Per BVUSD Board Policy 6163.4, students and parents are required to sign and return the Acceptable Use Agreement which outlines the guidelines and behaviors that are expected when using technology at school. Key agreements are listed below:

• District technology is provided for educational purposes.

• Students  are  expected  to  use  district  technology  safely,  responsibly,  and  for  educational purposes only and are prohibited from using district technology for improper purposes

• Students shall not have any expectation of privacy in any use of district technology. All activity may be monitored and retained.

• The Bennett Valley Union School District makes a reasonable effort to ensure students' safety and security online, but will not be held accountable for any harm or damages that result from use of school technologies.

• All users are expected to use good judgment and the same expected behaviors and respectful conduct online and offline.

• Misuse of school resources can result in disciplinary action.

• Online behavior that disrupts or harms a member of our school community may result in disciplinary action even it occurred outside of school and on a personal device

• Users of the district network or other technologies are expected to alert a teacher, or the Director of Technology immediately of any concerns for safety or security. 

• Online content is filtered through the Sonoma County Office of Education

Examples of Acceptable and Unacceptable Use

The examples below are not intended to be an exhaustive list. Users should adhere to the same standards of expected behavior and use their own good judgment when using technology. 

Acceptable Use Examples

• Using technology for school-related activities and learning while following the same guidelines for safe, respectful, and responsible behavior online that I am expected to follow offline

• Using school resources carefully, and alert staff if there is any problem with their operation

• Alerting a teacher or other staff member if I see threatening, inappropriate, or harmful content (images, messages, posts) online

• Understanding that use of school technology is a privilege and and it can be revoked

• Being careful to protect the safety of myself and others

Unacceptable Use Examples

• Using school technologies in a way that could be harmful

• Attempting to find inappropriate images or content

• Engaging in cyberbullying, harassment, or disrespectful behavior toward others

• Posting personally-identifying information, about myself or others

• Agreeing to meet someone I meet online in real life

• Using language online that would be unacceptable in the classroom.

Violations of this Acceptable Use Policy may have disciplinary repercussions, including:

• Suspension of network, technology, or computer privileges

• Notification to parents

• Detention or suspension from school and school-related activities

• Legal action and/or prosecution

The  Bennett Valley Union  School  District  authorizes  students  to  use technology  owned  or  otherwise  provided  by  the  district  as  necessary  for  instructional purposes. The use of district technology is a privilege permitted at the district's discretion and is  subject  to  the  conditions  and  restrictions  set  forth  in  applicable  Board  policies, administrative regulations, and this Acceptable Use Agreement. The district reserves the right to suspend access at any time, without notice, for any reason.

The district expects all students to use technology responsibly in order to avoid potential problems and liability. The district may place reasonable restrictions on the sites, material, and/or information that students may access through the system. Each student who is authorized to use district technology and his/her parent/guardian shall sign this Acceptable Use Agreement as an indication that they have read and understand the agreement.

Definitions

District technology includes, but is not limited to, computers, the district's computer network including servers and wireless computer networking technology (wi-fi), the Internet, email, USB  drives,  wireless  access  points  (routers),  tablet  computers,  smartphones  and  smart devices,  telephones,  cellular  telephones,  personal  digital  assistants,  pagers,  MP3  players, wearable  technology,  any  wireless  communication  device  including  emergency  radios, and/or future technological innovations, whether accessed on or off site or through district-owned or personally owned equipment or devices.

Student Obligations and Responsibilities

Students  are  expected  to  use  district  technology  safely,  responsibly,  and  for  educational purposes only. The student in whose name district technology is issued is responsible for its proper  use  at  all  times.  Students  shall  not  share  their  assigned  online  services  account information,  passwords,  or  other  information  used  for  identification  and  authorization purposes, and shall use the system only under the account to which they have been assigned.

Students are prohibited from using district technology for improper purposes, including, but not limited to, use of district technology to: 

1. Access,  post,  display,  or  otherwise  use  material  that  is  discriminatory,  libelous, defamatory, obscene, sexually explicit, or disruptive

2. Bully,  harass,  intimidate,  or  threaten  other  students,  staff,  or  other  individuals ("cyberbullying")

3. Disclose,  use,  or  disseminate  personal  identification  information  (such  as  name, address, telephone number, Social Security number, or other personal information) of another student, staff member, or other person with the intent to threaten, intimidate, harass, or ridicule that person

4. Infringe on copyright, license, trademark, patent, or other intellectual property rights

5. Intentionally disrupt or harm district technology or other district operations (such as destroying  district  equipment,  placing  a  virus  on  district  computers,  adding  or removing a computer program without permission from a teacher or other district personnel, changing settings on shared computers)

6. Install unauthorized software

7. "Hack" into the system to manipulate data of the district or other users

8. Engage in or promote any practice that is unethical or violates any law or Board policy, administrative regulation, or district practice

Privacy

Since the use of district technology is intended for educational purposes, students shall not have any expectation of privacy in any use of district technology. The district reserves the right to monitor and record all use of district technology, including, but not limited to, access to the Internet or social media, communications sent or received from district technology, or other uses. Such monitoring/recording may occur at any time without prior notice for any legal purposes including, but not limited to, record retention and distribution and/or investigation of improper, illegal, or prohibited activity. Students should be aware that, in most instances, their use of district technology (such as web searches and emails) cannot be erased or deleted.  All passwords created for or used on any district technology are the sole property of the district. The creation or use of a password by a student on district technology does not create a reasonable expectation of privacy.

Personally Owned Devices

Except with permission, students should not bring personally-owned devices (including laptops, tablets, smart phones, and cell phones) to school. If they are brought, with permission, they must be turned off and put away during school hours-unless otherwise instructed by a teacher or staff.If a student uses a personally owned device, with district permission, to access district technology, he/she shall abide by  all  applicable  Board  policies,  administrative  regulations,  and  this  Acceptable  Use Agreement. Any such use of a personally owned device may subject the contents of the device and any communications sent or received on the device to disclosure pursuant to a lawful subpoena or public records request.

Reporting

If  a  student  becomes  aware  of  any  security  problem  (such  as  any  compromise  of  the confidentiality of any login or account information) or misuse of district technology, he/she shall immediately report such information to the teacher or other district personnel.

Online Behavior

Users should always use the Internet, network resources, and online sites in a courteous and respectful manner. Users are expected to communicate online and offline with the same appropriate, safe, mindful, and courteous conduct. There are always consequences when online behavior harms or upsets a member of our school community. Students can face consequences for online behavior that harms or upsets a member of our school community, even if the behavior happens on a personal device and outside of school. 

Email

• District email accounts are for the purpose of school-related communication only.

• Users should not attempt to open files or follow links from unknown or untrusted origin; should use appropriate language; and should only communicate with other people as allowed by the district policy or the teacher.  

• Email usage may be monitored and archived. 

• Availability and use may be restricted based on school policies.

Online Information 

• Users should also recognize that among the valuable content online is unverified, incorrect, or inappropriate content. Users should use trusted sources when conducting research via the Internet.

• Users should be mindful to avoid posting anything online that they wouldn't want parents, teachers, or future colleges or employers to see. Once something is online, it may not be possible to remove it, and it can be shared and spread in ways never intended

Social Media

• Personal social media accounts may not be accessed via a district-issued device or on the district network. 

• Social Media should be used responsibly, carefully, legally, and under the close supervision of an adult.

• Many social media accounts are restricted by age. As age-appropriate, families are encouraged to have regular conversations about social media use expectations. 

• Activity that occurs off campus and on a person device may still result in a school consequence to the extent that it impacts the school community

Personal Safety 

• Users should not share any personal information online. 

• Users should protect personal information of themselves and others. Users should never agree to meet someone they meet online in real life without parental permission.

• Users should bring any message, comment, image, or anything else online that could be concerning for personal safety, to the attention of a trusted adult immediately.

Cyberbullying 

• Cyberbullying will not be tolerated. Harassing, impersonating, disrespecting, excluding, and cyberstalking are all examples of cyberbullying. Engaging in these behaviors, or any activities intended to harm (physically or emotionally) another person, will result in severe disciplinary action and loss of privileges. In some cases, cyberbullying can be a crime. 

• Remember that activity on district devices or the district network are monitored and retained.

• Activity that occurs off campus and on a person device may still result in a school consequence to the extent that it impacts the school community

Consequences for Violation

Violations of the law, Board policy, or any part of this Acceptable Use Agreement may result in revocation of a student's access to district technology and/or discipline, up to and including suspension or expulsion.  In addition, violations of the law, Board policy, or this agreement may be reported to law enforcement agencies as appropriate.