Beecher Community Schools
Administrative Guidelines
7540.03 - STUDENT NETWORK AND INTERNET ACCEPTABLE USE AND
SAFETY
Students are encouraged to use the Board's computers/network and Internet connection for educational
purposes. Use of such resources is a privilege, not a right. Students must conduct themselves in a
responsible, efficient, ethical, and legal manner. Unauthorized or inappropriate use, including any
violation of these guidelines, may result in cancellation of the privilege, disciplinary action consistent with
the Student Handbook, and/or civil or criminal liability. Prior to accessing the Internet at school, students
must sign the Student Network and Internet Acceptable Use and Safety Agreement. Parent permission is
required for minors.
Smooth operation of the Board's Network relies upon users adhering to the following guidelines. The
guidelines outlined below are provided so that users are aware of their responsibilities.
A. Students are responsible for their behavior and communication on the Internet.
B. Students may only access the Internet by using their assigned Internet/E-mail account. Use of
another person's account/address/password is prohibited. Students may not allow other users
to utilize their passwords.
C. Students may not intentionally seek information on, obtain copies of, or modify files, data or
passwords belonging to other users, or misrepresent other users on the network.
D. Students may not use the Internet to engage in "hacking" or other unlawful activities.
E. Transmission of any material in violation of any State or Federal law or regulation, or Board
policy is prohibited.
F. Any use of the Internet for commercial purposes, advertising, or political lobbying is prohibited.
G. Students are expected to abide by the following generally-accepted rules of network etiquette:
1. Be polite, courteous, and respectful in your messages to others. Use language appropriate
to school situations in any communications made through the Board's computers/network.
Do not use obscene, profane, vulgar, sexually explicit, defamatory, or abusive language in
your messages.
2. Never reveal names, addresses, phone numbers, or passwords of yourself or other
students, family members, teachers, administrators, or other staff members while
communicating on the Internet.
3. Do not transmit pictures or other information that could be used to establish your identity
without prior approval of a teacher.
4. Never agree to get together with someone you "meet" on-line without prior parent
approval.
5. Diligently delete old mail on a regular basis from the personal mail directory to avoid
excessive use of the electronic mail disk space.
H. Use of Internet to access, process, distribute, display or print child pornography and other
material that is obscene, objectionable, inappropriate and/or harmful to minors is prohibited. As
such, the following material is prohibited: material that appeals to a prurient interest in nudity,
sex, and excretion; material that depicts, describes or represents in a patently offensive way
with respect to what is suitable for minors an actual or simulated sexual act or sexual contact,
actual or stimulated normal or perverted sexual acts, or a lewd exhibition of the genitals; and
material that lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value as to minors. Offensive
messages and pictures, inappropriate text files, or files dangerous to the integrity of the Board's
computers/network (e.g., viruses) are also prohibited.
I. Malicious use of the Board's computers/network to develop programs that harass other users or
infiltrate a computer or computer system and/or damage the software components of a
computer or computing system is prohibited. Students may not use the Board's
computers/network in such a way that would disrupt their use by others. Students must avoid
intentionally wasting limited resources.
J. All communications and information accessible via the Internet should be assumed to be
private property (i.e. copyrighted and/or trademarked). All copyright issues regarding software,
information, and attributions of authorship must be respected.
K. Downloading of information onto the Board's hard drives is prohibited; all downloads must be to
floppy disk. If a student transfers files from information services and electronic bulletin board
services, the student must check the file with a virus-detection program before opening the file
for use. Only public domain software may be downloaded. If a student transfers a file or
software program that infects the Network with a virus and causes damage, the student will be
liable for any and all repair costs to make the Network once again fully operational.
L. Privacy in communication over the Internet and the Network is not guaranteed. To ensure
compliance with these guidelines, the Board reserves the right to monitor, review, and inspect
any directories, files and/or messages residing on or sent using the Board's computers/network.
Messages relating to or in support of illegal activities will be reported to the appropriate
authorities.
M. Use of the Internet and any information procured from the Internet is at the student's own risk.
The Board is not responsible for any damage a user suffers, including loss of data resulting
from delays, non-deliveries, mis-deliveries, or service interruptions. The Board is not
responsible for the accuracy or quality of information obtained through its services. Information
(including text, graphics, audio, video, etc.) from Internet sources used in student papers,
reports, and projects should be cited the same as references to printed materials.
N. Disclosure, use and/or dissemination of personal identification information of minors via the
Internet is prohibited, except as expressly authorized by the minor student's parent/guardian on
the "Student Network and Internet Acceptable Use and Safety Agreement Form."
O. Proprietary rights in the design of web sites hosted on the Board's servers remains at all times
with the Board.
H.R. 4577, P.L. 106-554, Children's Internet Protection Act of 2000
47 U.S.C. 254(h), (1), Communications Act of 1934, as amended
20 U.S.C. 6801 et seq., Part F, Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965,
as amended
18 U.S.C. 2256
18 U.S.C. 1460
18 U.S.C. 2246