[Superintendent's Update] Follow up on PowerSchool

[Needham Public Schools Superintendent's Update]

Dear Needham Public School Families:

As a follow up to my January 8, 2025 email
<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BBeA3cdn4qChuKwjTpPe4rQifj_SL67nknRVcr4GGvk/edit?usp=sharing>
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 at 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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