Ethics+Policies

__**Ethics Policies**__

__RESEARCH GUIDELINES__ The District encourage participation of teaching staff members in research projects that are soundly designed and professionally conducted. Teaching staff members may seek funding from local, state, and federal sources, public and private, for locally conducted research projects. Any research project involving pupils must be approved by the Board; all other research projects involving district personnel, facilities, and/or resources may be approved by the Superintendent. An application for approval of a proposed research project must set forth the purpose of the project; a detailed description of the project; the degree to which, if any, the project will interrupt or displace the regular instructional program; a projection of the number of pupils, if any, and staff members who will be involved, the period of time that will be devoted to the project, and the project costs; the source of funding; any background information necessary to an understanding of the project; the means by which the project will be evaluated; and an assessment of the contribution the project will make to the educational program of this district.

A written report must be made to the Superintendent when a research project is terminated, either completed or incomplete. The Superintendent may also require progress reports during the course of any research project and may notify appropriate administrators of the conduct of any research project.


 * note: PRIOR WRITTEN APPROVAL MUST BE OBTAINED FROM ALL THOSE PARTICIPATING IN THE PROJECT.**

__PRIVILEGES AND RESPONSIBILITY__

Access to computer network services/computers is given to teaching staff members who are expected to act in a considerate, responsible and professional manner. Access is a privilege, not a right. Access entails responsibility. Individual users of the district computer network(s)/computers are responsible for their behavior and communications over the computer network(s)/computers. It is presumed that users will comply with district standards.

__PRIVACY__

Computer network(s)/computer storage areas shall be treated in the same manner as other school storage facilities. Computer network(s)/computer administrators may review files and communications to maintain system integrity and ensure that users are using the system responsibly. Users should not expect that files stored on district servers will always be private. Users should expect all files stored on district servers will be available for review by the system administrator and/or school administrators.

Members are responsible for good behavior on computer network(s)/computers. Communications on the computer network(s)/computers are often public in nature. Policies and Regulations governing teaching staff members behavior and communications apply Within reasonable limits, freedom of speech and access to information will be honored. During school, teaching staff members will guide pupils toward appropriate materials.

Users agree not to publish on or over the system any information which violates or infringes upon the rights of any other person.

The user agrees not to use the facilities and capabilities of the system to conduct any non-school related business or solicit the performance of any activity which is prohibited by law or non-educational.
 * __PUBLIC POSTING AREAS__ (Message Boards/Usenet Groups)

To best utilize system resources, the system administrators will determine which Usenet groups are most applicable to the educational needs of the school district and will carry these groups on the school district computer network(s). The system administrators or the school administration, at their sole discretion, may remove messages posted locally that are deemed to be unacceptable or in violation of the Board policies and regulations. The system administrators or the school administration, at their sole discretion, further reserve the right to immediately terminate the account of a member who misuses the message boards or Usenet groups.

Real-time, Interactive, Communication Areas The system administrators, at their sole discretion, reserve the right to monitor and immediately limit the use of the computer network(s)/computers or terminate the account of a member who misuses real-time conference features (talk/chat/Internet relay chat) etc.

__SECURITY__ Security on any computer system is a high priority, especially when the system involves many users. If a member feels that he/she can identify a security problem on the computer network(s), the member must notify a system administrator. The member should not inform individuals other than the system administrators or other designated members of the school district staff of a security problem. Professional staff may allow individuals who are not members to access the system through the staff personal account as long as the staff person does not disclose the password of the account to the individuals and understands that the staff person assumes responsibility for the actions of individuals using his/her account. Members may not Violations of the Acceptable Use of Computer Network(s)/Computers and Resources may result in a loss of access as well as other disciplinary or legal action.

Source: Chatham Public Schools || informed students and future employees and that access to the Internet enables the exploration of libraries, databases, bulletin boards and other resources around the world. The Board also believes that honing these skills will allow students to complete in this new highly technological society; therefore, Internet access is encouraged proving use does not violate the tenets of this policy and is not illegal. The purpose of district-provided Internet access is to facilitate communications in support of research and education. To remain eligible as users, students and teachers use must be in support of and consistent with the educational objectives of the district. Access is a privilege, not a right. Access entails responsibility. Further, they are required to use the Internet for district sponsored educational purposes only. It may not be used for personal reasons. Student utilizing district-provided Internet access must first have the permission of, and must be supervised by, the school’s professional staff. Students utilizing school provided Internet access are responsible for good behavior on-line just as they are in a classroom or the area of the school. The same general rules for behavior and communications apply during students’ use of the Internet. No students shall use the Internet in any manner, which could be deemed offensive or disruptive to the educational process. For the purpose of this policy, offensive or disruptive conduct is any use of the Internet to communicate or to receive communication and/or products, documents or any other tangible means of expression, that contains sexual implications, racial slurs, gen especific comments, or any other comments that offensively addresses someone’s age, sexual orientation, religious or political beliefs, national origin or disability. The Internet shall not be used to send (upload) or receive (download) copyrighted materials, trade secrets, propriety financial information or similar materials without prior authorization from the school’s written professional staff. User should not expect that files stored on school-based computers will always be private. Electronic messages and files stored on school-based computers may be treated like school lockers. Administrators and faculty may review files and messages to maintain system integrity and insure that users are acting responsibly. The following uses of school-provided Internet access are not permitted: 1. to access, upload, download, or distribute pornographic, obscene, or sexually explicit material; 2. to transmit obscene, abusive, or sexually explicit language; 3. to violate any local, state, or federal statute; 4. to vandalize, damage, or disable the property of another individual or organization;
 * The Board believes that electronic information research skills are necessary the preparation of

Source: Irvington Public Schools ||