Information Technology Policy

Students will not use the system to disclose personal information about themselves or any other student, except to authorized District employees or when required by an online instructional resource, and then only with teacher approval. Personal information includes full name, address, telephone number, school address, work address, etc.

Students under the age of 18 shall not make arrangements to meet personally with someone they have met online, except with the approval of their parent/guardian.

Students will promptly disclose to their teacher/instructor any message they receive that is inappropriate or makes them feel uncomfortable.

Students shall not attempt to gain unauthorized access to any part of the District system or to any other computer system using the District system or go beyond their authorized access. This includes attempting to log in through another person's account or accessing another person's files.

Students shall not make deliberate attempts to disrupt the computer system performance or destroy data by spreading computer viruses or by any other means.

Students shall not use the District system to engage in any other illegal act.

Students shall not conduct any personal for-profit activity using the District system.

Students are responsible for the use of their individual accounts and should take all reasonable precautions to prevent others from being able to use their accounts.

Students must notify a teacher or assistant immediately if they are aware of a possible security problem.

Students will help prevent the introduction and spread of computer viruses by following District virus protection procedures.

Requirements for appropriate language and communications apply to all use of the system, including public messages, private messages, and material posted on Web pages.

Students will not use obscene, profane, lewd, vulgar, rude, inflammatory, threatening, or disrespectful language.

Students will not post information that, if acted upon, could cause harm or a danger of disruption.

Students will not engage in personal attacks, including prejudicial or discriminatory attacks.

Students will not harass another person. Harassment is persistently acting in a manner that distresses or annoys another person.

Students will not knowingly or recklessly disclose false or defamatory information about a person or organization.

Students will download files only when appropriate.

Students will access audio and video through the network only as appropriate.

Students will not send or forward chain letters or engage in "spamming." Spamming is sending an unnecessary message to a large number of people.

Students will check their email and files frequently and delete or archive messages and files promptly when no longer needed.

Students will respect the rights of copyright owners, including software license holders. Copyright infringement occurs when an individual inappropriately reproduces a work that is protected by a copyright.

If a work contains language that specifies acceptable use of that work, students must follow the expressed requirements.

If students are unsure whether or not a work may be reproduced, they must request permission from the copyright owner.

Students shall not use the District system to access material that is profane or obscene.

Students shall not use the District system to access material that advocates illegal acts or that advocates violence or discrimination towards other people.

Metro Tech maintains a system to monitor and filter Internet usage by all students.

The filtering system is configured to protect against Internet access to visual depictions that are obscene or pornographic and to visual depictions harmful to minors.

The filtering system may be configured to protect against access to additional Internet content, as considered appropriate by the District.

The monitoring system keeps a record of the online activities of all students.

Students shall have no expectation of privacy regarding the contents of their files and records of their activity while using the District system.

Observation or routine maintenance and monitoring of the system may lead to reasonable suspicion that a student employee has violated District policy or the law. An investigation may be conducted if there is reasonable suspicion of such a violation. The nature of the investigation will be reasonable and appropriate to the alleged violation.

Reasonable suspicion of violation shall be required before an investigation is conducted.

All requests for investigations shall be reported to the Superintendent and the Executive Officer of Human Resources.

The District will cooperate fully with local, state and/or federal officials in any investigation relating to any unlawful activities alleged using the District system.

Students violating this policy shall be provided due process in the manner set forth in District policy.