ST. LOUIS BOARD OF EDUCATION POLICY

INSTRUCTION

ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND SECONDARY

Instructional Services – Student Acceptable Use Policy

The Board of Education of the City of St. Louis offers computer and Internet access to students at all school facilities. The use of the computer systems by St. Louis Public Schools students is a privilege and therefore it is accompanied by responsibilities as outlined in board policies and regulations. The board appoints the director of technology services to be the computer systems administrator and to be responsible for maintaining and monitoring the board’s computer systems.

Policy adopted: August 24, 1999

Revised: September 25, 2001

R6163.6

ST. LOUIS BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULATION

INSTRUCTION

ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND SECONDARY

Instructional Services – Student Acceptable Use Regulation

The Board of Education of the City of St. Louis provides computer systems to students at all school facilities. The term computer systems is meant to apply to hardware or physical devices, which are used for the purpose of computing and information management. These systems are capable of electronic mail, Internet services, and general information management. Student access to the board’s computer systems is intended solely for educational purposes. Students are responsible for good behavior in using the board’s computer systems. These regulations set forth user responsibilities and obligations in order to access the board’s computer systems.

No student will be given access to the board's technology resources until the board receives a copy of the parent/student affidavit set forth in the Student Rights and Responsibilities Conduct Handbook, acknowledging that the student and parent have read and understand the Student Acceptable Use Policy.

The board monitors the on-line activities of its students and operates a technology protection measure (a filtering/blocking device) on all computers with Internet access, as required by law. The filtering device currently employed by the board is provided by WebSense, Inc. This filtering/blocking device protects against access to visual depictions that are obscene, harmful to minors, and child pornography, as required by law.

Because the board's technology is a shared resource, the filtering/blocking device will apply to all computers with Internet access in the board. Evasion or disabling of the filtering/blocking device installed by the board, including attempts to evade or disable, is a serious violation of board policy.

The board’s computer systems may not be used for the following purposes:

1) For illegal or commercial use; commercial use is defined as offering or providing products or services. Commercial use also includes product advertising language;
2) To distribute personal information including student or employee names, addresses or telephone numbers;
3) To access, upload, download, or distribute pornographic, obscene, offensive or sexually explicit language or materials as determined by community standards;
4) To harass, insult, harm, or discriminate against others;
5) To disrupt the educational and administrative goals of the board;
6) To vandalize, damage, or disable the property of another person or organization;
7) To share confidential information, including personal identification, of themselves, other students, or employees;
8) To post anonymous messages;
9) To use the password of another student;
10) To use chat services;
11) To disrupt the educational process; and
12) Hacking and/or breaking into network software or other student or employees’ files.

Students using the board’s computer systems must also adhere by the following responsibilities:

1) Abide by all copyright laws;
2) Abide by all state, federal, local laws and board policies, regulations and administrative guidelines;
3) Respect the privacy of others; students should not intentionally obtain copies or modify files, passwords, or data that belongs to anyone else; and
4) Individuals given the board’s passwords will assume responsibility for use of those passwords. User names and passwords are private and are not to be shared with other individuals or be used by unauthorized individuals.

In addition to the above obligations and responsibilities, the Board of Education reserves the right to limit Internet access to times when resources and supervision are available. Students may not access the computer systems unless under direct supervision of a board employee or as otherwise authorized by the board. The board’s computer systems are not a medium for expression of any kind. The board network is considered to be a closed forum to the extent allowed by law.

All students will be provided with information on the dangers of sharing personal information about themselves or others over the Internet. Student users shall not agree to meet with persons they have met on-line (Internet or intranet) unless done with the knowledge and encouragement of a board employee for an educational purpose. Student users shall immediately disclose to their teacher or other school employee any inappropriate material they access through the computer or any message the student receives that is inappropriate or makes the user feel uncomfortable.

Students shall not have an expectation of privacy in anything they create, send, or receive on the computer systems. The computer systems and all accounts, files and data are the property of the board. Student computer accounts may be investigated and monitored. The board may conduct random searches for documents that contain unacceptable language or activities. The board reserves the right to view, edit, and/or remove any stored material on the computer systems. The board owns all content stored on any computer owned by the board.

Use of the board’s computer systems is a privilege, not a right, and therefore students inappropriately using the board’s computer systems or violating the above guidelines will be subject to disciplinary proceedings. These proceedings may include, in addition to the board’s ordinary rules of conduct, a suspension and/or complete removal of privileges regarding the computer resources and/or be subject to civil and criminal penalties. The board may determine appropriate use and may deny, evoke, suspend, or close any student account at any time based upon a determination of inappropriate use by a student.

Students may be disciplined for conduct related to the use of home computers if that conduct disrupts the educational process.

Students and their parents agree to hold the Board of Education, St. Louis Public Schools, its administrators, employees, and staff harmless from any liability arising in connection with the student’s access to the board’s computer systems. The board does not warrant that the functions of the systems will meet any specific requirements or that it will be error-free; nor shall it be liable for any damages sustained in connection with the use, operation, or inability to use the systems. Finally, the board will not be financially responsible for any costs incurred through unauthorized use.

References

cf: Board Policy and Regulation 4847 Employee Acceptable Use

Legal: Children’s Internet Protection Act, Pub. L. No. 106-554, §§ 1712, 1721, 1732, 114 Stat. 2673A 850-893 (2000).

Regulation approved: August 24, 1999

Revised: September 25, 2001