Use of Technology Resources Policy

Watertown School District

Purpose

The Watertown School District is pleased to offer students, faculty, and staff access to technology resources for schoolwork and enrichment activities.  The purpose of the Watertown School District’s technology resources is to provide additional educational resources and communication tools for students and teachers.  These resources will help teachers to facilitate education and research consistent with the objectives of the Watertown School District. 

Definition – Technology Resources

The Watertown School District’s technology resources include but are not limited to the following resources:  network, Internet, computer hardware, software, printers, servers, stored text, data files, electronic mail, optical media, digital images, and new technologies as they become available.

Regulations

The use of the Watertown School District’s technology resources is a privilege, not a right.  The privilege of using the technology resources provided by the WSD is not transferable or extendible by students to people or groups outside the district and terminates when a student is no longer enrolled in the Watertown School District.  This policy is provided to make all users aware of the responsibilities associated with efficient, ethical, and lawful use of technology resources.  If a person violates any of the User Terms and Conditions named in this policy, privileges may be terminated, access to the school district technology resources may be denied, and the appropriate disciplinary action shall be applied.  The Watertown School District’s Uniform Code of Behavior shall be applied to student infractions.

User Terms and Conditions

The use of Watertown School District’s technology resources is subject to the following terms and conditions:

1. The use of technology resources must be for educational and/or research purposes consistent with the mission, goals, and objectives of the Watertown School District along with State & Federal regulations.  In compliance with federal law, the school district shall make reasonable effort to restrict access to inappropriate materials and shall monitor the on-line activities of the end users in the school environment.

2. User accounts are considered the property of the school district.  Network administrators may review school computers to maintain system integrity and to insure that users are using the system responsibly.  While user files will not be examined without reasonable cause, users should not expect that anything stored on school computers or networks will be private.

3. Prohibited technology resources activities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Computer Laptop Violations:

1. Sending, accessing, uploading, downloading, or distributing offensive, profane, threatening, pornographic, obscene, or sexually explicit materials. (This includes profane & threatening e-mails & inappropriate files.)
2. Using proxy servers to access websites that are blocked or filtered through the school’s network.
3. Downloading or transmitting multi-player game, music, or video files using the school network.
4. Installing & playing individual user or multi-player games on the school laptop while at school.
5. Vandalizing, damaging, or disabling property of the school or another individual or organization.
6. Intentionally not shutting down a school laptop for purposes not suited to education.
7. Accessing another individual’s materials, information, or files without permission.
8. Using the network or Internet for commercial, political campaign, or financial gain purposes.
9. Releasing files, home address, personal phone numbers, passwords, or other vital accessing information to others.
10. Promoting or soliciting for illegal activities.
11. Attempting to repair, remove or install hardware components reserved for an authorized service technician.
12. Violating copyright or other protected material laws.
13. Subscribing to mailing lists, mass e-mail messages, games, or other services that generate several messages that can slow the system and waste other users’ time and access.
14. Intentionally wasting school resources.

Consequences:  1^st offense – Office intervention or 5 day computer laptop suspension

                         2^nd offense – 10 day computer laptop suspension

                         3^rd offense – Laptop suspended for remainder of quarter or not less than 10 days.

 Computer Network Violations:

a.       Attempting to log on to the Internet or network (servers, routers, switches, printers, firewall) as a system administrator.

b.       Sending, accessing, uploading, downloading, or distributing pornographic or sexually explicit materials.

c.       Installing, enabling, launching, or creating programs that interfere with the performance of the network, internet, or hardware technology resources.

d.       Creating, uploading, or transmitting computer viruses.

e.       Attempting to defeat computer or network security.

Consequences:  Suspension of laptop computer, referral to law enforcement authorities, and possible long term suspension or recommended expulsion from school.

4. Watertown School District does not guarantee that its technology resources will be uninterrupted or error-free; nor does it make any warranty as to the results to be obtained from use of the service or the accuracy or quality of the information obtained on or by the network.  Access to the network is provided on an “as is” basis without warranties of any kind.  Neither the school district nor any of its agents or employees shall be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising out of the use of or inability to use the network or Internet.

5. Users shall be responsible for any costs, fees, charges, or expenses incurred under the person’s account in connection with the use of the network or Internet except such costs, fees, charges, and expenses as the school district explicitly agrees to pay.

6.  Any security or equipment problems arising from the use of technology resources must be reported to the Computer Help Desk or Principal’s Office.

7. Students will be held responsible for maintaining their individual school computers and keeping them in good working order.
   1. Computer batteries must be charged and ready for school each day.
   2. Only labels or stickers approved by the Watertown School District may be applied to the computer.
   3. Computer bags furnished by the school district must be returned with only normal wear and no alterations to avoid paying a bag replacement fee.
   4. Computers that malfunction or are damaged must first be reported to the Computer Help Desk located in room 502.  The school district will be responsible for repairing computers that malfunction.  Computers that have been damaged from normal use or accidentally will be repaired with no cost or minimal cost to the student.  Students will be entirely responsible for the cost of repairs to computers that are damaged intentionally.

Accidental laptop damage:  Students who have recorded 2 or more instances of accidental laptop damage will be referred to a principal to discuss proper laptop care.  Students may be asked to check their laptop in at the Help Desk after school.  Laptops may be checked out again before classes begin the next day.   Special permission to take a laptop home for class work may be permitted by the student’s teacher.

5. Computers that are stolen must be reported immediately to the Principal’s Office and the police department.
6. Individual school laptop computers and accessories must be returned to the WHS Help Desk at the end of each school year.  Students who graduate early, withdraw, are suspended or expelled, or terminate enrollment at WHS for any other reason must return their individual school laptop computer on the date of termination.

If a student fails to return the computer at the end of the school year or upon termination of enrollment at WHS, that student will be subject to criminal prosecution or civil liability.  The student will also pay the replacement cost of the computer, or, if applicable, any insurance deductible.  Failure to return the computer will result in a grand theft report being filed with the Watertown Police Department.