Okemo Mountain School Acceptable Use Policy on Direct or Wireless Access to Electronic Information, Services, and Networks.Freedom of expression is an inalienable human right and the foundation for self-government. Freedom of expression encompasses the right to freedom of speech and the corollary right to receive information. Such rights extend to minors as well as adults. Schools facilitate the exercise of these rights by providing access to information regardless of format or technology. In a free and democratic society, access to information is a fundamental right of citizenship.In making decisions regarding student access to the Internet, the Okemo Mountain School considers its own stated educational mission, goals, and objectives. Electronic information research skills are now fundamental to preparation of citizens and future employees. Access to the Internet enables students to explore thousands of libraries, databases, bulletin boards, and other resources while exchanging messages with people around the world. Okemo Mountain School expects that faculty will blend thoughtful use of the Internet throughout the curriculum and will provide guidance and instruction to students in its use. As much as possible, access from school to Internet resources should be structured in ways, which point students to those, which have been evaluated prior to use. While students will be able to move beyond those resources to others that have not been previewed by staff, they shall be provided with guidelines and lists of resources particularly suited to learning objectives.
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.
Students utilizing OMS’s Internet access must first have the permission of and must be supervised by the Okemo Mountain 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 other area of the school. The same general rules for behavior and communications apply.
The purpose of OMS’s Internet access is to facilitate communications in support of research and education. To remain eligible as users, students’ use must be in support of and consistent with the educational objectives of the Okemo Mountain School. Access is a privilege, not a right. Access entails responsibility.
Users 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: (please see attached “OMS Computer Policy” for more limitations)
a. To access, upload, download, or distribute pornographic, obscene, or sexually explicit material.
b. To transmit obscene, abusive, sexually explicit, or threatening language.
c. To violate any local, state, or federal statute;
d. To vandalize, damage, or disable our property or the property of another individual or organization.
e. To access another individual’s materials, information, or files without permission; and,
f. To violate copyright or otherwise use the intellectual property of another individual or organization without permission.
Any violation of OMS policy and rules may result in loss of OMS provided access to the Internet. Additional disciplinary action may be determined at the building level in keeping with existing procedures and practices regarding inappropriate language or behavior. When and where applicable, law enforcement agencies may be involved.
The Okemo Mountain School makes no warranties of any kind, neither expressed nor implied, for the Internet access it is providing. Okemo Mountain School will not be responsible for any damages users suffer, including–but not limited to–loss of data resulting from delays or interruptions in service. Okemo Mountain School will not be responsible for the accuracy, nature, or quality of information stored on OMS diskettes, hard drives, or servers; nor for the accuracy, nature, or quality of information gathered through OMS-provided Internet access. Okemo Mountain School will not be responsible for personal property used to access OMS computers or networks or for OMS-provided Internet access. Okemo Mountain School will not be responsible for unauthorized financial obligations resulting from OMS-provided access to the Internet.
Parents of students in the Okemo Mountain School shall be provided with the following information:
* The Okemo Mountain School is pleased to offer its students access to the Internet. The Internet is an electronic highway connecting hundreds of thousands of computers and millions of individual users all over the world. This computer technology will help propel our schools through the communication age by allowing students and staff to access and use resources from distant computers, communicate and collaborate with other individuals and groups around the world, and significantly expand their available information base. The Internet is a tool for life-long learning.
* Families should be aware that some material accessible via the Internet may contain items that are illegal, defamatory, inaccurate, or potentially offensive to some people. In addition, it is possible to purchase certain goods and services via the Internet, which could result in unwanted financial obligations for which a student’s parent or guardian would be liable.
* While Okemo Mountain School’s intent is to make Internet access available in order to further educational goals and objectives, students may find ways to access other materials as well. Even should Okemo Mountain School institute technical methods or systems to regulate students’ Internet access, those methods could not guarantee compliance with Okemo Mountain School’s acceptable use policy. That notwithstanding, Okemo Mountain School believes that the benefits to students to have access to the Internet exceed any disadvantages. Ultimately, however, parents and guardians of minors are responsible for setting and conveying the standards that their children should follow when using media and information sources. Toward that end, the Okemo Mountain School makes Okemo Mountain School’s complete Internet policy and procedures available on request for review by all parents, guardians, and other members of the community; and provides parents and guardians the option of requesting for their minor children alternative activities not requiring Internet use.
NOTICE: This policy and all its provisions are subordinate to local, state, and federal statutes.
The use of the Internet on Okemo Mountain School’s network is a privilege, not a right. This privilege will be extended only to those who have presented a signed acceptable use policy and have had their computer registered with the school. Any violation of the terms of this agreement will result in the termination of your access to our wireless networks. There will not be a warning. The only way to reinstate your access to the network will be to present a signed letter from your parents/guardian, to be followed by a phone conversation to verify permission.
By signing below, this means that I understand and agree to the network policies of Okemo Mountain School.
Signed by:
Parent/Guardian________________________________________date:__________
Computer/Network User____________________________________________date__________