INTRODUCTION

To ensure that students receive a quality education and that employees are able to work in a professional and intellectually stimulating environment, it is the policy of the Boaz City Schools to provide all students and employees with the opportunities to access a variety of technology resources.
The creation of a large and varied technology environment demands that technology usage be conducted in legally and ethically appropriate ways, consistent with the instructional goals of the Boaz City Schools.
Thus, it is the intention of the Boaz City Schools that all technology resources will be used in accordance with any and all school system policies and procedures, as well as local, state and federal laws and/or guidelines governing the usage of technology and its component parts. Additionally, it is implied that all students and employees of the Boaz City Schools will use the provided technology resources so as not to waste them, abuse them, interfere with or cause harm to other individuals, institutions, or companies.

POLICY STATEMENT

The primary goal of the technology environment is to support the educational and instructional endeavors of the students and employees of the Boaz City Schools. Individuals may only use accounts, files, software, and computer resources that are assigned to those individuals under their password.
Individuals must take all reasonable precautions to prevent unauthorized access to accounts and data and any other unauthorized usage within and outside the Boaz City Schools. Duplication of any copyrighted software is prohibited unless specifically allowed for in the license agreement. According to the license agreement, a backup copy of all purchased software programs should be made and, thus, become the working copy.
All original copies of software programs, including those purchased with departmental funds, and hardware will be stored in a secure place. System-wide software shall be housed at the Board of Education.
If a single copy of a given software program is purchased, it may only be used in one computer at a time. Multiple loading or down-loading the contents of one disk into multiple computers, (1987 Statement on Software Copyright) is NOT allowed. Individuals are not authorized to make copies of any software or data without the knowledge of the School-Based Site Coordinator and/or a member of the System- wide Technology Committee. Any questions about copyright provisions should be directed to a member or the coordinator of the System-wide Technology Committee. Illegal copies of software may not be created or used on school equipment including any school-wide bulletin board services. Individuals are expected to report any violations of this policy and/or problems with the security of any technology resources to the Principal, School-Based Site Coordinator, or a member or the coordinator of the System-wide Technology Committee.
Any use of technology resources that reduces the efficiency of use for others will be considered a violation of this policy. Students and employees of the Boaz City Schools must not attempt to modify technology resources, utilities and/or configurations, or change the restrictions associated with their accounts, or attempt to breach any technology resources security system, either with or without malicious intent.
Network access shall not be used to affect individual computers or the network in any of the above ways.
The Principal of each school will be responsible for establishing specific practices to enforce this policy at individual schools.
The legal and ethical practices of software and hardware usage will be taught to all students and employees in the system. (i.e. during computer lab orientation; during faculty meetings, etc.)
This policy will be prominently displayed in all rooms throughout the system that contain one or more computers.
All Boaz City Schools technology resources, regardless of purchase date or location, are subject to this policy.
Any questions about this policy, its interpretation, or specific circumstances shall be directed to the System-wide Technology Coordinator/Committee and/or School- Based Site Coordinator before proceeding. Violators of this policy will be handled in a manner consistent with comparable situations requiring disciplinary action, including, but not limited to: (1) loss of access; (2) additional disciplinary action to be determined at the individual school in line with existing practice regarding inappropriate language and behavior; and (3) legal action, when applicable.

Electronic Mail - EMail

Boaz City Schools provides email to many of its employees and students. That access is for their use in any educational and instructional business that they may conduct. Personal use of electronic mail is permitted as long as it does not violate Boaz City Schools policy of adversely affect others. All contents and usage of electronic mail shall be the property of the Boaz City Schools.

INTERNET Information from electronic sources alters the educational environment by opening unlimited resources. The intent of the Boaz City Schools is to provide access to resources available via the Internet with the understanding that faculty, staff, and students will access and use information that is appropriate for their various curricula. The Boaz City Schools have taken precautions to restrict access to controversial materials. However, on a global network it is impossible to control all materials. We believe that the valuable information and interaction available on this worldwide network far outweighs the possibility that users may procure material that is not consistent with the educational goals of the System. Internet access is provided to allow students to conduct research and to communicate with others. Students will gain access to the Internet by agreeing to conduct themselves in a considerate and responsible manner and by providing the written permission of parents.
    All school rules and guidelines for appropriate technology usage shall apply to usage of the Internet. Because communications on the Internet are, often, public in nature, all users should be careful to maintain appropriate and responsible communications. To maintain system integrity and to insure that the system is being used responsibly, Building-Based Site Coordinators, members and Coordinator of the System-wide Technology Committee reserve the right to review files and network communications. Users should not expect that files stored on the Boaz City Schools World Wide Web server will always be private.
   All home pages (starting point for a group or individual directory of Internet sites and/or other information) will be reviewed by the System-wide Technology Coordinator and/or Committee before being added to the server. The Technology Committee and/or Coordinator reserves the right to reject part or all of a proposed home page. Home pages may only be placed on the Boaz City Schools World Wide Web server by the Technology Coordinator and/or Committee.
     Students will be allowed to conduct independent research and communicate on the Internet upon the receipt of the appropriate permission forms.
Internet access is a privilege, not a right. All Internet users are expected to act in a considerate and responsible manner.
    The following are not permitted on any Boaz City Schools Network or the Internet:
1. sending, displaying, or downloading offensive messages or pictures;
2. using obscene language;
3. harassing, insulting, or attacking others;
4. damaging computers, computer systems, or computer networks (this includes changing
    workstation and printer configurations);
5. violating copyright laws;
6. using other user passwords;
7. trespassing in other user files, folders, or work; or
8. intentionally wasting limited resources.