A Summary of the Acceptable Use Policy

Below is a summary of Parkland’s Acceptable Use Policy. The summary highlights the major areas of the policy. Reading the summary is not a substitute for reading and understanding the policy. If you wish to go directly to the policy, please click here: Acceptable Use Policy

Otherwise, please scroll through the summary and then go to the actual policy.

Acceptable Use of the Computers, Network, Internet, Electronic Communications and Information Systems Policy.

SUMMARY of POLICY #815

Parkland School District’s Acceptable Use of the Computers, Network, Internet, Electronic Communications and Information Systems Policy consists of six sections: Purpose, Definitions, Authority, Responsibility, Delegation of Responsibility, and Guidelines.

1. Purpose
The Parkland School District provides employees, students, and guests with access to the school district’s electronic communication systems and network. Access is provided to users if there is a specific school district-related purpose to access information and research; to collaborate; to facilitate learning and teaching; and to foster the educational purpose and mission of the school district. Incidental personal use of the school computers is permitted for employees as long as such use does not interfere with the employee’s job, duties and performance, with system operations, or with other system users. Students may only use the systems for educational purposes. Users may not use their personal computers to access the School District’s Intranet, Internet, or any other CIS system unless approved by the Director of Information Systems and/or designee, and/or authorized as part of the School District’s services for users.

2. Definitions
This section defines many of the terms used in the policy. For example: the term “computer” is broadly used to include various hardware devices, software or other technologies whether district owned or personally owned that is used on school district premises or accessing our network.

3. Authority
Access to the district’s information systems is a privilege, not a right. All resources, user accounts, and information are the property of the school district. Users have no privacy expectation in their use of the system. The school district reserves the right to monitor, track, log, and access system use to monitor and allocate space. Parkland School District reserves the right to restrict or deny access to prevent unauthorized, inappropriate or illegal activity, or to refer to legal authorities if such violations deem necessary.

4. Responsibility
Because of the nature of the technology that allows the Internet to operate, Parkland School District cannot completely block access to inappropriate materials. Users must be capable and able to use Parkland’s systems and software relevant to their responsibilities and must practice proper etiquette, ethics, and agree to the requirements of this policy.

5. Delegation of Responsibility
The Director of Information Systems and/or designee will serve as the coordinator to oversee the Parkland School District’s information systems including the training, setting up of accounts, approval of activities, etc. Student access to the Parkland School District network shall be supervised by the professional staff. Administrators, teachers, and staff have the responsibility to work together to help students develop the skills and judgment required to make effective and appropriate use of the resources.

6. Guidelines
The Guidelines section is the largest part of the policy and broken down into the following categories:

• Access to the systems: User accounts will only be used by the owner of the account for authorized purposes. The AUP and other district policies will govern the use of the information systems. Access to all data on, taken from, or complied using Parkland School District computers is subject to inspection and discipline.
• Parental Notification and Responsibility: Parkland School District will notify parents about the district’s information systems and the policies governing their use. Parkland will encourage parents to specify to their children what material is and is not acceptable for their children to access through the school district’s system.
• School District Limitation of Liability: Parkland School District makes no warranties of any kind. In no event shall the school district be liable to the end user for any damages whether direct, indirect, special or consequential, arising out of the use of the system. Prohibitions: The use of Parkland School District’s systems for illegal, inappropriate, unacceptable, or unethical purposes by users is prohibited. Students are prohibited from visually possessing and using their personal computers, as defined in this policy, on school district premises or at PSD events unless expressed permission has been granted by Director of Information Systems/designee. The student will then be supervised in its use.
• General prohibitions: Includes a long list of prohibitions that deal with user behavior and inappropriate and/or illegal activities.
• Access and Security Prohibitions: This list of prohibitions addresses the security of Parkland’s network and the security of information on our network.Operational Prohibitions: Prohibits activities that could disrupt the services or equipment on our network.
• Content Guidelines: Content published on our systems should not reveal personally identifiable information of students and should not contain, or point to, objectionable material. Published electronic communication must conform to Parkland School District policies.
• Due Process: Parkland School District will cooperate with our ISP rules, local, state, and federal officials to the extent legally required in investigations relating to any illegal activities conducted through PSD systems. Due process rights will not be violated.
• Search and Seizure: Parkland School District reserves the right to monitor, track, log and access any electronic communications, including but not limited to, Internet access and e-mails at any time for any reason. Users should not have the expectation of privacy in their use of PSD systems. Further, PSD reserves the right, but not the obligation, to legally access any personal technology device of students and employees brought onto the school district’s property or at school district events containing school district programs or student data (including images, files, etc.) to insure compliance with this policy and other school district policies, to protect school district resources, to obtain information/data that the school district reasonably believes involves criminal activity.
• Copyright Infringement and Plagiarism: Parkland School District does not permit illegal acts pertaining to the copyright law. Any user violating the copyright law does so at their own risk and assumes all liability.
• Selection of Material: School district policies on the selection of materials will govern use of Parkland’s information systems. 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.
• School District Web Site: Publishers must comply with Parkland School District’s policies when submitting content to the school district website.
• Blogging: Employees and students who create a blog may not violate the privacy rights of employees and students, may not use school district personal and private information/data, images and copyrighted material in their blog, and may not disrupt the school district.
• Safety and Privacy: To the extent legally required, Parkland School District users will be protected from harassment or commercially unsolicited electronic communication. Users may not disclose, use or disseminate confidential or personal information about students or employees.
• Consequences for Inappropriate, Unauthorized and Illegal Use: General rules for behavior, ethics, and communications apply when using the systems and information, in addition to the stipulations of this policy. Users must be aware that violations of this policy may result in disciplinary actions. The user is responsible for damages to the network, equipment, electronic communications systems, and software resulting from negligent deliberate acts and for incidental or unintended damage related to lost or stolen computers or other equipment.

Acceptable Use Policy