Acceptable Use Policy
for Laptop Program
2007-2008
Tatum Municipal
Schools has actively pursued making advanced technology and increased access to
learning opportunities available to our students, faculty, staff and community.
INTERNET AND
EMAIL RULES
Internet is to be used for
scholarly research and as a means of obtaining needed information. Students are
further prohibited from using the Internet for shopping purposes. Students
should not access any information of this sort. It is the user's responsibility
not to initiate access to such material at home using a school laptop. Tatum
Municipal Schools does have a pornographic filter program at all schools.
TMS reserves the
right to monitor the internet usage of all students through specialized
software reporting as well as any other means available to teachers and
administration.
Students' use of the Internet must be in support of education and research and
consistent with the educational objectives of Tatum Municipal Schools. This
includes, but is not limited to, copyrighted material, threatening or obscene
material, or material protected by trade secret. Use for commercial activities,
product advertisement, or political lobbying is also prohibited.
Students may not
use any chat or collaboration program to communicate with others through the
computer network during class, unless a teacher or administrator expressly
authorizes them to do so. The use of email during class, without teacher
approval, is strictly prohibited. Likewise, the playing of games during class
time, without teacher approval, is also strictly prohibited.
No computer programs (executables), MP3's, pornography, or copyrighted material
may be distributed over the network. This rule prohibits sending files through
email as well as setting up "servers" on a student's laptop or by any
other physical or electronic means. Students should not download copyrighted
MP3's or non-shareware programs, games, and/or any programs not supported by Tatum
Municipal Schools. Any use of peer to peer software is
strictly prohibited. This includes but it is not limited to Imesh, Morpheus,
Kazaa, WinMx, etc.
PRIVILEGES
The use of the Internet and email is a privilege, not a right, and
inappropriate use will result in a cancellation of those privileges. TMS reserves
the right to review any material on user accounts and to monitor file-server
space in order to make determinations on whether specific uses of the network
are inappropriate. Decisions of the Tatum Schools administration regarding
unacceptable computer use are final. A student's use of the Internet and/or
email may be revoked, denied or suspended at the request of faculty and staff
of Tatum Schools.
NETWORK
ETIQUETTE
Students of Tatum Municipal Schools are expected to abide by the generally
accepted rules of network etiquette. These include (but are not limited to) the
following:
- Be polite. Do not get abusive in your message to others.
- Use appropriate language. Do not swear, use vulgarities or any
other inappropriate language.
- Do not send or display offensive messages or pictures.
- Do not harass, insult or attack others.
- Do not send out bulk email. This includes chain letters,
advertisements, or any other message that includes many different
recipients without their consent. The principals must approve beforehand
all email that is being sent to the entire school or an entire class.
- Do not reveal your personal address or phone number or those of
other students or colleagues.
- Do not use the network in such a way that you would disrupt the use
of the network by other users. Users shall not play games or use the
computer resources for other non-academic activities. Students may not download
large files over the Internet during school hours.
- Do not damage computers, computers systems or computer networks or
engage in other acts of vandalism. Vandalism is defined as any malicious
attempt to harm or destroy the equipment and/or data of another user. This
includes, but is not limited to, the uploading or creation of computer
viruses. The use of intentionally harmful programs is strongly prohibited
and will result in serious disciplinary consequences by the principal.
- Do not intentionally waste limited resources such as paper, printer
cartridges, and diskettes that are provided by Tatum Municipal Schools.
Only essential materials should be printed. Limitations may be placed on
students' permission to print if they abuse this privilege.
- The volume setting on the laptops should be muted when using the
computer in a setting that would be distracting to others.
SECURITY
To protect the integrity of a computer system involving many users, Tatum
students are not permitted to:
- Reveal your password to another user.
- Use another user's password to gain access to the network or
Internet.
- Trespass unto another user's files.
- Use another student's laptop.
- Do not deface laptops or backpacks with names or graffiti.
Students are
responsible for their own computers. They must keep their laptops with them or
LOCKED in their lockers at all times. Only school issued locks may be placed on
hallway lockers. Students involved in after-school activities need to insure
that their computers are secure. The computers must be kept in the approved Tatum
Schools carrying case provided and not placed in conventional book bags.
Students must notify the school immediately if a computer is missing.
Unattended computers will be picked up and a warning will be issued for the
first offense. A second offense will result in a detention. A third offense
will result in a longer detention and the student's parents are required to
retrieve the computer from the principal. Any student whose laptop has been
confiscated will not be allowed to borrow a school loaner laptop nor use
another student's laptop. The school reserves the right to institute additional
disciplinary consequences or monetary fines should it be deemed necessary.
PRIVACY
Laptops are the property of Tatum Municipal Schools. All information will be
accessible to the support staff/faculty when given over for repair. Additionally,
the school retains the right to look at a student's hard drive if there is a
reasonable suspicion that the computer is being used inappropriately or
dishonorably.
LAPTOPS ARE SCHOOL PROPERTY
Laptops are to be turned into TMS at the end of the School
year with curriculum text books. Laptops
will be reissued to students at the beginning of each school year with their
textbooks. Damage or loss of a laptop
will be the responsible of the parent.
PARENT/STUDENT
Parent or guardian is to attend one laptop meeting before
the laptops are distributed to their child.
Laptop meetings are being offered in the daytime hours and evening. Both Student and Parent must sign this
Acceptable Use Policy for Laptop Program.
I, THE PARENT /
GUARDIAN, AGREE TO PAY $1,500.00 IN THE EVENT THE LAPTOP IS LOST AND / OR
DAMAGED.
Parent ________________________________ Date_____________
Student _______________________________Date_____________