IV. D. 5. Telecommunications and Networked Services

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Policy

The West Warwick School Committee recognizes that as telecommunications and other new technologies shift the ways that information may be accessed, communicated and transferred by members of society, those changes may also alter instruction and student learning. The School Committee supports access by students to rich information resources and the acquisition of appropriate skills to analyze and evaluate such resources.

Program

In order to match electronic resources as closely as possible to the approved school curriculum, school personnel will review and evaluate resources and materials that support instruction. In this manner, staff will provide developmentally appropriate guidance to students as they make use of telecommunications and electronic information resources to conduct research and other studies related to the district curriculum. All students will be informed by staff of their rights and responsibilities as users of the school network prior to gaining access to that network, either as an individual user or as a member of a class or group. As much as possible, access to school information resources will be designed in ways that direct students to those that have been reviewed and evaluated prior to use. While students may be able to move beyond those resources to others that have not been evaluated by staff, they shall be provided with guidelines and lists of resources particularly suited to learning objectives. Students may pursue electronic research independent of staff supervision only if they have been granted parental permission and have submitted all required forms. Permission is not transferable and may not be shared.

Internet Rules and Regulations

Students are responsible for good behavior on school computer networks just as they are in classrooms or in school hallways. Communications on the network are often public in nature. General school rules for behavior and communications apply. The network is provided for students to conduct research and communicate with others. Access to networks services is provided to students who agree to act in a considerate and responsible manner. Parent permission is required. Access is a privilege - not a right. Access entails responsibility. Individual users of the school computer networks are responsible for their behavior and communications over those networks. It is presumed that users will comply with school standards and will honor the agreements they have signed. Although the school is not responsible for restricting, monitoring or controlling the communications of individuals utilizing the network, it reserves the right to discipline users and/or file civil or criminal complaints.

Network storage areas may be treated like school lockers. Network administrators may review files and communications to maintain system integrity and ensure that users are using the system responsibly. Users should not expect that files stored on district servers will always be private.

Sanctions

Violations may result in a loss of access and/or additional disciplinary action at the building level or above in line with existing practice regarding inappropriate language or behavior. When applicable, law enforcement agencies may be involved.

The use of Internet facilities of the West Warwick School Department for telecommunications and electronic information resources will be permitted upon agreement to the following policy guidelines:

• To use the Internet connection only for educational purposes which are consistent with the students’ course of studies and the policies and objectives of the West Warwick School Committee/School Department.
• To use the Internet in ways that are not harmful physically, financially, or otherwise to others or their property or reputation and are within the law.
• To protect oneself and others by not issuing any addresses or telephone numbers over the Internet, remembering that Internet communications are not private.
• To use the Internet only with permission of the staff members who are in charge of it or with permission of supervising teachers.
• To be considerate of others while on the Internet abiding by the same rules that apply in school to language and behavior.
• To refrain from any commercial activity (defined as buying, selling, bartering, or advertising), including but not limited to the use of credit cards.
• To avoid disruption of the Internet supporting equipment, or information available on it, including but not limited to tampering with hardware or software, vandalizing data, introducing or using computer viruses, etc., attempting to gain access to restricted information or networks or violating copyright laws, and
• To immediately report any problems or breaches of these responsibilities to the supervising staff member.