2295 (GBEF) - Acceptable Computer, Network and Internet Use Policy

2295 (GBEF) Acceptable Computer, Network and Internet Use Policy 2295 (GBEF)

The School Board recognizes that technological resources can enhance performance by offering
effective tools to assist in providing a quality instructional program, facilitating communications
with parents/guardians, teachers, and the community, supporting District and school operations,
and improving access to and exchange of information. The Board expects all staff and students
to learn to use the available technological resources that will assist them in the teaching and
learning, communication services, and/or business data services. As needed, staff and students
shall receive training, lessons, and instruction in the appropriate use of these resources.

Staff and students shall be responsible for the appropriate use of technology and shall use the
District’s technological resources primarily for purposes related to their education and/or job
responsibility. Staff and students are hereby notified that there is no expectation of privacy on
district computers, computer files, email, internet usage logs, and other electronic data.

The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that all District computers with Internet access
have a technology protection measures that prevent access to visual depictions that are obscene
or pornographic and that the operation of such measures is enforced. The Superintendent or
designee may disable the technology protection measures during use by an adult to enable
access for bona fide research, educational or other lawful purpose.

The Superintendent shall establish administrative regulations and an Acceptable Use Agreement
that outlines staff and student obligations and responsibilities related to the use of District
technology. He/she also may establish guidelines and limits on the use of technological
resources. Inappropriate use may result in a cancellation of the staff member’s or student’s user
privileges, disciplinary action, and/or legal action in accordance with law, Board policy, and
administrative regulations.

The Superintendent or designee shall provide copies of related policies, regulations, and
guidelines to all staff and students.

Purpose

The purpose of the Acceptable Use Procedures is to provide the procedures, rules, guidelines,
and the code of conduct for the use of technology and the Internet.

Definition

The definition of "information networks" is any configuration of hardware and software which
connects users. The network includes, but is not limited to, all of the computer hardware,
operating system software, application software, stored text and data files. This includes
electronic mail, local databases, externally accessed databases, CD-ROM, recorded magnetic or
optical media, clip art, digital images, digitized information, communications technologies, and

new technologies as they become available. Stand-alone workstations are also governed by this
acceptable use procedure.

The School District Services

The School District provides resources for teaching and learning, communication services, and
business data services by maintaining access to local, regional, national, and international sources
of information. The School District information resources will be used by members of the school
community with respect for the public trust through which they have been provided and in
accordance with policy and regulations established by the School District. These procedures do
not attempt to articulate all required for prescribed behavior by its users.

Successful operation of the network requires that all users conduct themselves in a responsible,
decent, ethical and polite manner while using the network. The user is ultimately responsible for
his/her actions in accessing network services.

Guidelines

Access to the networks and to the information technology environment within
the District is a privilege and must be treated as such by all users of the network and
its associated systems.
Information networks will be used for the purposes of research, education, and schoolrelated business and operations.
Any system which requires password access or for which the District requires an account,
such as the Internet, will only be used by the authorized user. Account owners are
ultimately responsible for all activity under their accounts.
The resources of the District are limited. All users must exercise prudence in the
shared use of this resource.

Unacceptable Use

The District has the right to take disciplinary action, remove computer and networking privileges
and/or take legal action, for any activity characterized as unethical and unacceptable.
Unacceptable use activities constitute, but are not limited to, any activity through which any
user:

Violates such matters as institutional or third-party copyright, license agreements or
other contracts. The unauthorized use of and/or copying of software is illegal.
Interferes with or disrupts other network users, services or equipment. Disruptions
include, but are not limited to: distribution of unsolicited advertising, propagation of
computer worms or viruses, distributing quantities of information that overwhelm the
system, and/or using a District network to make unauthorized entry into any other
resource accessible via the network.
Seeks to gain or gains unauthorized access to information resources.
Uses or knowingly allows another to use any computer or computer system to devise
or execute a scheme to defraud or to obtain money, property, services, or other things
of value by false pretenses, promises, or representations.
Destroys, alters, dismantles or otherwise interferes with the integrity of computerbased
information and/or information resources.
Invades the privacy of individuals or entities.
Uses the network for commercial or political activity.
Installs unauthorized software for use on District computers.
Uses a network to access inappropriate materials.
Submits, publishes or displays any defamatory, inaccurate, racially offensive,
abusive, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, or threatening materials or messages either
publicly or privately.
Uses a District network for illegal harassing, vandalizing, inappropriate or
obscene purposes, or in support of such activities.

Policy Violations

Any actions that might harm computer equipment, software, data, another user, or the internet,
or that show disregard for the proper procedures set up for network access will not be tolerated.
Violations of this policy may result in restrictions or suspension of the user’s technology use or
network privileges, disciplinary action, and/or legal action in accordance with the law, Board
policy and administrative regulations. Further, any users of the School District's computer
systems or networks who intentionally violate the District's policy and who intentionally damage
the computer systems or network or misuse the internet shall assume legal and financial liability
for such damage.

School District Rights

The District reserves the right to:

Monitor all activity. Notwithstanding any related laws, staff members and students have
no expectation of privacy regarding their use on the school district computer network.
Make determinations on whether specific uses of a network are consistent with
these acceptable use procedures.
Log network use and monitor storage disk space utilization by users.
Determine what is appropriate use.
Remove a user's access to the network at any time it is determined that the user
engaged in unauthorized activity or violated these acceptable use procedures.
Cooperate fully with any investigation concerning or relating to the District's
network activity.

School District Internet Code of Conduct

Use of the Internet by students and staff of the District shall be in support of education and
research that is consistent with the mission of the District. Internet use is limited to those
persons who have been issued District-approved accounts. Use will be in accordance with the
District's Acceptable Use Procedures and this Code of Conduct. Users are expected to abide by
the following terms and conditions:

Protect their Internet log from others.
Respect the privacy of other users. Do not use other users' passwords.
Be ethical and courteous. Do not send hate, harassing, or obscene mail,
discriminatory remarks, or demonstrate other antisocial behaviors.
Maintain the integrity of files and data. Do not modify or copy files/data of other
users without their consent.
Treat information created by others as the private property of the creator. Respect
copyrights.
Do not use any network in a way that does not disrupt its use by others.
Do not destroy, modify or abuse the hardware or software in any way.
Do not develop or pass on programs that harass other users or infiltrate a computer
or computing system and/or damage the software components of a computer or
computing system, such as viruses, worms, "chain" messages, etc.
Do not use the Internet to access or process pornographic or otherwise
inappropriate material.
Do not use the Internet for commercial purposes.

The District reserves the right to remove a user's account if it is determined that the user is
engaged in unauthorized activity or is violating this code of conduct.

Approved: 9/1996
Revised: 5/2000, 1/2002, 5/2002, 6/2010, 2/2012, 1/2016, 5/2016, 5/2025

Reference:

Statutes	Description
RSA 194:3-d	School District Computer Networks
20 U.S.C. §6777	Enhancing Education Through Technology - Internet Safety
47 U.S.C. §254	Requirements for Certain Schools - Internet Safety

Related Policy
2293 (EHAA) Computer Security, E-Mail and Internet Communications