OPS Technology
Policies and Procedures

| Network Users Policy | Internet Safety Policy | Inappropriate Use Examples |
| E-mail Guidelines | OPS Web Page Creation Guidelines |  OPS Technology |

| A note to parents and students..

Lost? Try using our Site Map...

Back to top

Technology Acceptable Use Policy

This policy governs the use of general network use for the Ogallala Public Schools (hereafter referred to as OPS) communications network.  The OPS network and related components are to be used by employees of OPS, students currently enrolled at OPS, and those people who have received the proper authorization from the School’s Technology Staff and/or Building Administrators.

The use of the Internet for both the staff and students is a privilege and not a right, and is provided by the OPS system to help assist faculty, students and other users authorized to use it for educational purposes to further enhance the opportunity to learn and perform their job functions at OPS.  Further, it is Ogallala Public School’s position that providing the Internet and computer networks is strictly an accommodation for students, faculty and other authorized personnel and as such an optional activity, OPS reserves the right to revoke, suspend or restrict such use as it deems fit.  Users must comply with the following general rules:

1. Anyone using the technology in the Ogallala Public Schools shall act responsibly and respect the right of others.
2. The OPS network and the Internet are to be used for educational purposes only, and all other uses such as chatting, game playing, file sharing, streaming audio/video, etc. that do not pertain to education are prohibited unless authorized by administration, the technology staff, or the curriculum committee.
3. Authorized users of e-mail will not engage in spamming or will not create post, send or forward electronic chain letters.  If anyone asks you to stop sending them e-mail, you must obey the request.  E-mail harassment will not be tolerated.
4. Any use of the Network/Internet for commercial purposes, advertising, or political lobbying is prohibited.
5. Software installation requests should be made 15 days prior to the first day the application is needed.
6. All software installations will be installed by the technology department.
7. Any software installations done without the technology department’s approval will not be supported and/or will be removed.
8. Violation of copyright laws will not be permitted.  Anyone using technology at OPS must adhere to all copyright laws.  Plagiarism of data on the Internet will not be tolerated, and installing illegally obtained software or unlicensed software is prohibited.  Any unauthorized content or applications will be removed without notice.
9. USB flash drives will not be permitted unless authorized by the Technology department.  Authorized users will have their computers configured to scan the drive for viruses.
10. No one will knowingly or negligently damage, vandalize, “hack,” alter, reconfigure, modify or destroy school technology, either from within or from outside school facilities.  No alterations or changes shall be made to any technology such as computer software configurations without permission from the technology staff.  The following shall be considered vandalism: printing excessive copies; attempting to “crash” computers or networks; the creation, intentional use or installation of unauthorized devices, objects or programs; the modifications of technology resources, utilities, and configurations; attempting to change the restrictions associated with his/her accounts; attempts to breach any technology resources security systems.  Staff and Students will abide by state and federal laws related to, but not limited to, computers, public information and communication systems.   
11. Users shall not assemble, disassemble, connect, or disconnect technology or network equipment unless authorized by the technology staff.
12. Users shall not move technology equipment or software to another location without prior consent of the technology staff.
13. All media used in school technology will first be scanned for viruses and malicious software by OPS staff before being used.
14. OPS staff reserves the right to inspect any student’s technology, data, and media used to access school technology to investigate or determine if a violation of the Acceptable Use Policy has occurred.  Students not willing to allow inspection will not bring technology, data, and media to access school technology.
15. Individual account and password information must not be provided to others for use of the network.  Unauthorized use of an account and password by any one other than the account owner will not be allowed.
16. User understands that OPS, by providing network and e-mail accounts, is in no way granting a user any sort of private or personal account and that OPS still retains complete control and/or access to any of its files stored on its system if OPS, in its sole discretion, has reason to believe user is in violation of this policy.
17. User understands that OPS, by providing an account is in no way authorizing user to enter into any financial obligation or access any sites which require the user to pay a fee and user is fully aware that he or she may be personally responsible for any financial obligations that users enter into or incurs while using the OPS system.
18. That, additionally, users will need to follow all of the rules and guidelines posted by the Technology staff at a designated place in each building dealing with the use of the OPS network.  Further, it is the user’s duty to periodically review those rules.
19. Personal home folders shall not exceed the size limitation determined by the Technology staff.  All outdated material must be removed from your personal home folders.  If outdated items are not removed in a timely manner they will be removed by the technology staff.
20. Staff may not allow student use of technology or network services without supervision.
21. Staff may not allow student use of technology or network services that does not specifically relate to a curriculum or proficiency test outcome.
22. Further, that users agree to report any improper use of the OPS network to either the Building Administrators or Technology staff including the receipt of any e-mail which recipient feels is in any way inappropriate.
23. Building Administrators reserve the right at their sole discretion to suspend or terminate a user’s access to the OPS network or to take whatever corrective actions that they deem appropriate for any misuse or inappropriate use of the network and related components, based upon the general rules of the Ogallala Public Schools mentioned above.

OPS Internet Safety Policy

It is the policy of Ogallala Public Schools that access to the Internet provided by Ogallala Public Schools is expected to be used as an educational and/or work-related resource and that such access shall be made available subject to such rules and regulations as may be established, provided that no use shall be permitted which, in the judgment of school administrators, is any way prejudicial to the best interest of the District or in conflict with the District’s mission. 

 Ogallala Public Schools administrators reserve the right to refuse access to the Internet through the District to anyone when deemed necessary in the public interest.

 Definitions:

1. Access to the Internet – A computer shall be considered to have access to the Internet if such computer is connected to the schools network, which has access to the Internet.
2. Minor – Shall mean an individual who has not attained the age of 19.
3. Obscene – Shall have the meaning given such term in section 1460 of title 18, United States Code.
4. Child Pornography – Shall have the meaning given such term in section 2256 of title 16, United States Code.
5. Harmful to minors – Shall mean any picture, image, graphic image file or other visual description that:
   1. As taken as a whole and with respect to minors, appeals to a prurient interest in nudity, sex, or excretion.
   2. Depicts, describes or represents, in a patently offensive way with respect to what is suitable for minors, and actual or simulated act or sexual contact, actual or simulated normal or perverted sexual acts, or a lewd exhibition of the genitals; and
   3. Taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value as to minors.
6. Hacking – Shall mean attempting to gain unauthorized access to computer and network systems connected to the internet.
7. Technology protection measure – Shall refer to a firewall/Web Filter managed by the Ogallala Public Schools District or ESU 16 that blocks and/or filters Internet access or other means by which access may be blocked and/or filtered.
8. Authorized staff member – as used herein shall refer to an adult staff member appointed by the Ogallala Public Schools Technology Steering Committee.
   1. Technology Steering Committee as used herein shall refer to a group of Ogallala Public Schools staff including Administrators, Ogallala Public Schools District Technology Staff and Staff appointed by building administrators.

Access to Internet by Minors

 Minors accessing Internet services provided by Ogallala Public Schools shall be subject to the following rules and regulations:

1. Minors shall not access materials that are obscene, child pornography, harmful to minors, or otherwise inappropriate for education.
2. Minors shall not use Ogallala Public Schools technology or Internet resources to engage in hacking or attempts to otherwise compromise any computer or network system’s security.
3. Minors shall not engage in any illegal activities on the Internet.
4. Minors should only use electronic mail, chat rooms, and other forms of direct electronic communications for purposes related to education within the context of a schools related assignment activity.
5. Minors shall not disclose personal identification information on the Internet.

 Access to Internet by Adults

 Adults accessing Internet services provided by Ogallala Public Schools shall be subject to the following rules and regulations.

1. Adults shall not access material that is obscene, child pornography, or otherwise inappropriate for training or work-related uses.
2. Adults shall not use Ogallala Public Schools technology resources to engage in unauthorized hacking or attempts to otherwise compromise any computer or network system’s security.
3. Adults shall not engage in any illegal activities on the Internet.

Technology Protection Measure

Ogallala Public Schools shall use a technology protection measure that blocks and/or filters Internet access to prevent access to Internet sites that are not in accordance with the policies of Ogallala Public Schools.  The use of district Internet filtering does not preclude the necessity for staff to supervise student use of technology.

1. The technology protection measure that blocks and/or filters Internet access may be disabled by the Technology department for bona fide research purposes with permission of the immediate supervisor of the staff member requesting said disabling or with the permission of the Ogallala Public Schools Technology Staff.
2. The Technology department may override the technology protection measure that blocks and/or filters Internet access for a minor to access a site for bona fide research or other lawful purposes during which time the minor will b e monitored directly by an OPS Staff member.

Policy Violations

Any violation of this policy by staff and students may result in the loss of access to the Internet and/or network by those individuals who are in violation.  Additional disciplinary action may be determined in accordance with existing procedures and practices both administrative and as stipulated in Ogallala Public Schools or ESU 16 policy, and including applicable law enforcement agencies when necessary.

Policy Challenge Procedure

In the event that an individual challenges a decision made regarding this policy, that individual will be afforded all due process rights.

Web Page Creation Guidelines 

ESU 16 policies prohibits the use of the ESU 16 and Toolbox.esu16 server to post internet sites that are not of an educational nature.  Web pages may not contain any personal business or inappropriate content.  Web pages are subject to revision or removal at the discretion of the OPS Technology staff and/or the ESU 16.

In addition, all OPS web pages must contain the following elements:

1. Web pages must have a date of creation or last update.
2. Web pages must have the page author’s name.  If created by students, the page should have description of a student’s class or activity instead (for example, “Created by Mrs. Glenn’s 5^th Graders” or OHS Internet Class”)
3. Students’ last names should generally not be used.
4. Student email addresses should not be used on web pages.

Email Guidelines

OPS make e-mail accounts through the Educational Service Unit 16 available to students upon request, subject to approval by the Technology Staff.  Teacher may ask for classroom accounts or individual accounts for their students.  Before receiving heir passwords and account information for individual accounts, students must attend an orientation session and return the signed ESU 16 Telecomputing form.  Students are held responsible for any e-mail sent under their user name; passwords should therefore be kept confidential.

Examples of Inappropriate use of Resources:

The following activities are examples of inappropriate activities for any Ogallala Public Schools network, e-mail system, or the Internet.  The list is not all-inclusive.  Anything that would be considered inappropriate in “paper form” is also considered inappropriate in electronic form.

1. Using another user’s password or attempting to find out what another user’s password is.
2. Sharing your own password.
3. Trespassing in another user’s files, folders, home directory, or work.
4. Saving information on ANY network drive or directory other then your personal Home directory OR a teacher specified and approved location.
5. Downloading, or copying software of any kind onto a workstation, your home directory, or any network drive.
6. Harassing, insulting, or attacking others via technology resources
7. Damaging computer, computer systems, or computer networks (this includes changing workstation configurations such as screen savers, backgrounds, printers, BIOS information, preset passwords, etc.)
8. Intentionally wasting limited resources such as disk space and printing capacity.
9. Accessing inappropriate web sites (sites containing information that is violent, illegal, gambling, terrorism, sexual, etc.)
10. Sending, displaying, or downloading offensive messages or pictures.
11. Using obscene, racist, profane, discriminatory, threatening, or inflammatory language.
12. Participating in chat rooms without the permission/supervision of an adult staff member.
13. Posting any false or damaging information about other people, the school system, or other organizations.
14. Posting of any personal information about another person without his/her written consent.
15. Broadcasting network messages and/or participating in sending/perpetuating chain letters.
16. Violating copyright laws.
17. Plagiarism of materials that are found on the Internet.
18. Use of technology resources to create illegal materials (i.e. counterfeit money, fake identification, etc.)
19. Use of any Ogallala Public Schools technology resource for personal gain, commercial or political purposes.
20. Accessing online radio and/or video without curricular justification.  Audio and video transmission may slow down network services (access to Internet, e-mail, library catalog, file servers, etc.) throughout the district.  Please only use these online resources for curricular activities.

A Note to Parents & Students

From Susan McBride Krab, Technology Project Coordinator, Ogallala Public Schools

New technology, such as the Internet and e-mail, offers our students tremendous opportunities--such as "walking" through Monet's garden outside of Paris or visiting about the weather with students from Australia--that were not traditionally available to students in our geographically remote, rural community. Unfortunately, like all tools, these new technologies can be used both positively and negatively. The Internet, especially, has the power to introduce our students to some of the best and some of the worst humanity has to offer.

Ogallala Public Schools cannot keep students from pulling up inappropriate material on the Internet; the District can, however, make it more difficult. The District (through ESU 16) has filtering software that prevents most questionable sites from even reaching our schools' computers. We also encourage teachers to monitor student Internet use closely and to make sure that students have a purpose whenever they are out on the Internet.

If you have any questions about OPS Internet or Technology Policies, please contact me, Susan McBride Krab, through e-mail at skrab@esu16.org or by calling the Middle School at (308) 284-4478.

Back to top