Excerpted from the Holmes District Schools Code of Student Conduct:
CLASS II – Major Offenses
AA. Abusive use of computers or computer technology. This may include:
1. The placing of unlawful information, data files, or programs on the computers or networks.
2. The use or downloading of obscene, abusive or otherwise objectionable language or graphics.
3. Unauthorized use of intellectual property belonging to others, including programs and/or data files.
4. Theft and/or destruction of computer software, hardware and related equipment, data files and intellectual property maintained by the School Board District and others.
5. Attempts to violate the security of any network system.
6. Deliberate actions that deny access to, disruption of, or destruction of service of any network system computer.
7. Deliberate unauthorized installation of personal computer software on the computers and the computer networks, including but not limited to: games, viruses, programs and application software. Individual authorization may be obtained from the principal or his designee.
8. Use of computer, computer networks, and related equipment to create a forgery or to commit any crime.
Disciplinary Actions for Class II Offenses:
Elementary Students:
First Offense: Parental contact and disciplinary action.
Subsequent Offenses: Suspension and/or notification of law enforcement.
Secondary Students:
First Offense: Corporal punishment and/or notification of law enforcement authorities; suspension
Driving Offense: May result in suspension of driving
Subsequent Offenses:
Second Offense: Suspension and/or notification of law enforcement authorities. Student may be removed from regular class and placed in alternative class.
Third Offense: Suspension, referral to law enforcement authorities, filing of a formal petition, or possible expulsion.
Fourth Offense: Suspension and administrative board hearing to consider expulsion recommendation with possible notification of law enforcement authorities.
In order for a student to access the internet using Holmes County School District equipment and access lines, the student must have on file a Student Network Responsibility Contract signed by the student and a Parent/Guardian Network Contract signed by the parent/guardian. These signed contracts indicate both student and parent/guardian have read and understand the Internet Acceptable Use Policy and Guidelines.
Holmes County School Board Policy
8.60 INTERNET ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY AND GUIDELINES
POLICY:
Computer accessibility has enabled people all over the world to communicate via the Internet. With this access comes the availability of material that may not be considered to be of educational value in the context of the school setting. There may be some material, individual contacts, or communications that are not suitable for school-aged children. The Holmes District School Board views information retrieval from the network in the same capacity as information retrieval from reference materials identified by schools. Specifically, the Holmes District School Board supports those that will enhance the research and inquiry of the learner with directed guidance form faculty and staff. On a global network it is impossible to control all materials, and an industrious user may discover inappropriate information. At school, each
student’s access to and use of the network will be under the teacher’s direction and monitored as a regular instructional activity. If the student uses the network outside the sponsoring teacher’s class, the teacher will not be held accountable for inappropriate network use.
The network facilities are to be used in a responsible, efficient, ethical, and legal manner in accordance with the mission of the Holmes District School Board. Failure to adhere to these guidelines may result in the suspending or revoking of the offender’s privilege of access.
This policy will provide guidelines for the Holmes District Schools participation in and use of telecommunication services and networks for administrative and instructional purposes. District use of such networks is intended to advance and promote a world-class public education in Holmes County for all students. Telecommunication services and networks permit access and exchange of information between and among schools, school offices; and members of the Holmes global community. Collaboration and exchange of information between and among students/teachers/expert resources statewide, nationally, and world-wide; the Florida Department of Education, and other state, national and international educational entities; and electronic bulletin boards are also a part of this service.
(1) District participation in any telecommunication services networks shall provide for the following elements:
(a) Electronic messaging services, file transfer, and electronic conferencing capabilities to public and district employees and authorized students;
(b) Intuitive, graphical user interfaces;
(c) Accessibility for the ser via properly equipped microcomputers from a range of vendors;
(d) Opportunities for wider networking (interstate and international) by promoting appropriate access to use of full Internet and other telecommunication services where economically feasible.
(2) All use of telecommunication services and networks shall be consistent with the mission, goals, policies, and priorities of the school district. Successful participation in a network requires that its users regard it as a shared resource and that members conduct themselves in a responsible, ethical, and legal manner while using the network.
(a) Holmes County Schools’ accounts shall be used only by the authorized users of the accounts for the purposes specified. Misuse shall result in the removal of participant access rights and authorization. Authorized users shall be ultimately responsible for all activity under their account and password.
(b) Any use of telecommunications services or networking for illegal, inappropriate, or obscene purposes, or in support of such activities, shall be prohibited. Illegal activities shall be defined as a violation of generally accepted social standards for the use of a publicly owned and operated communication vehicle.
(c) Any use of telecommunication services or network for commercial purposes, product advertisement or political lobbying shall be prohibited.
(d) No use of telecommunications services or networks shall serve to disrupt the use of the network by other users.
(e) Unlimited and open-ended use of the telecommunication services or networks in terms of access time can not be accommodated inasmuch as supportive financial resources remain finite. Users shall exercise prudence and “fairness” in the shared use of limited resources.
(f) All communication sand information accessible via the telecommunications services or networks shall be assumed to be private property. No guarantee can be made for he privacy of any communication on the network; however, authorized system administrators may access private correspondence and files if a user is believed to be in violation of this policy.
(g) All network users shall adhere to the rules of copyright regarding software, information and the attribution of authorship. Reposting personal communications without the author’s permission or bulletin board messages without proper attribution shall also be prohibited.
(h) All members of the Holmes County Schools community shall be granted free and equal access to as many network services as a school resources and availability of technology may permit.
(i) To the extent reasonably possible, users of school sponsored telecommunication services and networks shall be protected from harassment or unsafe, unwanted or unsolicited contact. Users shall be made aware, and shall acknowledge their awareness that the designers of the network cannot eliminate, or in some cases properly restrict the possibility of unwanted access to users. Nor can users be completely prevented from accessing services or information that is offensive to or inappropriate for certain groups of users. Individual users must be responsible for their own access and conduct in using telecommunications services and networks. This responsibility and accountability for such conduct will be clarified through the access authorization forms and training.
(j) Public school student use of the telecommunication services or networks trough school equipment or authorization shall be properly supervised and shall require prior written approval from parents/guardians.
(3) The superintendent or his/her designee shall be responsible for authorizing use of telecommunications services or networks in accordance with this policy.
(a) Specific procedures for school and district individual staff, student or parent use of telecommunication services and networks shall be developed and periodically reviewed for effectiveness at the district level.
(b) Each school or site administrator shall designate a person responsible for distributing access forms, authorizing access and maintaining all appropriate documentation.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 230.22(2); 230.23(17); 386.201 – 386.209, F.S.
LAWS IMPLEMENTED: 230.22(1); 230.23005(9), F.S.
History: Adopted: June 18, 2001
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