District-Provided Access to
Electronic Information, Services, and Networks for Students
I. Use of District-provided Internet Access
Students utilizing district provided Internet access must receive permission from and be supervised by Shelby County Schools' staff. Students are responsible for appropriate behavior on-line just as they are in a classroom or other area of the school.
A written Student Agreement & Parent/Guardian Permission Form shall be required prior to the student being granted independent access to the Internet. An Acceptable Use Agreement document containing the required permission/agreement form, shall specify acceptable uses, rules of on-line behavior, access privileges and penalties for policy/procedural violations. The permission form must be signed by the parent/legal guardian of minor students (those under 18 years of age) and also by the student. This document shall be kept on file as a legal, binding document. In order to modify or rescind the agreement, the student's parent/guardian (or the student who is at least 18 years old) must provide the superintendent with a written request. Permission is not transferable, may not be shared, and is contingent upon student use being consistent with the educational objectives of Shelby County Schools. Independent access to the Internet will be provided to students who agree to act in a considerate and responsible manner. Access is a privilege, not a right. Access entails responsibility.
II. Electronic Media Storage
Electronic media storage will be treated like a school locker and is subject to inspection by school officials. Network administrators, school site administrators, and teachers may review files and communications under the same standards set for inspection of school lockers in order to maintain electronic media integrity and ensure that students are using the system responsibly. Network users should not expect that files stored on district servers will always be private or be maintained indefinitely.
III. Family Responsibility
Access to telecommunications will enable students to explore thousands of libraries, databases, and bulletin boards while exchanging messages with people throughout the world. The Board believes that the benefits to students from such access exceed the disadvantages. But ultimately, parents and guardians of minors are responsible for setting and conveying the standards their children should follow when using media and information sources. To that end, Shelby County Schools support and respect each family's right to decide whether or not to apply for independent access.
Outside of school, families bear responsibility for the same guidance of Internet use as they exercise with information sources such as television, telephones, radio, movies, and other possibly offensive media.
IV. Prohibited Uses of District-Provided Access to Electronic Information
The following uses of district-provided access to Electronic Information are not permitted:
To violate existing Board policy or regulation or any local, state, or federal statute;
To access, upload, download, or distribute pornographic, obscene, or sexually explicit material;
To transmit obscene, abusive, racist, sexually explicit, or threatening language;
To vandalize, damage, or disable the property of another individual or organization;
To access another individual's materials, information, or files without authorization;
To violate copyright or otherwise use the intellectual property of another individual or organization without permission;
To engage in activities for commercial profit; for product advertisements; or for political lobbying; and
To use for any purpose inconsistent with the system's discipline policies or code of conduct.
V. Sanctions
Violations may result in loss of access.
Additional disciplinary action may be determined at the local school level in keeping with existing procedures and practices regarding inappropriate language or behavior. When applicable, law enforcement agencies may be involved.