FOREST HILLS NETWORK INFORMATION SYSTEM ACCEPTABLE USE GUIDELINES

Forest Hills Public Schools has implemented a network communications system that will allow unprecedented opportunities for students, staff and community to communicate, learn, access and publish information.  The District believes the resources available through this network, and the skills students will develop in using it are of significant value in the learning process and to student success in the future.  Forest Hills Public Schools intends only to provide a means for educational activities, and does not intend to create an open forum for discussion of any topic at any time.  The District dedicates the property comprising the network, and grants access to it by users, only for the educational activities authorized under these policies and procedures, and under the specific limitations contained therein.

Students are responsible for good behavior and appropriate communication on school computer networks just as they are in a classroom or a school hallway.  Access is a privilege that entails responsibility -- not a right.  Communications on the network are often public in nature.  General school and district rules for behavior and communications apply.  The district is not responsible for restricting, monitoring or controlling the communications of individuals utilizing the network.

Network storage areas may be treated like school lockers, which means they are school property and subject to search.  Network administrators may review files and communications to maintain system integrity, and to insure that users are using the system responsibly.  Users should have no expectations of privacy in their electronic files stored on Forest Hills Public Schools computers.

Forest Hills Public Schools will provide training and procedures that encourage the widest possible access to electronic information systems and networks by students while establishing reasonable controls for the lawful, efficient, and appropriate use and management of the system.  This includes the freedom to change procedures when deemed necessary.

1.     All use of the system must be in support of education and research, and be consistent with the mission of the district.  The District reserves the right to prioritize use and access to the system.

2.    Any use of the system must be in conformity to state and federal law, network provider policies and licenses and district policy.  Use of the system for commercial solicitation is prohibited.  The superintendent or designee must approve use of the system for charitable purposes in advance.

3.     The system constitutes public facilities and may not be used to support or oppose political candidates or ballot measures.

4.     No use of the system shall serve to disrupt the operation of the system by others; system components including hardware or software shall not be destroyed, modified or abused in any way.

5.      Malicious use of the system to develop programs that harass other users, or gain unauthorized access to any computer or computing system, and/or damage the components of a computer or computing system is prohibited.

6.     Users are responsible for the appropriateness and content of material they access, store, transmit, or publish on the system.  Hate mail, obscene or pornographic material, harassment, discriminatory remarks, profanity or other antisocial behaviors are expressly prohibited.

7.     System accounts are to be used only by the authorized owner of the account for the authorized purpose.  Users may not share their account number or password with another person or leave an open file or session unattended or unsupervised.  Account owners are ultimately responsible for all activity under their account.

8.     Users shall not seek information on, obtain copies of, or modify files, other data, or passwords belonging to other users, or misrepresent other users on the system, or attempt to gain unauthorized access to the system.

9.     Students may only transfer files, shareware or software with prior permission.

10.   Communications may not be encrypted so as to avoid security review.

11.   Users should change passwords regularly and avoid easily guessed passwords.

12.   Personal information such as full name, addresses and telephone numbers should remain confidential when communicating on the system.  Students should never make appointments to meet people in person that they have contacted on the system without district and parent permission.

13.   “Hacking”* the system or sending chain mail is not permitted.

14.   Students should notify their teacher or other adult whenever they come across information or messages that are inappropriate, dangerous or make them feel uncomfortable.

15.   The unauthorized installation, use, storage, or distribution of copyrighted software or materials on district computers is prohibited.

16.   A signed parent permission form must be on file with the district prior to student use of the district network or Internet and World Wide Web access.

17.   Diligent effort must be made to conserve system resources.  For example, users should frequently delete e-mail and unused files.  District personnel may purge all students’ files, at least annually.  All-important files should be backed up on an alternative storage device.

18.   Approval is required prior to requesting a newsgroup and/or chat line and/or listservs for the network.

19.   Nothing in these regulations is intended to preclude the supervised use of the system while under the direction of a teacher or other approved user acting in conformity with district policy and procedure.

From time to time, the district will make a determination on whether specific uses of the system are consistent with the regulations stated above.  Under prescribed circumstances, non-student or non-staff use may be permitted, provided such individuals demonstrate that their use furthers the purpose and goals of the district.  For security and administrative purposes the district reserves the right for authorized personnel to review system use and file content.  The district reserves the right to remove a user account on the system to prevent further unauthorized activity.

                If it is determined the user is engaged in unauthorized activity or is violating these Acceptable Use Guidelines, the district reserves the right to revoke a user’s account, as well as take disciplinary or legal action.

Public wireless access is offered as a convenience to Forest Hills students, allowing them to access the Internet via non-school owned (wireless-ready) equipment. As a precaution, the public wireless network is not secure.  There are potentially serious security issues with any computer connected to the internet without the appropriate protection.  Information sent from or to your laptop may be monitored, captured or altered by anyone else with a wireless device and the appropriate software, within approximately 300 feet.  These security issues range from viruses, worms and other programs that can damage the user's computer to attacks on the computer by unauthorized or unwanted third parties.  These parties, known commonly as "hackers" may attempt to penetrate the user's computer and download information from that computer.  If the user has unprotected files on the computer, these files may be visible to hackers on the internet, potentially including parties with criminal intent.  Hackers also exploit vulnerabilities in operating systems to cause malicious damage to a user's computer or even a whole company's network, up to and including the destruction or deletion of files or the re-formatting of drives. It is recommended that the user use anti-virus software and a personal firewall to protect this information. Forest Hills Public Schools advises the user that he/she should consult a security expert to determine whether there are any potential security holes in their computer's configuration.  It is your responsibility to protect your information.  FOREST HILLS PUBLIC SCHOOLS SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ANY LIABILITY FOR UNAUTHORIZED THIRD-PARTY SECURITY BREACHES OR THE RESULTS THEREOF.  FOREST HILLS PUBLIC SCHOOLS PROVIDES ACCESS TO THE INTERNET ON AN "AS IS" BASIS WITH ALL RISKS INHERENT IN SUCH ACCESS. BY CONNECTING TO THE FOREST HILLS PUBLIC SCHOOLS NETWORK, THE USER ACKNOWLEDGES THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE INTERNET AND HEREBY RELEASES AND INDEMNIFIES FOREST HILLS PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND ANY AFFILIATE THEREOF FROM ANY DAMAGES THAT MIGHT OCCUR.

*Hacking is when a computer user breaks into a computer without authorization.

As a user of the Forest Hills Public Schools computer network, I acknowledge that I have reviewed the provisions of the Acceptable Use Guidelines, and fully understand their significance.  I agree to comply with the preceding written rules -- using the network while honoring all relevant laws and restrictions.