Narragansett Regional School District recognizes and promotes the availability of networked services and Internet access as a valuable educational tool in classrooms across all curriculum areas In making decisions regarding student access to the Internet, Narragansett Regional School District considers its own stated educational missions, goals, and objectives. Electronic information research skills are now fundamental to preparation of citizens and future employees. Access to the Internet enables students to explore thousands of library databases, web sites, and other resources while exchanging messages with people around the world.
The District expects that faculty will blend thoughtful use of the Internet throughout the curriculum and will provide guidance and instruction to students in its use. As much as possible, access from school to Internet resources should be in ways that point students to resources that have been evaluated prior to use. While students will be able to move beyond those resources to others that have not been previewed by staff, they shall be provided with guidelines and lists of resources particularly suited to learning objectives.
Outside the school, families bear responsibility for the same guidance of Internet use as they exercise with information sources such as television, telephones, radio, movies, and other possibly offensive media.
Students utilizing district-provided Internet access must first have the permission of and must be supervised by NRSD professional staff. Students utilizing school-provided Internet access are responsible for good behavior on-line just as they are in a classroom or other area of the school. The same general rules for behavior and communications apply.
The purpose of district-provided Internet access and network services is to facilitate communications in support of research and education. To remain eligible as users, students' use must be in support of and consistent with the educational objectives of the NRSD. Access is a privilege, not a right. Access entails responsibility.
General requirements for the use of computer systems at Narragansett Regional School District:
Computing, data storage, and information retrieval systems are designed to serve the students, faculty, staff, and volunteers of the Narragansett Regional School District community. Network and Internet access is provided to further the legitimate educational goals of this institution, and is to be used for that purpose alone. Members of the Narragansett Regional School District community are encouraged to use the computers and software packages to facilitate the efficient exchange of useful information. However, the equipment, software, information, and network capacities provided through the Narragansett Regional School District are and remain the property of the Narragansett Regional School District. All users shall conduct their on-line activities in an ethical and legal fashion consistent with educational objectives and appropriate State/Federal laws. The use of these resources is a privilege, not a right. Misuse of these resources will result in the suspension or loss of these privileges, as well as disciplinary, legal, and/or monetary consequences. Appropriate or acceptable educational uses of these resources include:
All student use of network-connected computers will be under the general supervision of a staff member. No unsupervised use is permitted. Student use of computers and network resources may also be monitored electronically at any time by authorized District staff.
In accordance with Federal guidelines as provided in the Children's Internet Protection Act, as codified at 47 U.S.C./254(h) and (l), the District has installed content filtering services that limit access to Internet materials unsuitable for minor student use. These include, but are not limited to, visual depictions deemed to be obscene, child pornography, or harmful to minors. These services are provided through an agreement with the District's Internet Service Provider, and are maintained and updated on an ongoing basis. However, it must be pointed out that due to the dynamic nature of the Internet, NO filtering software or service can be guaranteed to be 100% effective. In the case that questionable materials are accidentally discovered that evade the filtering service, the supervising teacher will record the address (URL) of the site(s) in question before closing the Web browser, and will report this immediately to the Technology Director or designee.
If, in a teacher or administrator's opinion, a particular educational site has been blocked in error, s/he should report this information to the Technology Director for review, and will be notified of the outcome of the review in a timely fashion. Under certain circumstances, the Technology Director may permit adult staff members to bypass the filtering system for legitimate research or equipment testing purposes. Student users may not bypass the filtering system under any circumstances.
Examples of inappropriate or unacceptable use(s) of these resources include, but are not limited to, those uses that violate the law, the rules of network etiquette, compromise the safety of students or hamper the integrity or security of any network at NRSD. Some unacceptable practices include:
Access to the Narragansett Regional School District's E-mail and similar electronic communication systems is a privilege and certain responsibilities accompany that privilege. Narragansett Regional School District users are expected to demonstrate the same level of ethical and professional manner as is required in face-to-face or written communications. Anonymous or forged messages will be treated as a violation of this policy.
E-mail accounts are provided to all NRSD staff for school business, educational, and professional development activities. Students are not provided with individual District e-mail accounts at this time, but e-mail accounts for specific educational activities may be provided for under a teacher's supervision.
NRSD network user accounts are provided to all users where appropriate subject to agreement with the AUP as indicated by signature on the AUP Agreement form. No account will be issued without this document on file.
Narragansett Regional School District reserves the right to modify the terms of this policy at any time. Any changes to this document will be communicated as quickly as possible to the NRSD community through School Committee minutes, parent newsletter, or other communication services. Changes will become effective immediately upon approval by the School Committee.
Options for Administrative sanctions/action:
Staff members found to be engaged in any of the prohibited actions listed above will held accountable and subject to administrative action according to district policy as set by the Superintendent and School Committee in consultation with the staff member's administrator.
Student(s) found to be engaged in any of the prohibited actions listed above will be liable for administrative action and criminal/civil charges. Administrative action may take the form of any single sanction or combination of sanctions listed below:
I have read the guidelines on computer use at Narragansett Regional School District, and agree to be held accountable to these standards. This agreement is binding for the entire period of service at Narragansett Regional School District.
Staff Member Signature ________________________________ Date _______________
PRINT your name clearly: __________________________________________________
Please return to Technology Office
AUP Agreement for Students
I have read the guidelines on computer use at Narragansett Regional School District, and agree to be held accountable to these standards. This agreement is binding for the entire period of enrollment at Narragansett Regional School District.
Parent Signature ___________________________________ Date _______________
Student Signature __________________________________ Date _______________
PRINT your name clearly: _______________________________________________
Your year of graduation: ______________________________ (ex.: 2001, 2002, etc.)
Please return this form ASAP to Main Office
