The Fine Print

Textbooks and Library Books

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Textbooks and library books are the property of North High School and are available for checkout for enrolled students with a current student identification card. 

Textbooks are the books assigned by the teacher to the class as a whole to be read in support of the curriculum.  This includes core and supplemental reading novels.

All textbooks are to be returned by the end of the school year, when a student is no longer enrolled in the class for which s/he has checked out a textbook, or when the textbook is to be replaced with a different edition or book at the teacher’s request.  Students who fail by the end of the year to return directly to the library (ie, not by leaving them in classrooms or lockers) materials that have been checked out to them will be assessed a non-refundable $5 late fee.

Each student is issued one copy of the textbook(s) requested by the teacher for the course.  Some courses do not require textbooks.  Unless specified in a student’s IEP (Individualized Education Plan) or 504 Plan, under doctor’s orders, or requested by school administration, students are not issued more than one copy of the same textbook. 

Students are responsible for the materials checked out on their library record.  Students are expected to keep the materials checked out to them in acceptable condition.  Students are expected to review books issued to them for damages.  Any damage to or graffiti in the book needs be reported before the student leaves the textbook window or immediately upon discovery in order for a replacement copy to be issued without charge. Damage which is not reported will be assumed upon return to have been caused by the book's student of record and will be charged accordingly.

Students are expected to pay the replacement cost of lost books and/or books that are damaged beyond repair and/or cannot be reissued to another student.  Students who return books with damage and/or graffiti that is capable of being repaired and reissued will be charged a repair fee commensurate with the damage incurred.  If a student is unable to afford the cost of the book(s), payment plans or voluntary work programs in lieu of payment are available.  In accordance with California Education Code 48904(b)(1), North High School may withhold the grades, diploma, and/or transcript of the student responsible for the loss or damage.

Library books are the freely-chosen books checked out from the collection by individual students.

Library books are checked out for three-week periods.  Students may renew library books before the due date for an additional three weeks and for as many three-week periods as needed during the current school year, until the final due date in June.  Although the library does not currently charge a daily fee for book kept out past their due date, students will be unable to check out additional library books until their records are clear of overdue ones.  Lost or damaged library books are subject to the same replacement policies as textbooks, noted above.
 

 
Library Materials Refund Policy

 

Students are responsible for the items on their library circulation record.  Students are required to pay for lost or damaged books.  Payment for damaged books will not be refunded.

If the "lost" item a student paid for is returned to the library in good condition, the library will contact the student in order to issue a refund.  If the student is no longer enrolled at North High School, the library will mail a letter of intent to refund the money to the student address on file with our student information system. All refund recipients must have picture identification.  If a student is unable to pick up the refund in person, s/he may send a family member in his or her place.  The family member must have a student identification card or a legal document in the student’s name.

The library cannot guarantee a refund beyond six months of notification.  Notation of payments will be dropped from our computer system after four years from the date of receipt.

 

Torrance Unified School District Acceptable Use Policy

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The TUSD strongly believes in the educational value of electronic services and recognizes the potential of such to support our curriculum and student learning. We are pleased to announce that electronic information services are available to students and teachers in our District. Our goal in providing these services is to promote educational excellence by facilitating resource sharing, innovation, and communication.
 

Listed below are terms and guidelines for appropriate use of technology. If any user does not follow these guidelines, access to the information service may be denied and the user may be subject to disciplinary or legal action. (Possible disciplinary action may include: Parent conference, removal from class, restitution, suspension, refer to Police Department, adjustment transfer to another school. TUSD Administrative Rule 441.)

 

1. Privileges
The use of the information system is a privilege, not a right, and inappropriate use will result in a cancellation of those privileges. All decisions, related to the cancellation, are subject to the District’s review process. The administration, staff, or faculty of the Torrance Unified School District may deny, revoke, or suspend specific user accounts.

2. Acceptable Use
The use of the assigned account must be in support of education and research and with the educational goals and objectives of the Torrance Unified School District. The user is personally responsible for this provision at all times when using the electronic information service
     a. Use of other organization’s networks or computing resources must comply with rules appropriate to that network.
     b. Transmission of any material in violation of any United States or other state organizations is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to:                        copyrighted materials, threatening or obscene material, or material protected by trade secret.
     c. Use of unauthorized commercial activities is not acceptable.
     d. Use of product advertisement or political lobbying is prohibited.
     e. Use of the network that incurs expense to the District is prohibited.
     f. Unauthorized installing of any software or data is prohibited.

3. District Responsibilities/Limitations
     a. The District will take prudent steps to develop, implement and maintain security procedures to insure the integrity of individual and District files.           The District cannot guarantee that information on any computer system will be secure from other users.
     b. The District will attempt to provide error free and dependable access to technology resources associated with the network.
     c. The District will not be held liable for any information that may be lost, damaged, or unavailable due to technical or other difficulties.
     d. The District cannot be held liable for the accuracy of information available through its services.

4. Web Policy
     a. Teacher/Staff Web Pages. Teachers may establish Web pages for use with class activities or that provide a resource for other teachers. Teachers             will be responsible for maintaining their class or educational resource sites. Teacher Web pages will be developed in such a manner as to reflect             well upon the District and school.
     b. Student and Extracurricular Organization Web Pages. Students may create a web site as part of a class activity. Material presented on a student             class activity Web site must meet the educational objectives of the class activity. Material presented on extracurricular pages must relate                           specifically to organization activities.
     c. Online Identification – Middle School/High School. To recognize student achievement and success, images of students and their work may be                   displayed on Web pages. Images of students, student work, and student achievement will only be identified by first name and last initial. Student           grades may be displayed by I.D. number. Signed parent permission must be obtained if students are to be identified beyond these guidelines.
     d. Online Identification – Elementary School. To recognize student achievement and success, images of students and their work may be displayed               on Web pages. Images of students, student work, and student achievement will only be displayed with signed positive parent/guardian                             permission.
     e. It will not be considered a violation of a user’s right to free speech to require the removal of material that fails to meet established educational               objectives or that is in violation of this ISP or student disciplinary policy.

5. Personal Responsibility
     a. As a representative of this school, the user will accept personal responsibility for reporting any misuse of the network to a teacher, administrator           or supervisor. Misuse can come in many forms, but is commonly viewed as any message(s) sent or received that indicate or suggest                         

         pornography, unethical or illegal solicitation, racism, sexism and inappropriate language.
     b. Security on any computer system is a high priority because there are so many users. If the user identifies a security problem, notify an       

         administrator at once. Never demonstrate the problem to other users. Never use another individual’s account without written permission from   

         that person. All use of the system must be under the user’s own account. Any user identified as a security risk will be denied access to the

         information system.
     c. Vandalism is defined as any malicious attempt to harm or destroy data of another user or any other agencies or networks that are connected to

         the system. This includes, but is not limited to, the uploading or creation of computer viruses. Any vandalism will result in the loss of computer

         services, disciplinary action, and/or legal referral.

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Library Behavior

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The library is for all student and adult members of the North High community to expand their academic, professional, and personal knowledge. In order to keep the library a universally welcoming and productive place, we ask that users avoid behavior which is unsafe, or which threatens comfortable access to and use of library resources. 

 

Examples of appropriate library behavior include QUIETLY:​​

• Working on a project alone, with a partner, or in a small group

• Studying alone, with a partner, or in a small group

• Drawing or coloring

• Writing essays, short stories, poems, notes to friends, and journal entries

• Finding, checking out, or reading a book

• Researching in a book

• Researching or typing an assignment on a computer

• Playing a board or card game with a friend or two

• Listening to music or watching a video using headphones or earbuds

• Printing documents in black and white or color

• Getting help from the librarian

• Meditating or resting

• Participating in a school or library-sponsored, craft, activity, or program

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Examples of behavior which threatens the safety of library users, or their comfortable access to and use of library materials include:

• Eating or drinking

• “Just hanging out”

• Wandering aimlessly 

• Running, shoving, hitting 

• Playing tag or hide and seek 

• Having a conversation that can be heard by the people at the next table over

• Multiple people gathering around a single computer 

• Moving furniture or otherwise redecorating

• Creating a mess

• Repeatedly exiting and reentering the library