West De Pere’s computer network and Internet access are provided for the benefit of students and staff for
academic purposes. The following guidelines have been established so that they can be used freely, safely,
and efficiently:
a. The same respect for each other and responsibility for the consequences of one’s actions apply
on West De Pere’s computer network as anywhere else in the school.
b. Like any other school resources, computer resources are shared, so priority should always be
given to school assignments; and arrangements for sharing time on equipment should be
negotiated fairly.
c. Do not interfere with other people’s work.
d. Do not waste shared resources.
e. Do not use language that is not appropriate in the school community.
f. Do not purchase products or services online unless they are for educational purposes and prior
approval is received.
g. Do not use the network for commercial activity, product advertisement, political lobbying, or
harassment of students, staff or others.
School computers interact with West De Pere’s computer network in invisible but carefully designed ways.
Therefore:
h. No alterations should be made to the hard drives of any school computers: don’t change settings,
add or delete programs, change operating systems; and don’t run programs from disks without
permission of the school system administrator.
i. It is improper and illegal to copy programs, to tamper with hardware, to alter files, or to enter
certain areas of West De Pere’s computer network without authorization.
j. Any and all software must be approved for compatibility with the West De Pere’s computer
network before purchasing.
k. Do not disrupt the use of the network (e.g. downloading excessively large music, video, or other
high volume files).
l. No unauthorized access, including so-called ‘hacking’ and other unlawful activities by minors
online.
m. No unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal identification regarding minors.
n. Prohibited activity includes access to material deemed “obscene”, “child pornography”, or
“harmful to minors”.
o. The West De Pere’s school website is available to the public. The website is modified by
students under the supervision of a Business Education teacher in a web class. No unauthorized
modifications are allowed.
Consequences of Misuse
Any user in violation of this policy will be subject to disciplinary action, which
may include, but not be limited to restitution for any and all damages, loss of computer use privileges,
suspension, or expulsion. Serious violations may incur other consequences including reporting of incidents
to the superintendent or local authorities for further legal action.
Passwords
Respect the confidentiality of passwords. Do not attempt to log on as anyone else. Don’t share
your password with anyone, or ask for anyone else’s password. Change your password when you think
someone else may know it, and notify the school system administrator if you suspect passwords are being
abused.
Email/Chat Rooms/ Direct Electronic Messaging
The same rules of civility for speaking or writing
apply. Language inappropriate in the school community is not permitted on West De Pere’s computer
network. Before you send a message, read it over to be sure it communicates the content and tone you want
the receiver to read. Don’t send unnecessary messages that wastes the receiver’s time, and don’t use up
paper printing out your messages unless you need them for a class.
a. The School District of West De Pere pays for staff email accounts, which are provided for you
to conduct your work. Limited occasional and brief use of email for personal reasons is
acceptable.
b. Student email accounts are provided only for certain Business Education classes and are to be
used only for educational purposes.
c. Your email account is not yours. Your messages are the property of the school district.
d. Chat room access or direct electronic messaging (including instant messaging) is prohibited
unless there is a direct educational purpose and approval is granted by a school system
administrator.
e. The safety and security of minors must be considered when engaged in any of the above.
Privacy Privacy is valued and respected in the West De Pere community. However, West De Pere’s
computer network storage areas are like school lockers in that the school has the right to examine the
contents of the file server and any email to maintain system integrity and ensure responsible use of the
system.
In order to foster independent thought, creativity, and intellectual development, the school will only
examine files when there is reason to suspect any activity or material that violates the school’s code of
conduct or the law. This includes criminal activity, material that is obscene, material that is violent or
actively encourages violent behavior, plagiarism or violation of intellectual rights or copyright laws, activity
that endangers, demeans, threatens, or libels a person or persons, and material that denigrates people based
on gender, race, ethnicity, disability, religious beliefs, or sexual identity.
Copyright and Plagiarism
Responsible users of information always acknowledge their sources, both in
formal and informal communications. Use information from the Internet in the same way you use
information from any other public, published source: tell users where the information came from to show
that it’s reliable.
Email messages are private, and may not be quoted or sent on to anyone else without the permission of the
original sender. Using someone else’s words or ideas as if they are your own is never acceptable and can be
illegal.
Internet Access
West De Pere provides access to the resources on West De Pere’s computer network and
on the Internet. When used wisely, these resources can enrich and transform learning experiences.
Freedom of access to the wealth of resources available on the Internet outweighs the risks of accessing
material that is questionable or offensive. Each user of the Internet must recognize his or her responsibility
in accepting this freedom of access.
Guidelines for Using West De Pere’s Computer Network and the Internet
Supervision and Monitoring
It shall be the responsibility of all members of the West De Pere School staff
to supervise and monitor usage of the computer network and access to the Internet in accordance with this
policy and the Children’s Internet Protection Act.
Procedures for modifying any technology protection measures shall be the responsibility of the Technology
Department.
Safety
Parents, students, staff, and administration should be aware that:
The School District of West De Pere has no control over the content of the information residing on other
computers connected with the Internet, or control over the identity of individuals having access to the
Internet. Parents, students, and the adult community are therefore advised that connected computers contain
material that is illegal, defamatory, obscene, profane, inaccurate, abusive or threatening, racial or ethnically
offensive, or otherwise objectionable.
The administration and staff of West De Pere do not condone or permit the use or viewing of such material,
and persons are prohibited from bringing such material into the school environment.
Disclaimers
a. The school district does not warrant network functionality or accuracy of information.
b. The school district does not warrant the effectiveness of Internet filtering.
c. The privacy of system users is limited.
Student and Parent/Guardian Responsibilities
All students using West De Pere’s computer network or
accessing the Internet through West De Pere’s computer network must indicate that they and their parent or
guardian understand the responsibilities of exercising this access by signing a user agreement, and that the
failure to follow them may result in loss of their network privileges and possible further disciplinary action.
The Acceptable Use Permission and Release Agreement form must be signed by:
1. the student
2. their parent or guardian
T
he signed Acceptable Use Permission and Release Agreement form will be:
1. returned to the school principal
2. kept on file in each applicable building
3. signed annually.
Each school year, the building principal will be responsible for keeping an updated list of students who have
a signed Acceptable Use Policy Agreement on file and forwarding a copy to the Curriculum & Technology
Department at the District Office.
Support Staff/Volunteer/Substitute Teacher Responsibilities
All persons using West De Pere’s computer
network or accessing the Internet through West De Pere’s computer network must indicate that they
understand the responsibilities of exercising this access by signing a user agreement, and that the failure to
follow them may result in loss of their network privileges and possible further disciplinary action.
The Acceptable Use Permission and Release Agreement form must be signed.
he signed Acceptable Use Permission and Release Agreement form will be: T
1. returned to the supervisor
2. kept on file in each applicable building
3. signed annually.
All students, staff, or other authorized account users are expected to abide by the rules of network etiquette
(netiquette) and generally accepted procedures.
CIPA definitions of terms:
TECHNOLOGY PROTECTION MEASURE. The term “technology protection measure’ means a specific technology that blocks or filters Internet access to visual depictions that are:
1. OBSCENE, AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN SECTION 1460 OF TITLE 18, United States Code;
2. CHILD PORNOGRAPHY, AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED I SECTION 2256 OF TITLE 18, United States Code; or
3. Harmful to minors.
HARMFUL TO MINORS. The term “harmful to minors” means any picture, image, graphic image file, or other visual depiction that:
1. Taken as a whole and with respect to minors, appeals to a prurient interest in nudity, sex, or excretion;
2. Depicts, describes, or represents, in a patently offensive way with respect to what is suitable for minors, an actual or simulated sexual act or sexual contact, actual or simulated normal or perverted sexual acts, or a lewd exhibition of the genitals; and
3. Taken as a whole lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value as to minors.
SEXUAL ACT; SEXUAL CONTACT. The terms “sexual act” and “sexual contact” have the meanings given such terms in section 2246 of title 18, United States Code.
ADOPTED: 1/2/97
REVISED: 6/21/01
READOPTED: 5/19/03
