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MCCPS • 17 Lime Street • Marblehead, MA 01945       Phone: (781) 631-0777    Email: info@marbleheadcharter.org

Technology Agreement

MARBLEHEAD CHARTER NETWORK AND INTERNET ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY

Introduction 

The Internet is a tool connecting thousands of computers all over the world to millions of places just like Marblehead Charter. Using the Internet students will be able to access a variety of sources including: information and news from educational and commercial resources; government agencies and research institutions; information about the arts, culture, politics, and society; The Library of Congress, and university libraries. There is also the potential to access inappropriate content that also populates the Internet. In order to minimize exposures to the negative elements of the Internet, it is important that we have rules and guidelines in place.

This Acceptable Use Policy applies to all Marblehead Charter students, and violation of the policy will result in consequences including, but not limited to, loss of student access privileges. Although student access to the Internet will primarily take place within the classroom and the computer lab, the Acceptable Use Policy covers all use of the Marblehead Charter network and services while on the Marblehead Charter campus, regardless of actual location or time of day of access. It also covers proper use during school events on networks and services outside of the Marblehead Charter networks. Upon notification and review of a student infraction, the  Head of School or their designee will make the final decision determining future student access privileges. Further, even though Marblehead Charter may use technical or manual means to limit student access, these limits do not provide a foolproof means for enforcing the provisions of this policy and it is the student’s responsibility to adhere to the terms of this Acceptable Use Policy. All provisions of this agreement are subordinate to local, state and federal statutes and policies.

Acceptable and Unacceptable Uses of the Marblehead Charter Network

The use of the Internet must be in support of education and research consistent with the educational objectives of Marblehead Charter. Any other use may be determined unacceptable and result in termination of the student’s access. Use of the Marblehead Charter Network and services are a privilege. The availability of the Internet as a research tool is a tremendous benefit to the faculty and students of Marblehead Charter. We ask that students and parents understand and accept that the purpose of the Marblehead Charter Network is educational, and that any other use is inappropriate and could result in appropriate disciplinary action taken by the school. The Marblehead Charter Network and services will only be used to access and transmit material that is consistent with Marblehead Charter’s educational philosophy and curriculum. Access to these networks and services will be made available as long as a student demonstrates appropriate use and is enrolled at Marblehead Charter.

Acceptable Use

Responsible use of the Marblehead Charter Network requires that users:

  • DO use the technology to accomplish their work for school.
  • DO ask the supervising teacher or staff member permission before using any technology
  • DO take care of the equipment and report any issues to a teacher or staff member
  • DO accept full liability for their actions
  • DO use their own account during network communications
  • DO obtain permission from the supervising teacher or staff member before accessing the  Internet, obtain permission from the supervising teacher or staff member
  • DO obtain permission from the supervising teacher or staff member prior to printing materials found on the Internet
  • DO give credit to copyrighted materials found on the Internet and incorporated into Marblehead Charter  school work.
  • DO create, use, and maintain a password that was created according to Marblehead Charter guidelines. This password is to be used to access the Marblehead Charter Network and any resources that reside within the network and require password access.
  • DO take precautions to maintain the secrecy of their password so that other users will not be able to utilize that password for malicious purposes. Marblehead Charter users are responsible for all activity under their accounts
  • DO request the technology coordinator change their password if a user suspects that someone has discovered their password. Additionally, users should notify their teacher if they suspect their password has been discovered or used by another person.

Unacceptable Use

It is not acceptable for users to use the Marblehead Charter network for any of the following activities:

  • interfering with the normal and proper operation of the Marblehead Charter Network or the Internet
  • adversely affecting the ability of others to use Marblehead Charter Network, equipment, or services, including, but not limited to, placing a computer virus on any computer system, including the Marblehead Charter system conducting themselves in ways that are harmful or deliberately offensive to others          
  • gaining unauthorized access to any computer or telecommunications networks, including the Marblehead Charter network
  • giving their passwords to another user, permitting another individual to make use of any of their passwords to access account privileges on the Marblehead Charter Network, or making an effort to learn anyone else’s password
  • attempting to hide their identity or impersonate anyone else, including logging in through another person’s account or attempting to access another user’s password or files
  • vandalizing, destroying data, invading the privacy of another’s account, or posting anonymous inflammatory messages
  • accessing, sending or posting materials or communications that are damaging to another’s reputation;,abusive, obscene, sexually oriented, threatening, defamatory, libelous, or ‘hate speech’ material concerning a person or group of people contrary to Marblehead Charter’s policy on harassment, harassing, bullying, or illegal.
  • attempting to bypass, circumvent, or disable any Marblehead Charter firewalls, internet filters, or other  software and devices the school uses to monitor and manage internet traffic on the Marblehead Charter Network
  • engaging in any non-Marblehead Charter commercial or fundraising purpose
  • intercepting communications intended for other persons
  • furthering any illegal act, including identity theft or infringement on any intellectual property rights
  • downloading, uploading, storing or distributing any files, software, or other material that is not specifically related to school work at Marblehead Charter  
  • downloading, uploading, storing or distributing any illegal files, software, or other material
  • downloading, uploading, storing or distributing any files, software, or other material in violation of federal copyright laws

Any attempts to use the network in an unacceptable manner will result in the revocation of internet access privileges and may result in additional consequences as determined by the Technology Coordinator and/or the School Safety and Discipline.

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is defined as:

bullying through the use of technology or any electronic communication, which shall include, but shall not be limited to, any transfer of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds, data or intelligence of any nature transmitted in whole or in part by a wire, radio, electromagnetic, photo- electronic or photo optical system, including, but not limited to, electronic mail, internet communications, instant messages or facsimile communications. Cyber-bullying shall also include (i) the creation of a web page or blog in which the creator assumes the identity of another person or (ii) the knowing impersonation of another person as the author of posted content or messages, if the creation or impersonation creates any of the conditions enumerated in clauses (i) to (v), inclusive, of the definition of bullying. Cyber-bullying shall also include the distribution by electronic means of a communication to more than one person or the posting of material on an electronic medium that may be accessed by one or more persons, if the distribution or posting creates any of the following conditions:

(i) causes physical or emotional harm to the victim or damage to the victim’s property; (ii) places the victim in reasonable fear of harm to himself or of damage to his property; (iii) creates a hostile environment at school for the victim; (iv) infringes on the rights of the victim at school; or (v) materially and substantially disrupts the education process or the orderly operation of a school.

Cyberbullying as defined above is prohibited at the Marblehead Community Charter Public School. The prohibition of these actions extends to the following locations:

  • on school grounds or any space next to school grounds;
  • at the bus stop or on school buses or any other school vehicle;
  • at any school-sponsored, or school-related activities, functions or programs;
  •  through use any school computers, internet connection or other school based technology; 
  •  at a location or during activities that are not school related, or by using a private computer or cell phone, if the bullying creates a hostile environment at school for the targeted student, infringes on the rights of the targeted student at school, or otherwise disrupts the orderly operation of the school.

 

Students who cyberbully are in violation of the Acceptable Use Policy, the Student Code of Conduct, as well as the Policy Prohibiting Bullying. Students will be disciplined in accordance with the Code of Conduct for these violations.

 

Internet Etiquette

Teachers and students are expected to follow accepted rules of network etiquette. These will include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Respect time in a manner that would not infringe upon others’ attempts to access information.
  • Be polite in your questions and responses (No use of inappropriate language).
  • NEVER reveal your (or anyone’s) personal address or phone number

No Expectation of Privacy

It should be understood that users of the Marblehead Charter Network have no reasonable expectation of privacy (with respect to access by the system administrators or their designee) to any materials transferred through or stored within the Marblehead Charter Network. Further, in order to prevent any abuse of the Marblehead Charter Network or effectively maintain and repair the system, Marblehead Charter system administrators reserve the authority to inspect any and all materials transferred through or stored within the Marblehead Charter Network.

It should also be understood that certain materials accessible through the Internet may be objectionable and that is each student’s responsibility to avoid deliberately accessing objectionable material at any time.

Personal Computers and Devices

Provided students adhere to all the specific conditions below, they will be permitted to use their personally owned computers or other devices. In order to use personal devices, students will:

  • agree to abide by all elements of this Acceptable Use Policy
  • not upload or transmit any files from their computer to the Marblehead Charter Network or services with the exception of files associated with a Marblehead Charter assignment or project.
  • understand that there may be limited access to Marblehead Charter Network resources such as printers and user home directories.
  • acknowledge that Marblehead Charter is not responsible for any damages incurred, including, but not limited to loss of data or damage to personal property used to access Marblehead Charter resources.

Consequences for Violating the Acceptable Use Policy

Students may be disciplined in accordance with Code of Conduct for any violation of this Acceptable Use Policy. Marblehead Charter teachers and administrators will consider the seriousness of the violation when determining what disciplinary action to take.

Any intentional or malicious activity which causes damage to any Marblehead Charter computers or the Marblehead Charter Network will result in serious disciplinary action which may include financial responsibility for repair.