The Internet is available to students and teachers
in the East Moriches School District. BOCES along with the Board
of Education believes that the Internet offers vast, diverse and
unique resources for both students and teachers. Their goal in
providing this service to teachers and students is to promote
educational excellence in schools by facilitating resource sharing,
innovation and communication.
The Internet is an electronic highway connecting thousands of
computers all over the world and millions of individual subscribers.
The key concept underlying the Internet is interconnectivity -
something that will allow administrators, teachers, and more importantly,
students to access an unparalleled array of communication and
information resources. Students and teachers have access to general
Internet tools including, but not limited to: electronic mail
(e-mail); Listservs; UseNet News; File Transfer Protocol, (FTP);
Telnet; Gopher and the World Wide Web. These electronic search
tools enable students and teachers to:
With access to computers and people all over
the world also comes the availability of material that may not
be considered to be of educational value in the context of the
school setting. BOCES and the East Moriches School District have
taken precautions to restrict access to controversial materials.
However, on a global network it is impossible to control all materials
and an industrious user may discover controversial information.
We strongly believe, however that the valuable information and
interaction available on this worldwide network far outweighs
the possibility that users may procure material that is not consistent
with the educational goals of the District.
The Board of Education is committed to optimizing student learning
and teaching. The Board considers student access to a computer
network, including the Internet, to be a powerful and valuable
educational and research tool, and encourages the use of computers
and computer-related technology in district classrooms solely
for promoting learning and teaching.
The computer network can provide a forum for learning various
software applications and, through online databases, bulletin
boards and electronic mail, can significantly enhance educational
experiences and provide statewide, national and global communication
opportunities for staff and students.
All users of the district's computer network
and the Internet must understand that use is a privilege, not
a right, and that use entails responsibility.
The Superintendent of Schools and the Principal of the building
shall establish regulations governing the use and security of
the district's computer network. All users of the district's computer
network and equipment shall comply with this policy and those
regulations. Failure to comply may result in disciplinary action
as well as suspension and/or revocation of computer access privileges.
The Principal, under the direction of the Superintendent of Schools,
shall be responsible to oversee the use of district computer resources
and designating a computer network coordinator. The Principal
and the computer coordinator will prepare in-service programs
for the training and development of district staff computer skills,
and for the incorporation use in appropriate areas.
The Superintendent, working in conjunction with the Principal,
Computer Coordinator, and the Technology advisory committee will
be responsible for the purchase and distribution of computer software
and hardware throughout the school building. They shall prepare
and submit for the Board's approval a comprehensive multi-year
technology plan, which shall be revised as necessary to reflect
changing technology and/or district needs.
Internet access is coordinated through a complex association of
government agencies, and regional and state networks. In addition,
the smooth operation of the network relies upon the proper conduct
of the users who must adhere to strict guidelines. These guidelines
are provided here so that you are aware of the responsibilities
you are about to acquire. In general, this requires efficient,
ethical, and legal utilization of the network resources.
If an East Moriches School District user violates any these provisions,
his or her account will be terminated and future access could
possibly be denied. The signature(s) at the end of this document
is (are) legally binding and indicates the part (parties) who
signed has (have) read the Computer Network for Education Regulations
carefully and understand(s) their significance.
The following rules and regulations govern the use of the district's computer network system and access to the Internet.
1. Administration
The administration, technology advisory committee,
and the designated computer coordinator will oversee the district's
computer network. They shall monitor and examine network activities,
as appropriate, to ensure proper use of the system.
The Principal and Computer Coordinator shall be responsible for
disseminating and interpreting district policy and regulations
governing use of the district's network at the building level
with all network users.
The Principal shall provide employee training for proper use of
the computer network and will ensure that staff will provide similar
training to their students, including providing copies of district
policy and regulations governing use of the district's network.
All computer servers have computer virus protection and will be
constantly updated.
All student agreements to abide by district policy and regulations
and parental consent forms shall be kept on file.
2. Internet Access
3. Acceptable Use
The purpose of the Internet is to support research
and education in and among academic institutions in the U.S. by
providing access to unique resources and the opportunity for collaborative
work. The use of your account must be in support of education
and research and consistent with the educational objectives of
the East Moriches School District. Use of another organization's
network or computing resources must comply with the rules appropriate
for that network. Transmission of any material in violation of
any U.S. or state regulation is prohibited. This includes, but
is not limited to: copyrighted material; threatening or obscene
material; expressions of bigotry, racism or hate; or material
protected by trade secret. Use for commercial activities is generally
not acceptable. Use for product advertisement or political lobbying
is prohibited.
Access to the district's computer network is provided solely for
educational purposes and research consistent with the district's
mission and goals. Use of the district's computer network is a
privilege, not a right. Each individual in whose name an access
account is issued is responsible at all times for proper use.
All networks users will be issued a log in name and password.
Passwords must be changed periodically. Only those network users
with the permission from the principal or computer network coordinator
may access the district's system from off site (e.g., from home).
4. Network Etiquette
You are expected to abide by the generally accepted rules of network etiquette. These include, but are not limited to the following:
5. Privileges
The use of the Internet is a privilege, not a right, and inappropriate use will result in a cancellation of those privileges. Each student who receives an account will be responsible for that account and its usage. Therefore, under no circumstances should your account be shared with anyone other than the school district Internet coordinator. Each student will also be required to attend an orientation session with an East Moriches School District faculty member pertaining to the proper use of the network. BOCES administrators will deem what is inappropriate use and their decision is final. Also, BOCES may close an account at any time as required. The administration, faculty, and staff of East Moriches School District may request the BOCES system administrator to deny, revoke, or suspend specific user accounts.
6. Security
Security on any computer system is high priority, especially when the system involves many users. If you feel you can identify a security problem on the Internet, you must notify a BOCES system administrator or the Computer Network Coordinator. Do not demonstrate the problem to other users. Attempts to log on to the Internet as a system administrator will result in cancellation of user privileges. Any user identified as a security risk or having a history of problems with other computer systems may be denied access to the Internet.
7. Prohibited Activity and Uses/Vandalism
Vandalism will result in cancellation of privileges.
Vandalism is defined as any malicious attempt to harm or destroy
data of another user, Internet or any of the above listed agencies
or other networks that are connected to the Internet. This includes,
but is not limited to, the uploading or creation of computer viruses.
The following is a list of prohibited activity concerning use
of the district's computer network. Violation of any of these
prohibitions may result in discipline or other appropriate penalty,
including suspension or revocation of a user's access to the network.
8. No Privacy Guarantee
Students using the district's computer network should not expect, nor does the district guarantee, privacy for electronic mail (e-mail) or any use of the district's computer network. The district reserves the right to access and view any material stored on district's equipment or any material used in conjunction with the district's computer network.
9. Sanctions
All users of the district's computer network
and equipment are required to comply with the district's policy
and regulations governing the district's computer network. Failure
to comply with the policy or regulation may result in disciplinary
action as well as suspension and/or revocation of computer access
privileges.
In addition, illegal activities are strictly prohibited. Any information
pertaining to or implicating illegal activity will be reported
to the proper authorities. Transmission of any material in violation
of any federal, state, and/or local law or regulation is prohibited.
This includes, but is not limited to materials protected by copyright,
threatening or obscene material or material protected by trade
secret. Users must respect all intellectual and property rights
and laws.
10. District Responsibilities/Warranties
BOCES and the East Moriches School district
makes no warranties of any kind, whether expressed or implied,
for the service it is providing. BOCES or the East Moriches School
District will not be responsible for any damages you suffer. This
includes loss of data resulting from delays, nondeliveries, miss
deliveries, or service interruptions caused by its own negligence
or your errors or omissions. Use of any information obtained via
the Internet is at your own risk. BOCES specifically denies any
responsibility for the accuracy or quality of information obtained
through its services.
Users of the district's computer network and the Internet use
information at their own risk. Each user is responsible for verifying
the integrity and authenticity of the information that is used
and provided. The district also will not be responsible for unauthorized
financial obligations resulting from the use of access to the
district's computer network or the Internet.
Further, even though the district may use technical or manual
means to regulate access and information, these methods do not
provide a foolproof means of the district policy and regulations.