User Policy

General User Policy

Name___________________________ _______________________________ Building_________________________

Name___________________________ _______________________________ Building_________________________

Last First (Elem, JH, HS, Complex)

TEXICO MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS

SUPERINTENDENT: Dr. R.L. Richards

POLICY RELATING TO

THE ACCEPTABLE USE OF ELECTRONIC INFORMATION (THE INTERNET)

I. User Contract:

Electronic Information Resource Contract

We are pleased to announce that in the Texico Municipal School District electronic information services are now available to students and teachers in our District who qualify as a result of participation in an orientation or training course. The Texico Municipal School District strongly believes in the educational value of such electronic services and recognizes the potential of such to support our curriculum and student learning in our District. Our goal in providing this service is to promote educational excellence by facilitating resource sharing, innovation, and communication. The Texico Municipal School District will make every effort to protect students and teachers from any misuses or abuses as a result of their experiences with an information service. All users must be continuously on guard to avoid inappropriate and illegal interaction with the information service.

Please read this document carefully. When signed by you and, if appropriate, your guardian/parent, it becomes a legally binding contract. We must have your initials where indicated and your signature and that of your guardian/parent (if you are under 18) before we can provide you with an access account.

Listed below are the provisions of this contact. If any user violates these provisions, access to the information service may be denied and you may be subject to legal and disciplinary action.

II. Terms and Conditions of This Contract

A. Personal Responsibility

As a representative of this school, I will accept personal responsibility for reporting any misuse of the network to the system administrator. Misuse can come in many forms, but it is commonly viewed as any message(s) that is/are sent or received, or accessing any web site that indicates or suggests pornography, unethical or illegal solicitation, racism, sexism, inappropriate language, and other issues described below. All the rules of conduct described in this "Policy Relating to the Acceptable Use of Electronic Information" apply when you are on the network.

I have read and understand this provision. Initial______________

B. Acceptable Use

The use of my assigned account must be in support of education and research and with the educational goals and objectives of the Texico Municipal School District (these may be found in the District document entitled "Guidelines on the Acceptable Use of Electronic Information"). I am personally responsible for this provision at all times when using the electronic information service.

Use of other organization's networks or computing resources must comply with rules appropriate to the network. Transmission of any material in violation of any United States or other state organization is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to: copyrighted material, threatening or obscene material, or material protected by trade secret. Use of commercial activities by for-profit institutions is generally not acceptable. Use of product advertisement or political lobbying is also prohibited.

I am aware that the inappropriate use of electronic information resources can be a violation of local,

state, and federal laws and that I can be prosecuted for violating those laws.

I have read and understand this provision. Initial________________________

C. Privileges

The use of the information system is a privilege, not a right, and inappropriate use will result in the cancellation of those privileges. Each person who receives an account will participate in an orientation or training course with a school faculty member as to proper behavior and use of the network. The Texico Municipal School District System Administrator (operating under the aegis of the School Board and the District office) will decide what is appropriate use and their decision is final. The system administrator(s) may close an account at any time deemed necessary. The administration, staff, or faculty of the Texico Municipal School District may request that the System Administrator deny, revoke, or suspend specific user accounts.

I have read and understand this provision. Initial______________

D. Network Etiquette and Privacy

You are expected to abide by the generally accepted rules of network etiquette. These rules include (but are not limited to) the following:

BE POLITE. Never send, or encourage others to send, abusive messages.

USE APPROPRIATE LANGUAGE. Remember that you are a representative of our school and District on a non-private system. You may be alone with your computer, but what you say and do can be viewed globally! Never swear, use vulgarities, or any other inappropriate language. Illegal activities of any kind are strictly forbidden.

DO NOT REVEAL YOUR HOME ADDRESS OR PERSONAL PHONE NUMBER, OR THE ADDRESSES AND PHONE NUMBERS OF STUDENTS OR COLLEAGUES.

ELECTRONIC MAIL. Electronic mail (E-Mail) is not guaranteed to be private. Messages relating to or in support of illegal activities must be reported to authorities.

DISRUPTIONS. Do not use the network in any way that would disrupt use of the network by others.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:

Do be brief. Fewer people will bother to read a long message.

Do get the most appropriate audience for your message, not the widest.

Do remember that humor and satire is very often misinterpreted.

Do remember that if you post to multiple groups, specify all groups in a single message.

Do cite references for any facts you present.

Do forgive the spelling and grammar errors of others.

Do keep signatures brief.

Do remember that all network users are human beings. Don't "attack" correspondents; persuade them with facts.

Do post only to groups you know.