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  Carmel Clay Schools Network and Internet
Acceptable use Policy

The School Board is committed to the effective use of technology to both enhance the quality of student learning and the efficiency of Corporation operations. It also recognizes that safeguards have to be established to ensure that the Corporation’s investment in both hardware and software is achieving the benefits of technology and inhibiting negative side effects.

The Superintendent is directed to establish administrative guidelines to ensure that students and staff are making appropriate and ethical use of computers, other equipment and networks. The Superintendent shall establish administrative guidelines which comply with federal and state laws and are in accordance with any guidelines promulgated by the State Department of Education.

The Superintendent shall also ensure that staff and students are adequately informed about disciplinary actions that will be taken if Corporation technology and/or networks are abused in any way or used in an illegal or unethical manner.

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Carmel Clay Schools Network and Internet
Acceptable Use Guidelines

The Carmel Clay Schools provide network and Internet, hereafter referred to as Network, access to enhance information gathering and communication skills, to assist in resource sharing, and to facilitate the use of technology to achieve educational objectives.

The Network is an electronic highway connecting thousands of computers all over the world and millions of individual subscribers. The Network extends the resources of the schools and provides benefits such as:

• worldwide electronic mail
• information and news from NASA and other research institutions
• public domain software and shareware of all types
• discussion groups
• access to the Library of Congress, ERIC, and university libraries

With access to computers and people all over the world, also comes the availability of material that may not be considered to be of educational value in the context of the school setting. Carmel Clay Schools has taken precautions to restrict access to controversial materials. However, on a global network it is impossible to control all materials and an industrious user may discover controversial information. Carmel Clay Schools firmly believe that the valuable information and interaction available on this worldwide network far outweighs the possibility that users may procure materials that is not consistent with the educational goals of the district.

Network access is a privilege, not a right. System administrators, members of the schools’ professional staff charged with responsibility for the Network, will provide accounts to individuals, and use will be supervised by the professional staff. Individuals will be asked to read the Carmel Clay Schools Network and Internet Acceptable Use Guidelines and sign the Carmel Clay Schools Network User Agreement.

All information services and features of the Network are intended for the private use of its registered users and any use of these resources for commercial-for-profit or other unauthorized purposes is expressly forbidden. Any problems which arise from a user’s account are the responsibility of the account holder. Use of an account by someone other than the registered account holder is forbidden and may be grounds for loss of access privileges.

Users may not use the Network, or its resources to:

• access, upload, download, or distribute pornographic, obscene, or sexually explicit materials

• transmit obscene, abusive, or sexually explicit language

• violate any local, state, or federal statute

• vandalize, damage, or disable the property of another person or organization

• access another person’s materials, information, or files without the implied or direct permission of that person

• vandalize, damage, or disrupt the operation of the Network

• intentionally seek passwords belonging to other users or use others’ accounts

• violate copyright, or otherwise use another person’s intellectual property without his or her prior approval or proper citation.

Users should not respond to unsolicited online contact and should report any harassment to the system administrator. Care should be taken to protect personal information, such as name, address, and telephone number. Electronic mail messages can be forwarded so users’ messages should not contain information that they would not wish shared with strangers. The Carmel Clay Schools reserve the right to log computer use and to monitor fileserver space utilization by users and to remove user accounts when violations of policies occur.

The Carmel Clay Schools does not guarantee that the functions of the system meet any specific requirements the user may have, or that it will be error free to uninterrupted; not shall it be liable for any direct or indirect, incidental or consequential damages relative to:

• information stored on school corporation diskettes, hard drives, or servers
• information retrieved through school corporation computers, networks or online resource
• personal property used to access school corporation computers, networks, or online resources
• unauthorized financial obligations resulting from use of school corporation resources and accounts to access the Network

Required parents’ signatures on the User Agreement form will ensure that they are notified that their children will be using school corporation resources and accounts to access the Network; that they may request activities not requiring Network access and that it is possible for students to purchase goods and services via the Network which could result in unwanted financial obligations.

It is the joint responsibility of students, parents, and employees of the school corporation to use the Network and its resources appropriately. Users are expected to abide by the generally accepted rules of network etiquette. These include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Be polite; do not use abusive language in your message to others
• Use appropriate language. Do not swear, use vulgarities or any other inappropriate language. Illegal activities are strictly forbidden.
• Do not reveal your personal address or phone numbers of students or colleagues.
• Note that electronic mail is not guaranteed to be private. People who operate the system do have access to all mail. Messages relating to or in support of illegal activities may be reported to the authorities.
• Do not use the network in such a way that you would disrupt the use of the network by other users.
• All communications and information accessible via the network should be assumed to be private property.
• Delete unnecessary files, responsibly use file transfer to avoid excessive use of disk space.

The Carmel Clay Schools Network and Internet Acceptable Use Policy and Guidelines are available for review by all parents, guardians, staff members, and members of the community. Copies may be obtained by writing Information Services, 5201 East 131^st Street, Carmel, IN 46033.

All provisions of this policy are subordinate to local, state, and federal statute.  1/96

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Carmel Clay Schools Network
User Agreement

Network access is coordinated through a complex association of government agencies, and regional and state networks. In addition, the smooth operation of the Network relies upon the proper conduct of the end users who must adhere to strict guidelines. These guidelines are provided here so that you are aware of the responsibilities you are about to acquire. In general, this requires efficient, ethical, and legal utilization of the network resources. If a Carmel Clay Schools user violates any of these provisions, his or her account will be terminated and future access could be denied. The signature(s) at the end of this document is (are) legally binding and indicates the party (parties) who signed has (have) read the terms and conditions carefully and understand(s) their significance.

I have read and will abide by the Carmel Clay Schools Network and Internet Acceptable Use Guidelines. I understand that any violation of the policies and guidelines is unethical and may constitute a criminal offense. Should I commit any violation, my access privileges may be revoked and disciplinary action and/or appropriate legal action may be taken.

User Name:___________________________________________

Please Print

User Signature:________________________________________ Date:______________

If user is a student in the Carmel Clay Schools, a parent or guardian signature is required.

_____Yes, as the parent/guardian of this student, I have read the Carmel Clay Schools Network and Internet Acceptable Use guidelines and I will help my student abide by them. I understand that this access is designed for educational purposes. I understand I could request alternative activities that would not require Network use, but I do not wish to do so. I understand that it is possible for students to purchase goods via the Network that could result in unwanted financial obligations. I accept full responsibility for supervision if and when my child's use is not in a school setting and I hereby give my permission for my student to have a Network account.

_____No, as the parent/guardian of this student, I do not want my student to have a Network account or engage in activities which require the use of the Network.

Parent/Guardian Name:_____________________________________

Please Print

Parent/Guardian Signature:__________________________________ Date:__________

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