Internet Acceptable Use Policy

The Internet has become an integral part of the learning process in the East Rochester School District. We subscribe to extensive online databases and encyclopedias for research at all grade levels, and teach students how to locate and evaluate other materials on the World Wide Web. We encourage all students to use the resources available over the Internet, but they must do so responsibly. To protect our students from inappropriate materials on the Web, we have installed filtering software throughout the district. It uses a combination of lists of blocked sites and real-time content checkers to ensure safe, appropriate Internet for all. This does not excuse the student from personal responsibility – no filter is perfect – but it significantly reduces the chance of problems. All student Internet access is in staff-supervised environments. In some locations, student activity may be remotely monitored. Student Internet use is a privilege, not a right.

By using the Internet on any computer within the East Rochester School District, students implicitly agree to:

• Use the Internet responsibly, according to the rules listed here.
• Limit their use to school related work, unless specifically given free surfing time by an instructor.
• Not download or install any programs or other files, whether off the net or brought from outside.
• Not run any unauthorized programs from portable media or from the net.
• Report any problems immediately to the instructor.
• Use the printers only for school related items, and with discretion.
• Not submit any personal information to websites.
• Not create websites with inappropriate or malicious content using district machines.
• Treat the staff and equipment with respect.

The following MAY NOT be accessed using East Rochester computers:

• Online e-mail, such as Hotmail, Yahoo mail or others (unless specifically as part of an assignment given by a teacher).
• Online chat rooms, newsgroups, ftp sites, BBSs or message boards.
• Net-based video games, such as those that use the Shockwave plug in.
• Web radio and other streaming audio/video using Real Player, Window Media Player, or similar software.
• Websites that contain inappropriate language or other content, including sites of a sexual nature or those that advocate drug use, hatred and intolerance, violence, crime, or other content inappropriate in an educational environment.

Refusal or failure to comply with any of the rules above will result in punishment deemed appropriate by teachers and/or administration. This may include loss of Internet privileges temporarily or permanently, detention, suspension or even expulsion, depending on the severity of the infraction. Parents/guardians who object to their children having Internet access may write to either Principal Harold Leve(K-6) or Acting Principal Jill Slavny(7-12), requesting that the student be given alternate assignments and be barred from recreational Internet use.