Acceptable+Use+Guidelines


 * COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCEPTABLE USAGE POLICY**


 * INFORMATION SYSTEMS DIRECTOR: Lisa Roe**


 * Terms of Usage**

The term “Educational Purposes” in this document shall be defined as classroom activities, career and professional development and high quality self discovery activities of an educational nature.


 * The Internet**

The Internet is a collection of interconnected computer networks around the world that expands classroom and library media resources by providing access to information, images, and even computer software from places otherwise impossible to reach. These resources can yield individual and group projects, collaboration, curriculum materials and idea sharing. Internet access makes possible, contacts with people all over the world, bringing into the school, specifically the classroom, experts in every content area and students and adults from other nations and cultures.

It is imperative that Bristol-Plymouth students and guests understand and adhere to Bristol Plymouth’s “Computer and Internet Acceptable Usage Policy”.

Bristol-Plymouth will make every reasonable effort to ensure the Internet is used responsibly by making every reasonable effort to control access to inappropriate material. Bristol Plymouth limits access to specific resources that have been deemed objectionable by using a “filtering” process. However, given that the Internet is an ever-changing network, with no one single arbiter or authority; it is not possible for the filtering technology to prevent all questionable material from appearing on any particular system on our network. The educational value of resources accessed through the Internet is the joint responsibility of students, parents and employees of Bristol-Plymouth. If it comes to the attention of Bristol Plymouth’s administration that a Bristol Plymouth student is posting provocative, derogatory or defamatory comments about Bristol Plymouth, its employees or other students, posting or seen in inappropriate images online, or Cyberbullying, Bristol Plymouth will, at the discretion of the principal or his/her designee, make every reasonable effort to contact the student’s parent and may notify the Authority Having Jurisdiction regardless of whether it was done on Bristol Plymouth’s equipment or during the school day. Inappropriate images would include, but not be limited to, images depicting pornography, possession of alcohol, drugs, weapons or any other activity that is deemed illegal.

Please take the time to discuss this issue with your son or daughter. There are several informational sites available to parents that offer suggestions on how you might better protect your children. Two sites that we often see referenced are [] and [|http://www.wiredkids.org/.]


 * Rights and Privileges**

The student user has full rights (within the limits of these guidelines, responsibilities and prohibitions) to the instructional-networked resources provided by Bristol-Plymouth. The student's network account may provide for personal storage space on Bristol-Plymouth network, which should be treated as a student locker and should be cleared periodically. It is important that the students keep passwords secure and private.

It is specifically set forth in this policy, that there is NO right of privacy with respect to the use of school computers or any work produced by such use, however described. Network and computer storage areas that may be available for students to store computerized information are not private areas. In order to maintain Bristol Plymouth’s systems integrity and to ensure that student users are using the system responsibly and properly and within stated limits, files stored in Bristol-Plymouth network storage areas and computers may be reviewed at any time by the Principal or his/her designee (network administrators). The Principal or his/her designee (network administrators) may review all network communication across Bristol-Plymouth’s computer network. Computers, files, disks, other types of storage media and information, including use, are subject to inspection at any time.


 * Disclaimers**

Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School makes no warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied, for the provided access. The administration, staff, and Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School are not responsible for any damages incurred, including, but not limited to, loss of data resulting from delays or interruption of service, loss of data stored on Bristol-Plymouth’s resources, or for personal property used to access Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School resources; for the accuracy, nature, or quality of information stored on Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School’s resources or gathered through corporation-provided access; for unauthorized financial obligations incurred through Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School’s provided access. Further, even though the Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School may use technical or manual means to limit student access, these limits do not provide a foolproof means for enforcing the provisions of this policy. All provisions of this agreement are subordinate to local, state and federal laws and regulations.


 * School Computer and Internet usage**

Not all of the information freely available on the Internet is reliable or helpful. Students must evaluate the source of the information, as well as the information itself, to determine its appropriateness and usefulness.

In addition to providing information, the Internet is capable of providing the means to communicate directly with others via “instant or private messaging” programs, video conferencing programs, and other means. Also, there are many places and software technologies that will allow for the free exchange of files between computers over the Internet, such as email. Not all of these methodologies are appropriate for an educational environment as outlined in this document.

Downloading or loading of software on Bristol-Plymouth’s computers is prohibited. There is an enormous quantity and variety of free software available on the Internet. However, widespread downloading of such software on the school’s computers has a cumulative negative effect, and can result in the substantial degradation of performance, additional maintenance time, and increased threat of virus infestation.

Students may not use school computers to access any Internet site or sites that contain information that is inappropriate for educational purposes or sites that teachers, staff or administration deem inappropriate for the instructional program. Examples of inappropriate information / content include, but is not limited to, the following:

Students may not access, upload, download, transmit, display or distribute:

• offensive material – content that is in poor taste or could be considered obscene, abusive, or sexually explicit language, racist, illegal, harassing or inflammatory. • distribute dangerous material – content that provides direction in the construction of explosives or similar devices or instruction or practices that could injure the students themselves or others. • inappropriate contacts – materials that can lead to contact with strangers who could potentially threaten the student’s health or safety.

If a student is uncertain as to whether or not a site’s material might be considered inappropriate, the student should consult their teacher or a member of the administrative staff for clarification.


 * Hardware**

Bristol-Plymouth computers are managed in order to allow for students to use the systems only for educational purposes. Under no circumstances is a student to attempt to modify the existing hardware configuration of a Bristol-Plymouth computer, either by opening the case or changing BIOS and or other hardware settings. An exception would be the Computer Network Technology program students, where, under the direction of an instructor and on specifically “designated as a training workstation” may modify the existing hardware configuration as part of their course work. Students are responsible for reporting any damage discovered on school computers to their teacher immediately.

It is specifically set forth in this policy that under NO circumstances are either students, staff or visitors are allowed to connect their own personal computers, laptop or notebook computers, personal digital assistants (PDA’s) or any other electronic device to any of the Bristol-Plymouth computers or to the Bristol-Plymouth internal network, without the expressed knowledge and written consent of the Principal or his/her designee.


 * Plagiarism**

Information obtained from the Internet as part of a research project must be attributed to its source, using a standard bibliography notation. Students may not violate a copyrighted source, or otherwise use another person's intellectual property without his or her prior approval or proper citation.


 * Contact**

Each student is responsible for all activity that occurs under his/her user account. Students may not place information on the Internet that would fall under the category of “unacceptable sites” listed above.

Students may not give out any personal information (e.g. address, phone number, user name, passwords, etc.) about themselves or about other people. Students may not use school computers for commercial purposes or political lobbying.


 * Summary**

This is a list of the more common things students are specifically NOT permitted to do. • Download any files, especially music and videos, from the Internet, unless directed to by an instructor for educational purposes. • Use any form of “instant or private messaging” software. • Install any applications or software onto Bristol-Plymouth computers. • Disable or modify any running tasks or services. • Transfer and/or store music files from any personal devices to Bristol-Plymouth systems. • Play games, unless directed to by an instructor for educational purposes, at any time on Bristol-Plymouth computers, including Internet-based games. • Use proxies or other means to bypass the content filtering systems in place and or defeat any settings that prevent the access of material deemed and flagged as inappropriate by the blocking devices. • Use remote accessing software or hardware to take control of any network attached device or workstation. • Remove any License decals or inventory control tags attached to the systems.

This is a list of the more common things students are specifically NOT permitted to do on Bristol-Plymouth’s computer network:

• disrupt its use by other individuals • by connecting to other Bristol-Plymouth networks • to perform any illegal or inappropriate act, such as an attempt to gain unauthorized access to other systems on the network • Students must honor copyrights and licenses, as well as the legal rights of the software producers any network providers. • Any student who inadvertently accesses an inappropriate site must immediately leave the site and report it to his/her instructor. • Use of another person’s user account without that user’s expressed written consent is prohibited. • Attempts to log onto the network as a system administrator • Any user identified as a security risk by the principal or his/her designee may be denied access to the network. • Damage caused by the intentional misuse or vandalism of equipment will be charged to the person who committed the act.


 * Consequences**

Use of school computers and the internet is a privilege. Failure to abide by the terms of this policy will result in the following disciplinary actions:

Willful damage of computer hardware, computer software (including the deletion of programs and/or files) and computer networks will result in the student being responsible for the current repair and replacement cost of the damaged software and/or equipment. Any student violating the terms of this document will receive appropriate disciplinary action. As defined in the student handbook, under “Violating Computer Use Policy” students could lose computer/network privileges, and/or receive detention, suspension or expulsion. The disciplinary action may include appropriate criminal charges entered against the student with the Authority Having Jurisdiction.

The Principal or his/her designee may close an account at any time as required. The administration, faculty and staff of Bristol-Plymouth may make a request to the Principal or his/her designee to deny, revoke or suspend specific user accounts based upon violations of this policy.

Last Updated: 3/17/10