Overview

Internet/Intranet/Extranet related systems, including but not limited to computer equipment, software, operating systems, storage media, network accounts, WWW browsing, and FTP, are the property of Winfree Academy. These systems are to be used for educational purposes in serving the academic interests students and stakeholders. Effective security is a team effort involving the participation and support of every Winfree Academy student who deals with information and/or information systems. It is the responsibility of every computer user to know these guidelines, and to conduct their activities accordingly.

Purpose The purpose of this policy is to outline the acceptable use of computer equipment at Winfree Academy. These rules are in place to protect the student and Winfree Academy. Inappropriate use exposes Winfree Academy to risks including virus attacks, compromise of network systems and services, and legal issues.

Scope This policy applies to all students at Winfree Academy. This policy applies to all equipment that is owned or leased by Winfree Academy.

General Usage and Ownership

1. While Winfree Academy's network administration desires to provide a reasonable level of privacy, users should be aware that the data they create on the district systems remains the property of Winfree Academy. Because of the need to protect Winfree Academy's network, administration cannot guarantee the confidentiality of information stored on any network device belonging to Winfree Academy.
2. Winfree Academy reserves the right to inspect user directories for inappropriate materials or executable files and/or programs that are unauthorized and may affect the operation of the network. Such files are subject to removal if found.
3. Students are responsible for exercising good judgment regarding computer use.
4. For security and network maintenance purposes, only authorized individuals within Winfree Academy may monitor equipment, systems, and network traffic at any time.
5. Winfree Academy reserves the right to audit networks and systems on a periodic basis to ensure compliance with this policy.
6. Use of remote computer resources through remote telecommunication shall be governed by the same policies and rules designated for local area use. Users will be held accountable for their conduct when logged onto remote systems accessible through home or other telecommunications channels.
7. All users will follow any additional campus specific guidelines. These include but are not limited to: excessive printing of non-educational materials, activities that would erase, rename, or make unusable in any fashion any other individuals files or programs. All users are prohibited from accessing portions of the internet that do not promote the instructional mission of Winfree Academy Charter Schools.

Security and Proprietary Information

1. The user interface for information contained on Internet/Intranet/Extranet related systems is classified as confidential. Examples of confidential information include but are not limited to: student logins, student files, etc. Students should take all necessary steps to prevent unauthorized access to this information.
2. Keep passwords secure and do not share accounts. Authorized users are responsible for the security of their passwords and accounts.

Unacceptable Use The following activities are, in general, prohibited. Under no circumstances is a student of Winfree Academy authorized to engage in any activity that is illegal under local, state, federal or international law while utilizing Winfree Academy owned resources. The lists below are by no means exhaustive, but attempt to provide a framework for activities which fall into the category of unacceptable use. The following activities are strictly prohibited, with no exceptions:

1. Use of any Winfree Academy computers or networks for any other purpose other than legitimate learning activities. This may include but is not limited to the following: participating in chat rooms, accessing e-mail accounts, accessing non-school related web sites, and using unacceptable language, images, or threats.
2. Violations of the rights of any person or company protected by copyright, trade secret, patent or other intellectual property, or similar laws or regulations, including, but not limited to, any downloading, installation, or distribution of "pirated" or other software products.
3. Unauthorized copying of copyrighted material including, but not limited to, digitization and distribution of photographs from magazines, books or other copyrighted sources, copyrighted music, and the installation of any copyrighted software for which Winfree Academy or the end user does not have an active license is strictly prohibited.
4. Exporting software, technical information, encryption software or technology, in violation of international or regional export control laws, is illegal.
5. Introduction of malicious programs into the network or server (e.g., viruses, worms, Trojan horses, email bombs, etc.).
6. Erasing, altering, renaming, transferring, or making unusable in any fashion any other individual's files or programs.
7. Revealing your account password to others or allowing use of your account by others. This includes family and other household members when work is being done at home.
8. Making fraudulent offers of products, items, or services originating from any Winfree Academy account.
9. Effecting security breaches or disruptions of network communication. Security breaches include, but are not limited to, accessing data of which the student is not an intended recipient or logging into a server or account that the student is not expressly authorized to access. For purposes of this section, "disruption" includes, but is not limited to, network sniffing, pinged floods, packet spoofing, denial of service, and forged routing information for malicious purposes.
10. Port scanning or security scanning is expressly prohibited unless prior notification to a Winfree Academy administrator is made.
11. Tampering with, removing components from, or otherwise deliberately interfering with the operation of computers, networks, printers, user files, or other associated peripherals. Such actions will be taken as acts of vandalism and/or theft.
12. Executing any form of network monitoring which will intercept data not intended for the student's host.
13. Circumventing user authentication or security of any host, network or account.
14. Interfering with or denying service to any user other than the student's host (for example, denial of service attack).
15. Using any program/script/command, or sending messages of any kind, with the intent to interfere with, or disable, a user's terminal session, via any means, locally or via the Internet/Intranet/Extranet.
16. Providing information about, or lists of, Winfree Academy students to parties inside or outside Winfree Academy.

Enforcement Any student found to have violated this policy may be subject to disciplinary action according to the Student Code of Conduct.