Community Independent School District

RULES and REGULATIONS FOR COMPUTER USE

AVAILABILITY OF ACCESS

Access to the District=s computer network, including the Internet and Email, shall be made available to students and employees exclusively for instructional and administrative purposes and in accordance with administrative regulations.

Access to the District=s computer network is a privilege, not a right. All users shall be required to acknowledge receipt and understanding of all rules and regulations governing use of the system and shall agree in writing to comply with such regulations and guidelines. Noncompliance with applicable rules and regulations with result in disciplinary action consistent with District policies and regulations. Violations of law may result in criminal prosecutions as well as disciplinary action by the District.

ACCEPTABLE USE

The Superintendent or designee shall develop and implement administrative regulations, guidelines, and user agreements, consistent with the purposes and mission statement of the District and with law and policy governing copyright.

MONITORED USE

Electronic mail transmissions and other use of the computer network by students and employees shall not be considered confidential and may be monitored at any time by designated staff to ensure appropriate use for educational or administrative purposes.

DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY

The District shall not be liable for the users= inappropriate use of the District=s electronic communication resources or violations of copyright restrictions, users= mistakes or negligence, or costs incurred by users. The District shall not be liable for ensuring the accuracy or usability of any information found on the Internet.

The Superintendent or designee will oversee the District=s electronic communications system.

The District=s computer network will be used only for administrative and instructional purposes consistent with the District=s mission and goals.

TRAINING

Training for employees and students in the proper use of the computer system will be provided. All users will be provided with a copy of the School Board Adopted Acceptable Use Policy, upon request. Training in the District=s computer systems will emphasize ethical use of the system=s resources.

COPYRIGHT

Copyrighted software or data may not be placed on any system, both standalone or connected to the network, without permission from the holder of the copyright. Only the owner or the individuals the owner specifically authorizes may upload copyrighted material to the system(s). No users may install software purchased for home use on District computers.

SYSTEM ACCESS

Access to the District=s electronic communication system will be governed as follows:

$                     with the approval of the Superintendent, Principals, or Technology Coordinator, users will be granted appropriate access to the computer network.

$                     Any users identified as having violated District or campus system rules, regulations, or acceptable use guidelines will be subject to disciplinary action consistent with District policies and regulations.

TECHNOLOGY COORDINATOR=S RESPONSIBILITIES

$                     Be responsible for the disseminating and enforcing applicable District policies and acceptable use for the District computer system.

$                     Ensure that all users of the District=s computer network complete and sign an agreement to abide by District policies and administrative guidelines regarding such use. All agreements shall be kept on file by the appropriate personnel.

$                     Ensure that all employees supervising students who use the District=s computer network provide training emphasizing the appropriate use of these resources.

$                     Be authorized to monitor or examine all system activities deemed appropriate to ensure proper use of the system.

$                     Be authorized to set limits for disk utilization on the system, as needed.

INDIVIDUAL USER RESPONSIBILITIES

The following standards will apply to all users of the District=s electronic information/communications system. Users who violate these standards may be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with District policies and regulations:

SYSTEM CONDUCT

$                     The system may not be used for illegal purposes, in support of legal activities, or for any other activity prohibited by District Policy.

$                     System users may not use another person=s login and password to try to access their account. This offense may result in the loss of network privileges.

$                     System users shall maintain Email in accordance with established guidelines.

$                     System users may not upload programs to the District=s system without appropriate authorization.

$                     System users may not bring diskettes from home for use on the computer network without proper authorization and virus checking. Violation of this may result in the loss of computer use.

VANDALISM PROHIBITED

Any malicious attempt to harm or destroy District equipment or materials, data of

another user of this District=s computer network or other networks that are connected to the Internet is prohibited. Deliberate attempts to compromise, degrade, or disrupt system performance may be viewed as violations of District policies and administrative regulations and, possibly, as criminal activity under applicable state and federal laws. This includes, but is not limited to, the uploading or creating of computer viruses. EMPLOYEES OR PARENTS/GUARDIANS OF STUDENTS WHO HAVE KNOWINGLY ATTEMPTED TO HARM, DESTROY, OR STEAL DISTRICT EQUIPMENT WILL BE HELD FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF SUCH ITEMS.

FORGERY PROHIBITED

Forgery or attempted forgery of electronic mail messages is prohibited. ATTEMPTS TO READ, DELETE, COPY, OR MODIFY THE ELECTRONIC MAIL OF OTHER SYSTEM USERS OR DELIBERATE INTERFERENCE WITH THE ABILITY OF OTHER SYSTEM USERS TO SEND/RECEIVE ELECTRONIC MAIL IS PROHIBITED. This rule will be strongly enforced and violators will receive disciplinary action.

LIMITATION/TERMINATION/and/ or

REVOCATION OF SYSTEM USER ACCESS

The District may limit, suspend or revoke a system user=s access to the network or personal workstation upon violation of District policy administrative regulations regarding acceptable use.

WARNING

System users and parents/guardians of students with access to the District=s electronic communications system should be aware that use of the system may provide access to other communications systems in the global electric network that may contain inaccurate or objectionable material.

DISCLAIMER

The District=s system is provided on an Aas-is, as available@ basis. The District does not make any warranties, whether expressed or implied with respect to any services provided by the system and any information or software contained therein. The District does not warrant that the functions or services performed by, or that the software contained on, the system will meet the system user=s requirements, or that the system will be uninterrupted or error-free, or that the defects will be corrected.

Opinions, advice, services, and all other information expressed by system users, information providers, service providers, or other third party individuals in the system are those of the providers and not the District.

The District will cooperate fully with local, state, or federal officials in any investigation concerning or relating to misuse of the District=s electronic communications system.