Belle Vernon Area School District has a commitment to provide technological tools for expanding educational opportunities for students, faculty, and staff. The Internet enables users to access various databases for educational and instructional pursuits. To insure proper and acceptable use of these resources, users must agree to adhere to commonsense guidelines. In addition, this policy attempts to ensure copyright laws and protect students for accessing resources of a sensitive nature or information that may cause harm to them or others.

1. The use of the Internet is a privilege, not a right. Any inappropriate use will result in a suspension of privilege.
2. Internet accounts are to be used only by authorized Belle Vernon Area School District users.
3. The sole use and purpose of the Internet resources must be for instructional or educational purposes.
4. The use of the Internet to reproduce copyrighted materials is prohibited.
5. To safeguard your privacy / well-being, do not reveal personal information such as your name, address, telephone number, social security or account numbers to other Internet users.
6. The use of the Internet to access sensitive / pornographic material is strictly prohibited.
7. The use of threatening, obscene, or harassing remarks is prohibited.
8. The use of the Internet for personal or private business is strictly prohibited.
9. The use of the Internet for product advertisement is prohibited.
10. The use of the Internet for political lobbying is prohibited.
11. The use of the Internet to play games or to participate in competitions is prohibited, unless they are for supervised educational purposes.
12. All communications and information accessible via the Network should be assumed to be private property.
13. Users shall not intentionally seek information belonging to other users. This includes files or copies of files, other data, and passwords.
14. Users shall not misrepresent other users on the Network.
15. The Electronics Communications Privacy Act places electronics mail in the same category as messages delivered by the U.S. Postal Service. Therefore, do not tamper with, interfere, or intercept another user’s email.
16. Use of school technology on the Internet for fraudulent or illegal copying or communication; taking / modification of material in violation of the law is prohibited and will be referred to the appropriate authorities.
17. The Network shall not be used to disrupt the work of others; hardware or software shall not be destroyed or abused in any way.
18. The user shall be responsible for damages to equipment, systems, and software resulting from deliberate or willful acts.