Acceptable Use PolicY

Technology Acceptable Use Policy

The school cannot be held responsible for any damages, injuries, or claims resulting from student violations of responsible use of technology as outlined herein.

At Montclair Kimberley Academy (MKA), students are expected to act in ways that reflect the eight Character Standards and uphold the Code of Conduct and the Honor Code.  Many of the rules and regulations at MKA are created toward that end and are necessary to simply maintain an atmosphere that is pleasant, orderly and conducive to learning. When in doubt about what is the right thing to do, there are two basic rules that students should keep in mind:

• Have respect and concern for the rights, feelings, property, and personal spaces of others.
• Behave in a manner that demonstrates respect for yourself, your family, and your school.

MKA recognizes how valuable the appropriate use of technology is to improving teaching and learning. Accordingly, MKA has made a significant commitment to integrating technological advances into the school program to enhance students’ learning experiences. MKA provides access to the school’s file servers, printers and Internet services from every computer connected to the MKA network. Understanding and following MKA’s Acceptable Use Policy allows us to maintain a respectful, effective, and safe learning environment.

MKA recognizes that issues such as fairness and network capacity limitations require a policy concerning the appropriate use of all technology. MKA network resources are considered the property of MKA. Laptop access to MKA’s network services will be provided throughout the school via a wireless network. Montclair Kimberley Academy blocks websites and web-based services that the administration deem to pose a threat to the safety, security, and well-being of its community members, facilities, network, and resources. Categories that are blocked include: pornography and sexually explicit material, criminal and illegal activities, weapons and extreme violence, computer hacking, spyware and malicious software, and certain video streaming sites. MKA will continue to take precautions for this type of material on all equipment that is part of the school’s network.

Any actions performed or initiated through the network must reflect the integrity and honesty expected of an MKA student, as described in the MKA Code of Honor, and be compliant with MKA’s rules of conduct, as set forth in the Student Handbook. All network traffic will be logged by MKA, and those logs will be monitored for inappropriate use. Students will be held responsible for actions initiated on their laptops, regardless of whether they were using their computer at the time of the infraction. Therefore, students may only use the laptop they have been issued or one provided in the event of repair.  

As a rule, MKA will protect students’ privacy and will treat students’ electronic information as it treats any other student property. However, the school reserves the right to randomly search students’ personal belongings, laptops (personal and school – issued) and school-issued accounts in accordance with policies stated in the Student/Parent Handbook.

Violations of the Acceptable Use Policy fall into two broad categories: "Minor Offenses" and "Major Offenses."  A Major Offense to the AUP is also a Major Code of Conduct Violation.
           
Minor Offenses

A minor offense is an action or behavior that violates a rule that has been put in place to maintain the strength, integrity, and sustainability of our technology program. Students who demonstrate a pattern of minor offenses will be referred to the MS or US Dean of Students.  Minor offenses include, but are not limited to, the following:

Laptop Usage

• Forgetting to bring the laptop to school.
• Using personal laptops, phones, or tablets while at school except for special circumstances outlined by each campus or communicated by the Educational Technology department.
• Using software and services whose use may be deemed inappropriate for the teaching and learning approach of a specific course or subject. (e.g., language translation services, literature summary sites, online calculators).

Laptop Maintenance

• Transporting or using the laptop without a hard protective case similar to the one originally issued with the laptop.
• Placing stickers directly on the laptop or putting paper or other objects beneath the bottom protective case.
• Not addressing needed repairs (e.g., cracked screen, cracked trackpad, missing keys, bent cases).
• Creating secondary accounts for the laptop (e.g., for a friend or parent)
• Installing operating systems other than those installed by the MKA Tech Department.
• Upgrading the Mac Operating System beyond the currently installed version (e.g., 10.7 Lion to 10.8 Mountain Lion)
• Changing the following settings in the System Preferences:
• Sharing -> Changing the Computer Name
• Sharing -> Disabling or changing settings for Remote Login
• Sharing -> Disabling or changing settings for Remote Management
• Security -> Turning on FileVault
• Security-> Enabling the Firewall

Power Management

• Practicing poor power management techniques (e.g., coming to school with laptop not fully charged).
• Charging computer in non-designated outlets or charging carts. Designated charging areas include:
• Middle School: Library, Cafeteria, and Tech Center Charging Carts
• Upper School: Locker Lounge, Tech Center Charging Cart, Cafeteria, Library
• Please note: each student is responsible for his or her computer while it is being charged in any of the above locations.

Network Access (Minor)

• Using unauthorized 3rd party multi-node file-sharing software (e.g., Limewire, Kazaa, BitTorrent) while on the school network. iChat, Dropbox, Evernote, and AirDrop do not fall under this category.
• Using personal laptops or tablets instead of the school issued laptop.
• Sending chain emails, inappropriate broadcast messages or any other information that may cause undue network congestion.
• Using the network for commercial purposes. The school will not be responsible for any financial obligations resulting from school-provided laptops, technology or access to the Internet.
• Accessing non-MKA wireless networks with the laptop while on campus.
• Attempting to connect to the MKA wired or wireless network with non-authorized devices including personal laptops, phones, or tablets.

Major Offenses

A major offense is a serious violation of the standards of the community and poses a threat to the safety and security of the school’s network, infrastructure, students, faculty, and greater community. Major Offenses to the AUP also count as Major Offenses to the Code of Conduct. Major offenses include, but are not limited to, the following:

Privacy, Property, & Community

• Accessing or deleting the MKA Tech administrative account.
• Vandalizing the laptop or other network resources. This includes defacing, engraving, coloring, painting, etching, and using marker on the laptop itself. It also includes deliberately removing keys or deforming the original shape of the laptop and its components.
• Accessing laptops, accounts, and files of others without permission. This includes going on to someone else’s computer and accessing any web page, social network, application without the owner’s knowledge or permission.
• Recording, filming, or photographing teachers or other students without express permission to do so.  If teachers or other students have given permission to record, the student who receives permission is expected to respectfully and responsibly use and manage the recorded material. Sharing or publicly posting captured material without permission is also prohibited.
• Using the laptop and its applications or the school network either in or out of school to harass, disparage, or intimidate another person or the school itself.
• Sending or posting messages that are detrimental to the reputation of MKA by virtue of the sender’s address or other means of identification.

Illegal Activity

• Installing or distributing unlicensed or illegal software. This does not include free demos.
• Using the network in support of illegal activities or businesses or for gambling. The school will not be responsible for any financial obligations resulting from school-provided laptops, technology or access to the Internet.

Network Access (Major)

• Placing, creating, or accessing sexually explicit, violent, obscene or unlawful material.
• Attempting to get around network security or to impair functionality of the network.
• Attempting to bypass restrictions set by the network administrators.
• Using a computer for distribution of inappropriate or illegal material including text, audio, images, or video.
• Providing billable services to others for the use of your laptop or MKA network resources.

March 2013