Internet Appropriate Use Policy

The Biloxi Public School District provides access to the Internet for students.  Students must have permission from at least one of their parents and or guardians to access the Internet at school.  The use of the Internet is a privilege, not a right, and inappropriate use will result in the cancellation of those privileges and/or disciplinary actions by the District.  A student’s use of the Internet must be in support of education and research, and consistent with the educational objectives of the Biloxi Public School District.  In addition, the student accessing the Internet from a school site is responsible for all online activities that take place through the use of his or her account.

This network is a public network provided by the Mississippi Department of Education.  This network is fully compliant with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) and Child Online Protection Act (COPA) regulations.

Personal:

• Users will not disclose, use, disseminate or divulge personal and or private information about himself/herself, minors or any others including personal identification information, etc.
• Biloxi Public School District will not disclose personal information about students on websites – such as their full name, home or e-mail address, telephone number, and social security number.
• Users will immediately report to (School District) authorities any attempt by other Internet users to engage in inappropriate conversations or personal contact.

Illegal and/or Unacceptable Usage:

• User agrees not to access, transmit or retransmit any material(s) in furtherance of any illegal act or conspiracy to commit any illegal act in violation of local, state or federal law or regulations and/or school district policy.
• User shall not access, transmit, or retransmit, threatening, harassing, or obscene material, pornographic material, or material protected by trade secret, and/or any other material that is inappropriate to minors.  User shall not transmit or retransmit copyrighted materials unless authorized.  User shall not plagiarize copyrighted material. (COPPA)
• User shall not access, transmit, or retransmit any material that promotes violence or the destruction of persons or property by devices including, but not limited to the use of firearms, explosives, fireworks, smoke bombs, incendiary devices, or other similar materials.
• User shall not use the network for any illegal activity including, but not limited to, unauthorized access including hacking.
• User shall not access, transmit, or retransmit language that may be considered offensive, defamatory, or abusive.
• User shall not access, transmit, or retransmit information that could cause danger or disruption or engage in personal attacks, including prejudicial or discriminatory attacks.
• User shall not access, transmit or retransmit information that harasses another person or causes distress to another person.

System Resource Limits:

• User shall only use the Biloxi Public School District’s system for educational and career development activities and limited, high quality self-discovery activities as approved by Biloxi’ s faculty for a limited amount of time per week.
• User agrees not to download large files unless it is absolutely necessary.  If absolutely necessary to download large files, user agrees to download the files at a time when the system is not being heavily used.
• User agrees not to post chain letters or engage in “spamming” (that is, sending an annoying or unnecessary message to large numbers of people).
• User agrees to immediately notify his/her teacher or other school administrator should user access inappropriate information.  This will assist in protecting user against a claim of intentional violation of this policy.

User Rights:

• User shall have the responsibility to use computer resources for academic purposes only.  Therefore, as mandated by CIPA, filtering will be utilized on all computers accessing the internet.  The only exception will be for academic research by a staff member with the approval of school administration.
• The Biloxi Public School District will fully cooperate with local, state or federal officials in any investigation related to illegal activities conducted through the user’s internet account.
• Under no conditions should a user provide his/her password to another person or use another person’s password.
• User should not expect files stored on a school-based computer to remain private.  Authorized staff will periodically inspect folders and logs of network usage will be kept at all times.  Routine review and maintenance of the system may indicate that user has violated this policy, school codes, municipal law, state law or federal law.  Parents of minor users shall have the right to inspect the contents of user’s files.
• Individual schools within the district may create additional guidelines and procedures consistent with this policy.  Such guidelines and procedures will be appropriate for the electronic information resources being used and the students served at the school.
• Use of the Internet is a privilege, not a right.  Unacceptable and/or illegal use may result in denial, revocation, suspension and/or cancellation of the user’s privileges, as well as disciplinary action imposed by school officials.  The school district may include a process for the student to appeal the decision to deny, suspend, revoke or cancel internet privileges.

Consequences for Failure to follow Terms and Conditions of AUP:

There will be consequences for any user who fails to follow Biloxi Public School District and school guidelines and policies.

The consequences may include paying for damages, denial of access to technology, detention, suspension, expulsion or other remedies applicable under the school disciplinary policy, and state or federal law.  At the discretion of Biloxi Public School District, law enforcement authorities may be involved and any violations of state and/or federal law may result in criminal or civil prosecution.

Signatures:

I have read the Biloxi Public School District Internet Appropriate Use Agreement.  I understand and will abide by the terms and conditions as stated.

I understand that some Internet violations are unethical and may constitute a criminal offense resulting in legal action.  I understand that access to the Internet will be supervised by Biloxi Public School District personnel and that provisions of the agreement will be reviewed with students.  I understand that this is a legal and binding document.  I further understand that the Biloxi Public School District is not responsible for the actions of individual users or the information they may access.

My signature below acknowledges my agreement to the terms stated above.

Parent Signature _____________________________________________________ Date ____________

Students in grades 4 – 12 must sign below, as well.

Student Signature ____________________________________________________ Date ____________

Employee Signature __________________________________________________ Date ____________

Guest User Signature _________________________________________________ Date ____________