January 2025 - Superintendents_update - mailman.dca2.superb.net

Superintendent's Update
by Needham Public Schools Superintendent's Update 30 Jan '25

30 Jan '25

[image: Screen Shot 2019-09-09 at 2.30.24 PM (1) (1).png] Dear Needham Public Schools Community: In the last several days I have received requests from staff and parents to explain how the Needham Public Schools intends to respond to the barrage of Executive Orders (EO) coming out of Washington. Whether it has to do with immigration, civil rights, freezing Federal education funds, transgender rights, or K-12 curriculum overhauls, it is difficult to keep up with the news of yet another EO being signed by the President. Let me be clear: The Needham Public Schools will not react and respond to each of these Executive Orders as if they are the law of the land. Instead, we will review each one as necessary and, based on existing educational laws passed by Congress (e.g., the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act or IDEA), Federal Civil Rights law, Massachusetts State laws, MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education regulations (e.g., Curriculum Frameworks) and Needham School Committee policies, we will determine what, if anything, requires adjustment or correction. We will also make decisions about our schools, students, and staff based on the District’s Strategic Plan and the Portrait of a Needham Graduate framework, which includes, among other things, explicit and purposeful language about equity, inclusion, and antiracist practices. If an Executive Order runs contrary to established law and our District’s framework, we will not give it further consideration. In other words, we will stay the course unless it is unconstitutional or illegal to do so. I am concerned about the impact that Executive Orders targeting immigrant families is having on some Needham families and students. Today I learned that there is at least one student in our District who has missed school due to the fear of ICE detaining members of the family. One child missing school is too many. It is unacceptable that any parent feels compelled to keep their child home due to the worry that a member of the family, including the student, could be apprehended and detained. Our schools are safe, and we do not allow Federal law enforcement into our schools without an authorized warrant signed by a judge. Furthermore, our strong partnership with the Needham Police, who are not allowed to enforce Federal immigration laws, means that we continue to collaborate to prioritize the safety and wellbeing of all students and staff. This morning Needham principals and administrators met with an immigration attorney to learn more about our responsibilities as school leaders and discuss appropriate protocols and procedures for keeping students safe, including securing student records and information. We will continue to work with families to ensure they understand that our responsibility is to keep students safe and learning in school. We will continue to follow Federal and State laws in order to provide a comprehensive, academically rich, and inclusive educational program, one that respects the unique qualities, abilities, and talents of the wonderful children of this community. For additional information about our responsibilities as a District to protect all students and their information, please review this document <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sPO9m5vGbgvbWzZyPjSDRgNCYZFfK9_K/view?usp=…> from the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office. I also encourage you to read my latest blog post <https://npssuperintendent.blogspot.com/> which includes a letter I sent to high school students in February of 2017 in the aftermath of other Executive Orders issued at that time. Please also let me know if you have any questions or concerns by reaching out directly to my office. Respectfully, Dan Gutekanst Superintendent of Schools Needham Public Schools 1330 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA 02492 *He/His/Him* 781-455-0400 x11203 dan_gutekanst(a)needham.k12.ma.us ATTENTION: If you speak a language other than English, language assistance services are available to you free of charge. Contact your child’s school for assistance. Chinese (Simplified): 请注意：如果您的母语不是英语，我们将免费提供您语言辅助服务。如需协助，请与您孩子的学校联系。 Spanish: ATENCION: Si usted habla un idioma que no sea el inglés, hay servicios de asistencia lingüística disponibles gratis. Contacte la escuela de su hijo para asistencia. Russian: ВНИМАНИЕ: Если вы не говорите на английском языке, для вас доступны бесплатные языковые сервисы на вашем языке. Обратитесь за помощью в школу, в которой учится ваш ребенок.

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Follow up on PowerSchool
by Needham Public Schools Superintendent's Update 16 Jan '25

16 Jan '25

Dear Needham Public School Families: As a follow up to my January 8, 2025 email <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BBeA3cdn4qChuKwjTpPe4rQifj_SL67nknRVcr4…> in which I described a data breach involving the district's student information system, PowerSchool, I want to share updated information. • The two dozen former staff and former students who may have had their social security numbers compromised have been contacted and offered credit monitoring services by PowerSchool if eligible. (We have not collected social security information for staff or students for over 15 years; no current staff or students have social security numbers in the PowerSchool database.) • A Needham Public Schools analysis of the fields that were exported by the perpetrator included: Names, addresses, and home phone numbers of students, parents, and some other contacts; grade level; date of birth; ethnicity; year of graduation; medical alerts including allergies and medical conditions; and whether a student qualifies for free or reduced lunch. • As required by law we have notified the MA Attorney General's Office and the MA Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation of the cybersecurity incident. • PowerSchool has created a Frequently Asked Questions <https://www.powerschool.com/security/sis-incident/> page on their website to offer updated information, and I encourage you to read it to learn more. Should you have further questions, please let me know. Respectfully, Dan Gutekanst Superintendent of Schools Needham Public Schools 1330 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA 02492 *He/His/Him* 781-455-0400 x11203 dan_gutekanst(a)needham.k12.ma.us ATTENTION: If you speak a language other than English, language assistance services are available to you free of charge. Contact your child’s school for assistance. Chinese (Simplified): 请注意：如果您的母语不是英语，我们将免费提供您语言辅助服务。如需协助，请与您孩子的学校联系。 Spanish: ATENCION: Si usted habla un idioma que no sea el inglés, hay servicios de asistencia lingüística disponibles gratis. Contacte la escuela de su hijo para asistencia. Russian: ВНИМАНИЕ: Если вы не говорите на английском языке, для вас доступны бесплатные языковые сервисы на вашем языке. Обратитесь за помощью в школу, в которой учится ваш ребенок.

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Superintendent's Update
by Needham Public Schools Superintendent's Update 08 Jan '25

08 Jan '25

Dear Needham Public Schools Families: I am writing to let you know that on January 7th the district was informed by PowerSchool <https://www.powerschool.com/>, our student information system application, that on December 28, 2024, PowerSchool became aware of a potential cybersecurity incident involving unauthorized access to certain information through one of its community-focused customer support portals, PowerSource. PowerSchool has indicated an unauthorized party gained access to certain PowerSchool Student Information System (“SIS”) customer data using a compromised credential, and that District data was accessed. Specifically, PowerSchool reported that it: “Believe[s] the export data manager tool was used to extract only student and teacher tables. These tables primarily include contact information with data elements such as name and address information. For a subset of the customers, these tables may also include Social Security Number (SSN), other Personally Identifiable Information (PII), and some medical and grades information for current and former students depending on the specific school district.” PowerSchool has reported to the District that it “engaged our cybersecurity response protocols and mobilized a cross-functional response team, including senior leadership and third-party cybersecurity experts. We have also informed law enforcement.” PowerSchool further reported that: “Importantly, the incident is contained, and we have no evidence of malware or continued unauthorized activity in the PowerSchool environment.” It further stated: “We have also deactivated the compromised credential and restricted all access to the affected portal. Lastly, we have conducted a full password reset and further tightened password and access control for all PowerSource customer support portal accounts.” Finally, PowerSchool has indicated that: “We do not anticipate the data being shared or made public, and we believe it has been deleted without any further replication or dissemination. . . .We have a video confirming deletion and are actively searching the dark web to confirm.” The Needham Public Schools has not collected social security information from staff or families through PowerSchool for many years, but PowerSchool has indicated that it will be providing credit monitoring to affected adults and identity protection services to affected minors in accordance with regulatory and contractual obligations. The Needham Public Schools does not have direct confirmation that it was impacted in any way by this breach. We are following up with PowerSchool to find out more information on how the District may have been affected and for more details on the incident. As we receive more information, and as appropriate, we will relay this to families and the community and to any specific individuals impacted. The District is also reviewing what occurred internally and whether we need to take additional security measures on our end. I'll be sure to keep you updated with any relevant and new information. Thanks, Dan Gutekanst Superintendent of Schools Needham Public Schools 1330 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA 02492 *He/His/Him* 781-455-0400 x11203 dan_gutekanst(a)needham.k12.ma.us ATTENTION: If you speak a language other than English, language assistance services are available to you free of charge. Contact your child’s school for assistance. Chinese (Simplified): 请注意：如果您的母语不是英语，我们将免费提供您语言辅助服务。如需协助，请与您孩子的学校联系。 Spanish: ATENCION: Si usted habla un idioma que no sea el inglés, hay servicios de asistencia lingüística disponibles gratis. Contacte la escuela de su hijo para asistencia. Russian: ВНИМАНИЕ: Если вы не говорите на английском языке, для вас доступны бесплатные языковые сервисы на вашем языке. Обратитесь за помощью в школу, в которой учится ваш ребенок.

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