HCSD is committed to the goal of having electronic network facilities used in a responsible, efficient, and legal manner.
All users must acknowledge their understanding of the Acceptable Telecommunications rules as a condition of receiving a HCSD account or using the network facilities. Acceptable use of telecommunications includes activities that support teaching and learning. Use of HCSD accounts should be for assignments or research for school-related activities or courses. Users are encouraged to develop network uses which meet their individual needs and which take advantage of the functions of these networks.
HCSD makes no warranties of any kind, whether expressed or implied, for the service it is providing. HCSD will not be responsible for any damages students incur. Use of any information obtained via the Internet is at student’s risk. HCSD specifically denies any responsibility for the accuracy or quality of information obtained through its services.
In order for students to obtain use of a HCSD account, students and their parents/guardians must fill out the Student Application for Use of a Network Account on a yearly basis. The person using the account is responsible for its proper use.
ACCOUNT OWNERS ARE ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL ACTIVITY UNDER THEIR ACCOUNT.
Rules and Regulations of Telecommunications
Herkimer Central School District reserves the right to update network guidelines as it deems appropriate.
Students are expected to abide by these generally accepted rules of usage. They include, but are not limited to, the following:
Educational Use
- All use of telecommunications must be in support of education and research and be consistent with the mission statement of the HCSD.
- Any use of the network for private, commercial, or for-profit purposes, product advertisement, or political lobbying is prohibited, unless defined as part of the curriculum.
Student Access
- On an annual basis, students and their parents must fill out and sign the Authorized Use Policy (AUP) form before using any HCSD technology.
- All students using computer accounts are responsible for its proper use.
- Students are NOT allowed in a setting with computers, unless they are part of a supervised setting.
- Access to e-mail, list servs, chat rooms, newsgroups, etc. are prohibited, unless approved by the teacher and only used under direct supervision. In addition, students and parents/guardians must fill out and sign the e-mail netiquette agreement.
- Hate mail, chain letters, harassment, discriminatory remarks, and other behavior deemed unfit by HCSD are prohibited.
- If approved by the Computer Technology Coordinator, students may contribute to HCSD’s Webpage. Material placed on the webpage must relate to the HCSD’s educational goals or activities.
- Pictures, names, video, and audio may appear on webpages or in video conferencing sessions. Pictures of students with first names only will be allowed.
System Security
- Students are prohibited from attempting to access someone else’s user account, whether in this school’s network or any other schools’ networks.
- Attempts to log on as a system administrator is prohibited.
- Students should not misrepresent themselves or other users on the network.
- Students are not permitted to pass through to any other server.
- Students should not tell anyone their passwords, as doing so will give that person access to the account. Students shall not intentionally seek information about, obtain copies of, or modify files, other data, or passwords, belonging to other users.
- Students should never leave their computers while logged onto the system. If students have to be away from their computers, they are required to log off first.
- The network should not be utilized to disrupt the network use of others.
- Use of the network to develop programs that harass other users or infiltrate a computer or computing system and/or damage the software/hardware components of a computer or computing system is prohibited, such as malicious attempts to harm or destroy data of another user, Internet, or any other networks. This includes, but is not limited to, the uploading or creation of computer viruses.
- The use of diskettes is prohibited unless required by your teacher and scanned by an approved virus checker. Contact the technology department for more information regarding an up-to-date virus scanner.
- Only educational software provided by HCSD is to be used on any HCSD computer.
- Downloading files from the Internet is prohibited, unless approved by your teacher.
- If a student can identify a security problem on the Internet, they must notify HCSD personnel.
- Hardware/software shall not be destroyed, modified, or abused in any way.
Personal Safety
- Communications and information accessible over the Internet cannot be assumed to be private. Therefore, users should not reveal personal information such as addresses, phone numbers, social security numbers, or credit card numbers.
- Students may not order books, newsletters, or other products over the Internet.
Plagiarism/Copyright Infringement
- All communications and information accessible via the network should be assumed to be private property. Standard copyright restrictions must be observed.
- Plagiarism is strictly prohibited.
- Copying or attempts to pirate software is in violation of copyright law and is prohibited.
Inappropriate Access to Material
- Using profanity, obscenity, or language that may be offensive to other users is prohibited.
- Use of the network to access or process pornographic material, inappropriate text files, or files dangerous to the integrity of the LAN (local area network) is prohibited.
- HCSD fully expects that students will follow their parent’s/guardian’s instructions regarding additional material deemed inappropriate.
- If a student mistakenly accesses inappropriate information, he/she should immediately tell their teacher or another HCSD employee. This will protect the student against a claim that he/she has intentionally violated HCSD rules.
- Transmission of any material in violation of any U.S. or state regulation is prohibited.
- Illegal activity is strictly forbidden.
- Students will not engage in personal attacks, including prejudicial or discriminatory attacks
Student Rights
- Students should expect only limited privacy in the contents of personal files on the HCSD’s system. The situation is similar to the rights students have in the privacy of their locker.
- HCSD reserves the right to confiscate and to review the contents of any digital storage device.
HCSD RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REMOVE A USER ACCOUNT IF THESE POLICIES ARE NOT FOLLOWED.