be disciplined by the Administrator up to and including
termination depending upon the nature of the violation of this policy or the
implementing regulations, and students may be disciplined in accordance with
the Code of Student Conduct.
Use
of the WOOCA System must be in accordance with the parameters stated in this
policy and implementing procedures and, therefore, school officials reserve the
right to review WOOCA System use at any time to determine if such use meets the
criteria set forth in School Policies and School Regulations, this policy and
any regulation the Administrator may promulgate under this policy. The Administrator shall notify employees and
students of the terms of this policy and any regulations promulgated hereunder.
The
School shall not be responsible for any information that may be lost, damaged
or unavailable when using the WOOCA System or for any information retrieved
from the Internet. Further, the School is not responsible for any unauthorized
charge or fee resulting from the use of the WOOCA System.
C.
User Parameters and Responsibilities
Employees and students have no right of privacy and should
not have any expectation of privacy in materials sent, received or stored in
School -owned computers or the WOOCA System.
Use of the Word of Outreach Christian Academy network resources is a
privilege, not a right. Procedures
governing the use of the system are written in the Procedure portion of this
regulation. To receive continued access
to the system these procedures will be followed and a User Agreement Signed by
all users, students, faculty, staff, and parents.
PROCEDURES
Acceptable Use of the School Computer System
A. Introduction
Effective
performance of computer and telecommunications networks, whether local or
global, relies upon end users adhering to established standards of proper
conduct. This regulation defines the responsibilities of Word of Outreach
Christian Academy employees and students using network and Internet resources
provided by school funds. In general,
this requires efficient, ethical, and legal utilization of network resources.
If a user violates any of these provisions, his or her access to the school
telecomputing resources will be denied and disciplinary action will be taken.
This resource, as with any other school resource, demands those entrusted with
the privilege of its use be accountable before God and man.
B. School
Responsibilities
The
School Administrator shall serve as the coordinator overseeing the WOOCA
System. The principal or department director shall serve as the site
coordinator overseeing the system within a school or department/office.
The
School Administrator or designee shall be responsible for, among other things,
establishing individual (employee) and class eChalk accounts, setting quotas
for disk usage and eChalk usage on the system, establishing a retention
schedule establishing a school virus protection process and ensuring that each
employee and student accessing the WOOCA System has on file an Acceptable Use Agreement signed by the
employee or the student and his/her parent(s) or guardian(s).
C. Technical
Services provided through the WOOCA System
- E-mail: E-mail will allow
account holders to communicate with people throughout the world. Students will have limited access to
email accounts.
- Internet: The Internet provides
access to a wide range of information in the form of text, graphics,
photographs, video and sound. The Internet is a valuable research tool for
students and employees.
- Filtering: The school provides
filtered Internet access. Filtering levels for all students are determined
by the Administrator, and school Principals
D. Access to the System
The
prohibitions set forth in this School Policy and will govern all use of the
WOOCA System. Student use of the system will also be governed by the Code of
Student Conduct and School Policies governing student discipline.
E. Parental
Notification and Responsibility
The
school will notify parents and legal guardians about the WOOCA System and the
School Policy governing its use. Parents must sign an Acceptable Use Agreement to allow their student to have access to
the Internet. A parent who does not want their child (ren) to have access to
the Internet may communicate that decision via the Acceptable Use Agreement. Parents and legal guardians also have the
right to revoke their permission and terminate a student's Internet access at
any time.
The school will provide information to parents about the
filtering software used by the schools, describe the filtering levels in place
at each level (elementary, middle and high school) and remind parents that the
school purpose is to assist you in training your children spiritually and
intellectually but we cannot do this without your parental training.
The
school's Acceptable Use Policy and this regulation contain restrictions on
accessing inappropriate material. There is a wide range of material available
on the Internet, some of which may not fit with our Christian values. It is not possible for the school alone to
monitor and enforce Christian values in student use of the Internet. Further,
the school recognizes that parents bear the primary God-given responsibility
for transmitting Biblical values to their children. Therefore, the school
encourages parents to instruct their child (ren) on what material is and is not
acceptable to access through the school's system.
F. School
Limitation of Liability
The
school makes no warranties of any kind, either express or implied, that the
functions of the services provided by or through the school's system will be
error-free or without defect. The school will not be responsible for any damage
users may suffer, including but not limited to, loss of data or interruptions
of service. The school is not responsible for the accuracy or quality of the
information obtained through or stored on the system. The school will not be
responsible for financial obligations arising through the unauthorized use of
the system.
G. Legal
Regulations
1.
The
school will cooperate fully with local,
state and federal officials in any investigation concerning or relating to
any illegal activities conducted through the school's system.
2. In the event that there
is an allegation that a student has violated the school's Acceptable Use Policy
or the provisions of this regulation, the student will be provided with a
written notice of the alleged violation and an opportunity to present an
explanation before the school terminates
his/her account privileges.
3. Search and Seizure System users have no right of privacy and should
have no expectation of privacy in materials sent, received or stored in School
-owned computers or on the WOOCA System. School officials reserve the right to
review WOOCA System use at any time to determine if such use meets the criteria
set forth in School Policies.
4.
Routine maintenance and monitoring of the system may lead to
the discovery that the user has or is violating
the Acceptable Use Policy & Procedures, the Code of Student Conduct or other
School Policies governing student discipline or the law.
5.
Once
a problem is discovered, an individual
search will be conducted when there is a reasonable suspicion that the user
has violated the law, the Code of Student Conduct or School Policies governing
student discipline. The nature of the search/investigation will be reasonable
and in keeping with the nature of the alleged misconduct.
6.
Employees
should be aware that their personal
files might be subject to public inspection and copying under the Freedom
of Information Act.
7.
Disciplinary actions will be tailored to meet
the specific concerns related to the violation and to assist the student in
gaining the self-discipline necessary to behave appropriately on an electronic
network.
8.
If
the alleged infraction involves a violation of other provisions of the Code of
Student Conduct or other School Policies and governing student discipline, the violation will be handled in accordance
with School Policy and its implementing regulations.
9.
Plagiarism and Copyright
Infringement
Users will not
plagiarize works that they find on the Internet. Plagiarism is
taking the ideas of writings
of others and presenting them as if they were original to the user. Users will
use proper methods of attribution. (See a sample at the end of this policy).
Users will respect the rights of copyright owners.
Copyright infringement occurs when an individual inappropriately reproduces a
work that is protected by a copyright. If a work contains language that
specifies acceptable use of that work, the user should follow the expressed
requirement. If the user is unsure whether or not they can use a work, they
should request permission from the copyright owner.
10.
Teachers
will instruct students in appropriate research citation and proper methods of
attribution.
11.
Political Use of the WOOCA
System Employees
may not use the WOOCA System to engage in "partisan political
activities".
H. Academic Procedures
1.
When
using the Internet for class activities, teachers will select material that is
appropriate in light of the age of the students and that is relevant to the
course objectives.
2.
Teachers
will preview the materials and sites they require to determine the
appropriateness of the material contained on or accessed through the site.
3.
Teachers
will provide guidelines and lists of resources to assist their students in
channeling their research activities effectively and properly.
4.
Teachers
will assist their students in developing the skills to ascertain the
truthfulness of information, distinguish fact from opinion, truth from error
and engage in Biblically based discussions about controversial issues of
tolerance and discernment exposed to those who hold divergent views.
5.
Student Acceptable Use. The following acceptable use
requirements will be stated in the school's Acceptable Use Agreement and will
be reinforced to students by instructors.
Personal Safety (Restrictions are for
students only):
1.
Students
will not post personal contact information about themselves or other people.
Personal contact information includes home, school or work addresses, telephone
numbers, etc.
2.
Students
will not agree to meet with someone they have met online without the approval
of their parents or legal guardians.
3.
Students
will promptly disclose to a teacher or other administrator or school employee
any message they receive that is inappropriate, offensive or makes them feel
uncomfortable
I.
Administrative Regulations
Employees violating the Acceptable Use Policy and the
provisions of this regulation are subject to disciplinary action by the
Administrator or designee. Violations of the Acceptable Use Policy and the
provisions of this regulation may subject the employee to disciplinary action
up to and including dismissal, depending upon the nature of the violation.
1. The
School Administrator who may terminate the system privileges of an employee by
giving written notice of the alleged violation and the opportunity to respond
will also address violations of the Acceptable Use Policy and this regulation.
2. School
Web Site The school has established a Web site
and Web pages that present information about the school. The school
administrator or designee is designated the Webmaster with responsibility for
maintaining the school Web site, overseeing the development and the content of
authorized class web pages.
J. Illegal
Activities (Restrictions for all users)
Users will not attempt to gain unauthorized access to the school's system or to any other computer
system through the school's system, or go beyond their authorized access. This
includes attempting to log in through another account or accessing or
attempting to access another person's files without authorization. There
actions are illegal, even if only for the purpose of browsing.
1.
Users
will not deliberately attempt to disrupt the school's system performance or
destroy data by spreading computer viruses or by any other means.
2.
Users
will not use the school's system to send, receive, view or download any illegal
materials or engage in any other illegal act (e.g. arranging for the
sale/purchase of drugs, engaging in criminal gang activity or threatening the
safety of another individual).
3.
System Security Users are responsible
for the use of their individual account and should take all precautions to
prevent others from being able to use their account.
4.
Users
will immediately notify the School Administrator if they have identified a
possible security problem.
J. Inappropriate
Use
- Restrictions against inappropriate language apply to public
messages, private messages and material posted on Web pages. Students and
employees will conduct themselves in a manner that is appropriate and
proper as representatives of the school.
- Users will not use obscene, profane, lewd, vulgar, rude,
inflammatory, threatening or disrespectful language.
- Users will not post information that, if acted upon, could cause
damage or a danger of disruption.
- Users will not engage in personal attacks, including prejudicial
or discriminatory attacks.
- Users will not harass other individuals. Harassment in this
context is persistently acting in a manner that distresses or annoys
another person. If a user is told by a person to stop sending them
messages, they must stop.
6.
Users
will not knowingly or recklessly post false or defamatory information about a
person or organization.
7.
Users
will not post private information about another person.
8.
Users
will not download large files unless absolutely necessary. If necessary, users
will download the file at a time when the system is not being heavily used and
immediately remove the file from the system to their personal computer.
9.
Users
will not engage in "Spamming." Spamming is sending an annoying or
unnecessary message to a large number of people.
K. Appropriate use
10.
Users
will check their e-mail frequently and delete unwanted messages promptly.
11.
Employees
will subscribe only to discussion group mail lists that are relevant.
12.
Users
will use the school's system only for education and professional activities
during school and professional hours.
All resources accessed by students via school
computers or other technology equipment must support the curriculum.
James Washington Cheryl J. Washington, Administrator
Chairman of the Board President
of the Board
(Adopted from the Virginia Beach
City Public Schools Retrieved on April 5, 2002 from the Word Wide Web: http://www.vbcps.k12.va.us/aup.htm