Technology Usage
TECHNOLOGY POLICY

GENERAL STATEMENT

Bishop Ahr High School will provide computer equipment, services and internet access for its students and staff. The sole purpose of providing these resources is to enhance teaching and learning at Bishop Ahr High School. Access to telecommunications will allow students and staff to explore databases, libraries, internet sites and message boards. Thus, Bishop Ahr High School as an educational institution will have the resources to exchange information with other individuals and institutions throughout the world.

Bishop Ahr High School supports and encourages pupil and staff access to the worldwide web and its boundless reservoir of information and resources. Since some sectors of the Web are considered inappropriate for student consumption, the administration reserves the right to limit the use of technology for educational purposes only. To ensure legitimate application, the system supervisors will monitor computer and internet activity.

Access to technology resources will not be available as a carte blanche right. Students and staff must accept the use of these resources as a privilege. The user is expected to possess the requisite skill necessary to utilize this resource properly.

The administration has the right to monitor and audit all communication on the network.

Any user of our technology resources agrees to abide by the Bishop Ahr Technology Policy and in addition agrees to indemnify Bishop Ahr High School for any losses, costs or damages, including attorney?s fees, incurred by Bishop Ahr High School relating to or arising out of any breach of this section.

Use of the technology resources will be permitted for all students, teachers and staff members with enabled user accounts. By logging onto the Bishop Ahr network, all users agree to the Bishop Ahr Technology Policy. Any user who does not consent to Bishop Ahr?s Technology Policy is prohibited from using Bishop Ahr?s technology resources.


EQUIPMENT

  • The user will recognize the value of the hardware, software, and all computer-related materials and will not misuse or abuse any of these items.

  • Personal diskettes or CD ROMS cannot be used without the approval or direct supervision of the system supervisor. These should be checked for viruses with a current version of a recognized virus-scanning program.

  • No user will alter, install, modify, upgrade, repair or remove any school hardware, including but not limited to computers, interface cards, monitors, printers, scanners, modems, wiring or cabling, mouse or other accessories.

  • Users who damage any hardware or software will be responsible for replacing the damaged articles at their own expense.


    • SOFTWARE

    • Commercial software is copyrighted and each user must abide by the licensing agreement published with the software.

    • The user will not violate any copyright laws regarding print, electronic or visual information.

    • The user will not read, change, create, delete, copy, or modify any parts of the resident software or the operating system.



    INTERNET ACCESS

    • The user may utilize the network resources for educational or administrative purposes only. Commercial uses are strictly prohibited.

    • The user will not upload, download, or bring into the school material deemed inappropriate. This would include but not be limited to any material that contains profanity, vulgarity, obscene, or violent content. Materials that are racist, abusive, degrading, demonic or promote intolerance, prejudice, harassment, or insult any individual, ethnic, or religious group are unacceptable.

    • Transmission of material, information or software in violation of any church, school, local, state or federal law is prohibited.

    • The user will not meet in person any individual whom s/he made contact with through the school technological resources. Meetings with resource people contacted through the Internet will be arranged only with the approval of the school administration.


    E-MAIL

    • E-mail is intended for educational use.

    • The user will not reveal addresses, phone numbers, photographs or other personal information of him/herself or others.

    • Any form of harassment via e-mail, telephone or paging, whether through language, frequency or size of messages is prohibited.

    • The user will report any message received through technology resources, which makes him/her insecure, anxious, or uncomfortable.


    MISCELLANEOUS

    • The user will work in a quiet, respectful manner, which is not disturbing or distracting to others.

    • The user will not disclose or attempt to access personal passwords or access codes assigned to him/her or any other user.

    • The user will not attempt to defeat security measures instituted by the school.

    • Unauthorized access to computers after designated hours or from locations other than those approved for specific computer assignments is prohibited.

    • The user will not use school technological resources to support candidates for public or elected office.

    • The user will exercise due diligence and is bound not to disclose or use any confidential or personal information acquired as a result of using the schools? technological resources.

    • The school makes no warranties of any kind, whether expressed or implied, for the use of this technology. It will not be responsible for any damages suffered, such as loss of data resulting from delays, non-deliveries or service interruptions caused by its own negligence or the user?s errors or omissions.

    • The school specifically denies any responsibility for the accuracy or quality of information obtained through its technological resources.

    PASSWORD POLICY
    • No passwords are to be spoken, written, e-mailed, hinted at, shared, or in any way known to anyone other than the user involved.

    • No accounts or passwords are to be shared or offered to another user. This includes a situation where a user has forgotten his/her password and wants to access the network through another user?s account.

    • Users who have forgotten their passwords should report to the Technology Office.

    • Passwords are not to be your name, address, date of birth, username, nickname, or any term that could easily be guessed by someone who is familiar with you.

    • Passwords are not to be displayed or concealed on personal items, lockers, or in workspaces.

    PASSWORD STANDARD

    • Password may not contain all or part of the user?s account name.

    • Password is at least eight (8) characters long.

    • Password contains characters from three of the following four categories:

      • Uppercase characters (A...Z)



      • Lowercase characters (a...z)



      • Base 10 digits (0...9)



      • Non-alphanumeric (!, $, #, %, etc.)

    Adopted September 1, 2002
    © 2006, Bishop George Ahr High School