The Sevier County Board of Education (“Board”) remains committed to providing staff members and students with access to both a system-wide network and the Internet. However, use of the Board’s network is a privilege, not a right. Therefore, any and all network users are responsible for knowing, understanding, and abiding by this Network & Internet Use Policy.

Only current staff members employed by and students enrolled in the Sevier County School System may access and utilize the Board’s network and Internet service. However, students may only access the network and Internet service while under the direct supervision of a staff member(s).

The Board’s Internet service should only be used for educational purposes or other school-related activities. As such, prohibited activities include but are not limited to:

A. Uploading and/or downloading files without permission from an administrator;
B. Accessing pornographic and/or offensive material;
C. Utilizing the Internet for personal or commercial financial gain or fraud;
D. Participating in any form of harassment; and
E. Introducing or attempting to introduce viruses to the network.

The Board retains full ownership and control of its computers. As such, using those computers to access the Internet should be accomplished with the full knowledge that said access is not private. In fact, Internet access to school computers remains subject to monitoring and review.

Access to the Internet via the Sevier County School System’s network shall be filtered to block access to visual depictions that are obscene, pornographic, inappropriate for students, or harmful to minors, as defined by the Federal Children’s Internet Protection Act.

Students will be given appropriate instruction in Internet safety annually as part of curriculum and instruction either through guidance counselors, school resource officers, and/or other designated staff.  This instruction will include education of students about appropriate online behavior, including interacting with other individuals on social networking sites and in chat rooms and cyberbullying awareness and response.  School system personnel will be given appropriate professional development opportunities during the school year.  Parents, students, caregivers, and community stakeholders will be provided with material to raise awareness of the dangers posted on the Internet and ways in which the Internet may be used safely.

The Board’s network should be used only for educational purposes or other school-related activities. As such, prohibited activities include but are not limited to the following:

1. Accessing staff members/students’ private information for personal use;
2. Utilizing the network for personal or commercial financial gain or fraud;
3. Destroying network data without permission; and
4. Introducing or attempting to introduce viruses to the network

The Board retains full ownership and control of its network. As such, using the network should be accomplished with the full knowledge that said usage is not private. In fact, network usage remains subject to monitoring and review.

Electronic mail (“e-mail”) addresses shall be provided to the Board’s current staff members.  E‑mail addresses may also be issued to designated students.  However, staff members and students should only use their school e-mail addresses for educational purposes or other school-related purposes.

Please understand that emails are records.  Therefore, school e-mail addresses should be used professionally and with the full knowledge that said e-mails are not private communications.  In fact, messages sent and received from school e-mail addresses remain subject to monitoring and review.

Any violation of this Policy may result in the termination of network, Internet, and/or e-mail privileges. Penalties may also include but are not limited to:

1. School disciplinary action;
2. Restitution by a parent, guardian, or staff member; and
3. Appropriate legal action.

The Board makes no warranties of any kind regarding network, Internet and e-mail services. As such, the Board is not responsible for any damages, including but not limited to, the loss of data. Further, the Board is not responsible for the accuracy or quality of any information obtained by staff members or students via the Internet.