruments such as bombs or other explosive devices, automatic weapons or other firearms, or other weaponry.
13. Users shall not attempt to gain unauthorized access to any file servers in the CBRSD, outside file servers, or go beyond the user’s authorized access. This includes logging in through another person’s account, accessing another person’s files, or attempting to do either. Users shall not seek information on, obtain copies of, or modify files, other data or passwords belonging to other users.
14. Users shall not vandalize school computers by causing physical damage, reconfiguring the computer system, attempting to disrupt the computer system, or destroying data by spreading computer viruses or by any other means.
15. Faculty, staff and students will be allowed access to the Internet service for personal use after school hours.
Users will have no expectation of privacy or confidentiality in the content
of electronic communications or other computer files sent and received on the
school computer network or stored in the user’s directory or on a disk drive.
Internet messages are public communication and are not private. In compliance
with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) the district will employ
monitoring and filtering hardware and software. Items monitored include
Internet, email, chat, ftp, telnet and print jobs. The district may, but is not
obliged to monitor messages without prior notice The CBRSD also reserves the
right to examine all data stored on diskettes involved in the user’s use of the
CBRSD Internet service. All communications including text and images may be
disclosed to law enforcement or other third parties without prior consent of the
sender or the receiver. Network administrators may review communications to
maintain integrity system-wide and ensure that users are using the system in a
responsible manner.
The district reserves the right to deny, revoke or suspend specific user privileges and/or take other disciplinary action for violations of this Policy in the same manner as any other disciplinary action or as required by law. The district will advise appropriate law enforcement agencies of illegal activities conducted through the CBRSD Internet service. The district will cooperate fully with local, state and/or federal officials in any investigation related to any illegal activities conducted through the CBRSD Internet service.