The Vineland Board of Education recognizes that as telecommunications
and other new technologies shift the manner in which information is accessed,
communicated and transferred that those changes will alter the nature
of teaching, learning and tasks associated with the educational mission
of the school district. Access to telecommunications will allow all members
of the Vineland School District's educational community (administration,
teachers, support staff, students, parents, board members) to explore
databases, libraries, Internet sites, resource servers, and the like
while exchanging information with individuals in the school district
and throughout the world. The Vineland Board of Education supports access
by members of the Vineland School District's educational community to
information sources, but reserves the right to limit in school use to
materials appropriate to educational purposes and the mission of the
Vineland Public School District. The Vineland Board of Education directs
the Superintendent or designee to effect training of all staff members
in skills appropriate to analyzing and evaluating such resources as to
appropriateness for educational purposes.
The Vineland Board of Education also recognizes that telecommunications
will allow members of the Vineland School District's educational community
(administration, teachers, support staff, students, parents, board members)
access to information sources that have not been pre-screened by educators
using the Vineland Board of Education approved standards. The Vineland
Board of Education therefore adopts the following standards of conduct
for the use of computer networks and declares unethical, unacceptable
or illegal behavior as just cause for taking disciplinary action, limiting
or revoking network access privileges and/or instituting legal action
or taking any other appropriate action as deemed necessary.
The Vineland Board of Education provides access to computer network/computers
for administrative and educational purposes only. The Vineland Board
of Education retains the right to restrict or terminate access to any
member(s) of the Vineland School District's educational community (administration,
teachers, support staff, pupils, students, board members) to the computer
network/computers at any time, for any reason. The Vineland Board of
Education retains the right to have the Superintendent or designee monitor
network activity, in any form necessary, to maintain the integrity of
the network(s) and ensure its proper use.
The purpose the Internet is to support research and education in and
among academic institutions in the world by providing access to unique
resources and the opportunity for collaborative work. The use of Internet
must be in support of education and research and consistent with the
educational objectives of the Vineland Public Schools. Use of other organization's
network or computing resources must comply with the rules appropriate
for that network. Transmission of any material in violation of any U.S.
or state regulation is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited
to: copyrighted material, threatening or obscene material or material
protected by trade secret. Use for commercial activities is generally
not acceptable. Use for product advertisement or political lobbying is
also prohibited. The use of the Internet is a privilege, not a right,
and inappropriate use will result in cancellation of those privileges.
Standards for Use of Computer Networks
Any individual engaging in the following actions when using computer
networks/computers shall be subject to discipline or legal action:
A. Using the computer network(s)/computers for illegal, inappropriate
or obscene purposes, or in support of such activities. Illegal activities
are defined as activities that violate federal, state, local laws and
regulations. Inappropriate activities are defined as those that violate
the intended use of the network. Obscene activities shall be defined
as a violation of generally accepted social standards for use of publicly
owned and operated communication vehicles.
B. Using the computer network(s)/computers to violate copyrights, institutional
or third party copyrights, license agreements or other contracts.
C. Using the computer network(s) in a manner that:
1. Intentionally disrupts network traffic or crashes the network;
2. Degrades or disrupts equipment or system performance;
3. Uses the computing resources of the school district for commercial
purposes, financial gain or fraud;
4. Steals data or other intellectual property;
5. Gains or seeks unauthorized access to the files of others or vandalizes
the data of another user;
6. Network hardware/software monitoring, scanning, or "sniffing" for
malicious code or intrusion is restricted to central office network
management staff;
7. Gains or seeks unauthorized access to resources or entities;
8. Forges electronic mail messages or uses an account owned by others;
9. Invades privacy of others;
10. Posts anonymous messages;
11. Use of the network for personal and private business;
12. Any use of the network for product advertisement or political lobbying;
13. Network accounts are to be used only by the authorized owner of the
account for the authorized purpose;
14. Users shall not intentionally seek information on, obtain copies
of, or modify files, other data, or passwords belonging to other users,
or misrepresent other users on the network;
15. Malicious use of the network to develop programs that harass other
users or infiltrate a computer or computing system and/or damage the
software components of a computer or computing system;
16. Hate mail, harassment, discriminatory remarks and other antisocial
behaviors;
17. Use of the network to access or process files dangerous to the integrity
of the local area network or wide area network;
18. Use of network systems (data, video, voice) for soliciting or distributing
information with the intent to harass, intimidate, or bully which can
be described as Cyber Bullying;
19. Violating of any provision of individual privacy rights in accordance
with FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) and the maintenance
of confidential student and staff information;
20. Possesses any data which is a violation of this policy; and/or
21. Engages in other activities that do not advance the educational purposes
for which computer network/computers are provided.
Internet Safety/Protection
The school district is in compliance with the Children's Internet Protection
Act and has installed technology protection measures for all computers
in the school district, including computers in media centers/libraries,
that block and/or filter visual depictions that are obscene as defined
in section 1460 of Title 18, United States Code; child pornography,
as defined in section 2256 of Title 18, United States Code; are harmful
to minors including any pictures, images, graphic image file or other
visual depiction that taken as a whole and with respect to minors,
appeals to a prurient interest in nudity, sex, or excretion; or depicts,
describes, or represents in a patently offensive way, with respect
to what is suitable for minors, sexual acts or conduct; or taken as
a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific
value as to minors.
The school district will certify on an annual basis, that the schools,
including media centers/libraries, in the district are in compliance
with the Children's Internet Protection Act and the school district enforces
the requirements of this policy.
This Policy also establishes Internet safety policy and procedures in
the district as required in the Neighborhood Children's Internet Protection
Act. This policy addresses access by minors to inappropriate matter on
the Internet and World Wide Web; the safety and security of minors when
using electronic mail and other forms of direct electronic communications;
unauthorized access, including hacking and other unlawful activities
by minors online; unauthorized disclosures, use, and dissemination of
personal identification information regarding minors; and measures designed
to restrict minors' access to materials harmful to minors.
Notwithstanding blocking and/or filtering the visual depictions prohibited
in the Children's Internet Protection Act, the Vineland Board of Education
shall determine other Internet material that is inappropriate for minors.
In compliance with yearly certification requirements of CIPA, the Vineland
School District will disseminate the district's methods and policies
regarding filtered Internet access to the educational community through
the district's website, (www.vineland.org) email, and the district's
educational access channel 13.
Security
Security on any computer system is a high priority, especially when
the system involves many users. If a user feels they can identify a
security
problem on the Internet or the Vineland School District’s network,
the user must notify the Site Based Technology Coordinator (SBTC),
Computer Technician, the Building Principal or the Supervisor of Technology.
Do
not demonstrate the problem to other users. Attempts to log on to the
network as a system administrator will result in cancellation of user
privileges. Any user identified as a security risk or having a history
of problems with other computer systems may be denied access to the
network.
Cyber bullying
As per 2002 New Jersey Law, AB 1874, the state legislature finds and
declares that : a safe and civil environment in school is necessary
for students to learn and achieve high academic standards; harassment,
intimidation
or bullying, like other disruptive or violent behaviors, is conduct
that disrupts both a student’s ability to learn and a school’s
ability to educate its students in a safe environment.
In compliance with that law, usage and employment of network systems
(data, video, or voice) to harass, intimidate, or bully which can be
described as Cyber bullying, is unacceptable.
If a user feels they are the subject of Cyber Bullying, the user should
notify the Site Based Technology Coordinator (SBTC), Computer Technician,
the Building Principal or the Supervisor of Technology.
Violations
Individuals violating this policy shall be subject to the consequences
as indicated in this document and other appropriate discipline, which
includes but are not limited to:
1. Use of the network(s)/computers only under direct supervision;
2. Suspension of network privileges;
3. Revocation of network privileges;
4. Suspension of computer privileges;
5. Revocation of computer privileges;
6. Suspension from school (student);
7. Expulsion from school (student);
8. Reprimand, suspension and/or dismissal (staff members);
9. Legal action and /or referral to prosecuting authorities; and/or
10. Any other appropriate action that may be deemed necessary as determined
by the Superintendent and approved by the Board of Education.
All employees shall be required to acknowledge receipt of this Policy
2361.1 and to execute an Acceptable Use of Computer Network/Computers
and Resources Agreement pursuant to this Policy. Refusal to sign and
acknowledge receipt of this form may, at the discretion of the District,
be deemed insubordination.
N.J.S.A. 2A:38A-3
Federal Communications Commission: Children's Internet Protection Act.
Adopted: 12 November 1997
REVISED: 09 April 2003
REVISED: 17 November 2003
REVISED: 10 August 2005