Dear Beach Park Families,
We want to inform you about an international data breach reported by PowerSchool, our Student Information System (SIS) provider. At this time, there is no evidence of data misuse or public sharing. PowerSchool also reports that any student or staff data collected during this breach has already been destroyed. Below are some key details: It's important to understand that this incident was not due to any failure on the part of our district's security systems, but rather a breach of PowerSchool's own systems.
Incident Overview:
The breach occurred on December 28, 2024, and was reported to BPD3 yesterday, January 7, 2025. As this system serves schools worldwide, we were one of many schools affected.
Sensitive personal information, such as names, birthdates, email addresses, and limited medical information (like the names of Primary Care Providers), is stored in the Student Information System. BPD3 does not collect or store Social Security numbers or financial data in this system, and while we cannot guarantee the absolute security of any data, we want to emphasize that this type of sensitive information was not involved in the recent breach and is not stored on this platform.
What We Know From PowerSchool:
PowerSchool has confirmed the incident is contained and has implemented robust cybersecurity measures to prevent further access, including the involvement of law enforcement and cybersecurity experts.
Through robust security protocols, PowerSchool is confident that any data collected during this breach was destroyed. There is no evidence of data misuse or public sharing at this time.
PowerSchool has reset all passwords and tightened access controls.
What You Can Do:
Watch for phishing emails.
We are committed to transparency and protecting the privacy of our students and staff. BPD3 is working in conjunction with our contracted cybersecurity firm to ensure ongoing internal security enhancements.
We will share timely updates as we receive them from PowerSchool. If you have questions or concerns, please contact Micah Miner, Director of Technology, at mminer@bpd3.org.
Thank you for your understanding and partnership. Please reach out if you have questions.
Dr. Denise Wilcox
Superintendent