Lincoln Public Schools

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USE OF SCHOOL FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT

Use of School Facilities

School property is to be used for approved work-related purposes and not for personal purposes or for personal gain or benefit. Use of school supplies (paper, staples, etc.), school equipment (copiers, computers, fax machines, telephones, etc.) and school postage is to be used for approved school-related purposes only.

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Use of Telephone

Personal telephone calls shall not be made during duty time except in the event of an emergency.

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Care of School Property

Gifted mentors are responsible for the proper care of all books, equipment, supplies, and furniture supplied by the school. If an item is in need of maintenance or repair, report it to the principal or his/her gifted facilitator. If you learn that a student has damaged school property or equipment, or if you are responsible for damage to school property, promptly report it to the principal or his/her gifted facilitator so the item may be replaced or repaired if possible and appropriate responsibility for the cost of replacement or repair may be determined.

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Visitors

Gifted mentors are not to have visitors on school property except on a short-term basis and only with permission of the principal. Included in the definition of visitors are family members of the gifted mentor. Visitors should follow posted procedures for being on school property. Gifted mentors are not to bring their children to schol with them in lieu of taking them to childcare.

Students' parents and District patrons may be invited to visit school and observe classrooms. Invited visitors should be made to feel welcome. If the visitor has not yet checked in with the office, he/she should be directed to do so.

Some visitors are not suitable to be in the school building or in particular areas, and are in effect trespassers. If you observe unwanted visitors, ask their name, ask if they have checked in with the office, and if they have not done so or are uncooperative, direct them to leave and tell them that they are trespassing. Seek the assistance of the administration if you are uncomfortable with the situation.

Document the event and report it to the office, so stricter action can be taken with the trespasser if the individual returns a second time.

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Copyright and Fair Use Policy

It is the District's policy to follow the federal copyright law. Gifted mentors are expected to adhere to the law. This includes Internet, disks, tapes, CD's, videos, etc., as well as printed materials.

The "fair use" doctrine allows limited reproduction of copyrighted works for educational and research purposes. The relevant portion of the copyright statute provides that the "fair use" of a copyrighted work, including reproduction "for purposes such as criticism, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research" is not an infringement of copyright.

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Internet

Gifted mentors have access to the District's computer network and the Internet for the enhancement and support of student instruction. It is important to remember that the equipment and the software are the property of the school district.

It is expected that gifted mentors on assignment will monitor student use of the computer at all times.

In using the computers and the Internet, gifted mentors are agreeing to the following:

• Since copyright laws protect software, gifted mentors will not make unauthorized copies of software found on school computers by any means. Gifted mentors will not give, lend, or sell copies of software to others unless the original software is clearly identified as shareware or in the public domain.
• If a gifted mentor downloads public domain programs for personal use or non-commercially redistributes a public domain program, the gifted mentor assumes all risks regarding the determination of whether a program is in the public domain.
• Gifted mentors shall not access child pornography, material that is obscene, material that is otherwise inappropriate matter for educational or work-related uses or contrary to the District’s mission. Gifted mentors are not permitted to knowingly access information that is profane, obscene or offensive toward a group or individual based upon race, gender, national origin or religion. Further, gifted mentors are prohibited from placing such information on the Internet.
• Gifted mentors will protect the privacy of other computer users’ areas by not accessing their passwords without written permission. Gifted mentors will not copy, change, read, or use another person’s files. Gifted mentors will not engage in “hacking” or otherwise attempt to gain unauthorized access to system programs or computer equipment.
• Gifted mentors will not use computer systems to disturb or harass other computer users by sending unwanted mail or by other means.
• Gifted mentors will not disclose their passwords and account names to anyone or attempt to ascertain or use anyone else’s password / account name.
• Gifted mentors will not attempt to login to the system as a system administrator.
• Gifted mentors understand that the intended use of all computer equipment is to meet instructional objectives
• Gifted mentors will not waste or take supplies, such as paper, printer ribbons, toner, and diskettes that are provided by the District.
• Gifted mentors will not use the network for financial gain or for any commercial or illegal activity.
• Attempts to bypass security systems on computer workstations or servers, or vandalism will result in cancellation of privileges and may result in further consequences. Malicious attempts to harm or destroy data of another teacher, or data that resides anywhere on the network or on the Internet, or the uploading or creation of computer viruses are forbidden.
• The district will not be responsible for any liabilities, costs, expenses, or purchases incurred by the use of the District’s telecommunications systems such as the Internet. This includes, but is not limited to, the purchase of on-line services or products. The gifted mentor is solely responsible for any such charges.
• The Internet will be supplied for your use on an “as is, as available” basis. The District does not imply or expressly warrant that any information you access will be valuable or fit for a particular purpose or that the system will operate error free.
• The District is not responsible for the integrity of information accessed, or software downloaded from the Internet.
• The district reserves the right to refuse posting of files, and to remove files.
• The District further reserves the right to inspect a substitute teacher’s district computer usage at any time. Gifted mentors have no privacy rights or expectations of privacy with regard to use of the District’s computers of Internet system.
• The computer system is not a public forum. It is provided for the limited purpose of advancing the District’s mission.
• A technology protection measure is in place that blocks and/or filters Internet access to prevent access to Internet sites that are not in accordance with policies and regulations. In addition to blocks and/or filters, the district may also use other technology protection measures or procedures as deemed appropriate. The technology protection measure that blocks and/or filters Internet access may be disabled only by an authorized staff member for bona fide research or educational purposes: (a) who has successfully completed district training by the only proper disabling circumstances and procedures, (b) with permission of the immediate supervisor of the staff member requesting said disabling, or (c) with the permission of a building administrator. An authorized staff member 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 provided the minor is monitored directly by an authorized staff member.

Any violation of any part of this agreement or any other activity which school administrators deem appropriate will be subject to disciplinary action. Discipline could include, but would not be limited to, the immediate suspension or termination of the gifted mentor's computer privileges, reprimand or termination.

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Drug Free Workplace

The District has established the school as a drug-free workplace. This includes school grounds, school utilized vehicles, and places in which school activities are held.

The unlawful manufacture, distribution, disposition, possession, or use of a controlled substance is prohibited in the work place. The possession, use or distribution of illicit drugs or alcohol, the use of glue or aerosol paint or any other chemical substance for inhalation, and being under the influence of illicit drugs, alcohol, or inhalants, is prohibited in any place while gifted mentors are on duty time. Any level of impairment from illicit drugs, alcohol, or inhalants, and the presence of any odor of illicit drugs or alcohol on a gifted mentor in the work place or on duty time shall be a violation of the drug-free workplace. The possession or distribution of look-alike drug or look-alike controlled substance is prohibited. In addition, gifted mentors are expected to serve as role models for students and will be considered to have violated the District’s expectations in the event the gifted mentor commits a criminal drug or alcohol offense off the work place or off duty time.

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Smoke and Tobacco-Free Workplace

The use of tobacco products in the District’s buildings and on school grounds, all owned or leased facilities is prohibited.

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Weapon-Free Workplace

The District prohibits any person from being in possession of a weapon at a school attendance facility, on school property, at a school-supervised activity, or at a school-sponsored function. Any gifted mentor found to be in violation of this policy shall be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination.

The term “weapon” means an instrument or object used, or which may be used, as a means of attack, defense, or destruction. The phrase “possession of a weapon includes, without limitation, a weapon in a gifted mentor ’s personal possession as well as in a teacher’s motor vehicle, desk, locker, briefcase, backpack, or purse.

If a gifted mentor knows of a student in possession of a weapon, he/she must report this immediately to the main office.

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Personal Property/Items

The District is not responsible for any personal property gifted mentors may bring to schools. Gifted mentors are cautioned not to bring large amounts of money or items of significant value to schools.

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Use of Personal Vehicles

Gifted mentors who drive school vehicles or volunteer to use their personal automobile to transport students must have a valid driver's license and proof of insurance. Gifted mentors who drive school vehicles or transport students in their personal vehicles are responsible for following safe driving practices, including use of seat belts by all occupants, and are responsible for any injury or accident. Gifted mentors are not to use cell phones while driving a school vehicle or while transporting children.