INTRODUCTION

• Vital to the evangelizing and educational mission of the Catholic Church, we are Christ-centered communities dedicated to the faith formation, academic excellence, and individual growth of our students, all rooted in the Gospel message of Jesus.

Catholic School’s Mission Statement

• The Church views emerging technologies as gifts of the Spirit to this age and challenges “God’s faithful people to make creative use of new discoveries and technologies for the benefit of humanity and the fulfillment of God’s plan for the world..”

Aetatis Novae, #2, #3; Rose, 1992

GENERAL INFORMATION FOR USERS OF TECHNOLOGY

Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati are using the Internet and technological  equipment/resources (i.e. computers, laptops, iPads, tablets, scanners, printers, cameras, email, software, and all  other electronic devices and programs) (the Internet and all technological equipment/resources are referred to  collectively in this Policy as “Technological Resources”) to enhance student learning and to provide a quality  educational experience for all students. Use of a school’s Technological Resources is strictly limited to educational  purposes.

In keeping with the mission of the Catholic schools, school personnel will make reasonable efforts to ensure  that the school’s Technological Resources, during school hours and while on school grounds, are used appropriately  by the student or adult user. Parents/guardians and students are solely responsible for use of the school’s  Technological Resources at home, off school property, and/or outside of school hours. 

AGREEMENT FORM

In order to ensure the proper use of the school’s Technological Resources, it is necessary that each student  user, his/her parent/guardian, and each adult user annually sign the attached User Agreement/Parent Permission  Form. The signed form must be on file at the school before any Technological Resources are provided to or accessed  by the student or adult user. Signing the form means that the student user, his/her parent/guardian, and the adult  user will abide by the terms and conditions set forth in this Policy. 

SCHOOL RESPONSIBILITY

Each school must have on file a signed Responsible Use of Technology Policy – User Agreement/Parent  Permission Form for any student1 user, his/her parent/guardian, and each adult user (administrators, faculty and  staff members, parents, volunteers, and other school-affiliated adults) who use the school’s Technological  Resources. All Technological Resources are strictly limited to educational purposes. Students are not allowed to  access personal accounts using any of the school’s Technological Resources. School personnel (administrators,  faculty and staff members) are allowed to access personal accounts using the school’s Technological Resources but  are subject to responsible use provisions herein. Individual schools may be further governed by the policies of the  Instructional Technology Centers or other Internet Service Providers. Any Technological Resources provided to a  user remain the property of the school. The school reserves the right to search and inspect school property,  including any computer, laptop, iPad, tablet, school email or other Technological Resources at any time and for any  reason. When using any of the school’s Technological Resources, the user shall have no expectation of privacy.  

The school shall provide access to Technological Resources for educational purposes only. The school shall  also provide training for students and teachers related to appropriate online behavior, including interaction with  other individuals on social networking sites, cyber-bullying awareness, and reporting the misuse of technology. The  school shall take reasonable measures to guard against student access, during school hours and while on school  grounds, to objectionable material through the school’s Technological Resources. Unauthorized disclosure, use, or  dissemination of personal information regarding minors is forbidden.

USER RESPONSIBILITY

The user shall access and use the school’s Technological Resources for educational purposes only. Each  user is responsible for information that is sent and received under his/her personal and/or school account.  Passwords are to be guarded and not displayed or shared with others. The user must strictly adhere to copyright  laws. In addition, unethical and/or illegal uses of the school’s Technological Resources are prohibited.  Unauthorized access, including hacking or use of another person’s credentials or account, is strictly forbidden. The  user agrees not to bypass or attempt to bypass the school’s firewall or filters, nor to harm or alter school property,  including any of the school’s Technological Resources. The user agrees not to change any computer settings,  hardware, software, parts, or cabling. The user agrees not to pirate, nor to submit, publish, display, distribute, send,  or view any defamatory, inaccurate, abusive, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, threatening, harassing, bullying,  racially offensive, or illegal material at any time, on or off school property; nor shall the user encourage the use,  sale, or distribution of alcohol, drugs, or controlled substances. Any use in violation of law is prohibited. Any  commercial use of the school’s Technological Resources is strictly forbidden. Unless authorized by the school, the  user agrees not to access chat rooms, newsgroups, listserves, instant messaging, or a personal webpage. The user  agrees not to download anything without permission. The user agrees he/she will not damage the school’s  Technological Resources, including computers, computer systems, and computer networks. Personal technology  equipment brought to school is subject to the procedures outlined in this Policy. If the student user, his/her  parent/guardian, or the adult user becomes aware of inappropriate, illegal, or non-educational material being used,  accessed, sent, received, or displayed through the school’s Technological Resources, he/she agrees to immediately  report the matter to the principal or supervisor. Student users and their parents/guardians agree that they are  solely responsible for monitoring the student’s use of the school’s Technological Resources at home, off school  grounds, and outside of school hours. 

1 The term “student” applies to any individual enrolled in the school regardless of age.

DISCIPLINARY ACTION

The school may take disciplinary action against any user who violates the Responsible Use of Technology  Policy, or other school or Archdiocesan policies, through use of the school’s Technological Resources. Disciplinary  action may include, but is not limited to, revocation of access to Technological Resources, suspension or expulsion  from school, termination of employment, and/or possible legal action.

CONSENT FOR ONLINE/REMOTE LEARNING

As part of the Responsible Use of Technology Policy, parents/guardians further agree as follows:  

We have read the terms and conditions of the Responsible Use of Technology Policy and agree to  follow and be bound by them. 

• We understand that the school’s Technological Resources are provided for educational purposes  only. 
• We agree that we are solely responsible for monitoring the student’s use of the school’s  Technological Resources at home, off school grounds, and outside of school hours.  
• We understand and agree that we are responsible for the consequences of inappropriate use of  the school’s Technological Resources, including the Internet, both on and off school grounds and  during and outside school hours. We understand that consequences for inappropriate use of the  school’s Technological Resources may include, but are not limited to, suspension or revocation of  privileges to Technological Resources, suspension or expulsion from school, termination of  employment, and/or possible legal action. 
• As parent/guardian, we request that our student be permitted to use the school’s Technological  Resources and agree to support the school’s enforcement of the Responsible Use of Technology  Policy. 
• The undersigned student user, his/her parent guardian (individually and on behalf of the student  user), and the adult user release, indemnify, and hold harmless the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, the  Archbishop of Cincinnati, the school, the parish, and their employees, agents, and religious from  any liability, claim, damage, cost, expense, or fee related in any way to the user’s inappropriate  use of the school’s Technological Resources.