Until last month, students at 10 Salinas schools were able to use campus computers to check their personal e-mails, and they want that access back.

The Salinas Union High School District ended the practice at the start of the second semester, saying portable e-mail accounts could introduce viruses to the campus computers. But without the ability to use their e-mail accounts at school, some students say they are having a hard time completing college and financial aid applications.

The board blocked 11 Web sites at the district's middle and high schools. The sites include e-mail services such as Hotmail, Yahoo and AOL.

The district was heeding concerns raised by district computer technicians about the threat of viruses spreading through e-mail, said school board member Art Gilbert.

"The viruses have really been running pretty much rampant lately. It's an effort on the part of the district to make sure they don't all get infected," Gilbert said Monday. "I think that any e-mail is part of the problem. You can get anything on an e-mail, and oftentimes when you just open the e-mail, that causes the virus to attack."

District offices were closed on Monday, so district information services director Robert Shemwell was not available for comment.

Students at Alisal High School have been organizing against the policy, saying it is a disservice to students who do not have Internet access at home. Students plan to voice their concerns at today's board of trustees meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. at the district's main office, 431 W. Alisal St.

Lily Cardenas, a senior at Alisal High School, said she had trouble completing her application to San Diego State University as a result of the Web site block. She could not use her e-mail account at school while a Feb. 1 deadline loomed, forcing her and Principal Candy McCarthy to scramble to find a computer that would let her open her e-mail.

The district has allowed each school site one computer that can access the blocked Web sites. Gilbert said that should allow students who need to check those sites to opportunity to do so.

"There are some complaints from teachers at the schools that are being opened up," he said. "It is possible for students to get on a computer and check e-mail. It's just the fact they can't get it on all the computers that's creating a fuss."

Cardenas eventually got her college application completed, but not before her counselor called the admissions office on her behalf. McCarthy also issued an announcement over the school public address system reminding students to double check their college application status.

"I feel like they're holding us back," Cardenas said. "They're calling all the shots, and we're the ones suffering."

Cardenas and her fellow students say they have collected about 900 signatures from students opposed to the policy. They will present the signatures to the school board tonight.

Ruben Pizarro, a teacher at Alisal High School, said neither students nor staff were asked for input on the decision. He also took issue with the district's decision to allow access to only one computer per school site. Alisal has about 400 seniors, many of whom are applying to college as well as financial aid.

"The reality is that if they're going to access their e-mail, it's likely going to be at school," Pizarro said.

Gilbert said he wasn't sure if staff or students offered any input before the decision was made. He was aware of the issues, and said the board was eager to listen to the students' point of view.

"I have heard some complaints, not from individual students, but people who represent the students. I understand how they feel, and I think we need to do what is best for everyone," he said.