Whoa FCPS- data breach

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

And a normal person would put aside files not intended for her. Oettinger? She publishes them.

Great advocacy...

I completely agree. From what I've read about Oettinger, it seems like she is less concerned about her child and more concerned about harming district officials. Yes, I am concerned that the school district accidentally released my child's private data, but I am more concerned (and upset) that Oettinger purposefully published the data that she was given without restraint or concern to the hundreds of families she affected. She is no advocate of mine...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:on her website she tries to convince us that she's done no wrong. HOW DID SHE GET THE DATA? sounds to me like she put a thumb drive in a computer and illegally obtained data. does any one know EXACTLY how she got this data?

the office worker at FCPS gave her the data by mistake.

so she stole the data. unless the fcps person handed her this data while not on fcps property, she comitted theft by leaving the premises with fcps property

if a mcdonald worker gives you a packet of ketchup at the counter, and you walk out of there with that ketchup packet, are your stealing it? are you committing theft by taking it out of mcdonald's store property?

You are likening my child's personal data to a ketchup packet?

And actually, yes, if you are mistakenly given data that you are not supposed to be privy to and then publish said data, you are to be held accountable.

[Anonymous]

Same with me - no response from Reid or school board rep.

The letter did not name the parent who published the data. If I can spend 30 seconds online searching & find the data leak culprit, it would not be hard for someone to tie individuals to the info that Oettinger published in semi-redacted form.

Anonymous wrote:1. Received letter
2. called phone number - person on the line repeats what is in the letter. works for experien.
3. called my school board member - no answer left voice mail.

That letter was awful. Jibberish about what happened.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just what you’d expect under incompetent Michelle Reid and the equally incompetent School Board that hired her.

They should've hired Michelle Rhee instead!

[Anonymous]

This breach happened because Callie is a malicious, right wing extremist who wants to take down FCPS. This area is known for being political and this affects the education system here, unfortunately.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A class action lawsuit against FCPS would provide very very little money to individual victims. Look at the payout for class actions for privacy breaches - you'd be lucky to get $75. In the meantime the lawyers running the suit would make a killing, and FCPS budgets would be hit hard. None of which helps kids or actual education. It's a stupid, vindictive thing to do.

Oh I just want to make Callie have to spend money on legal defense.

[Anonymous]

I want to know what was leaked? I don’t see my data anywhere on what is posted publicly. If it’s all redacted spreadsheets? Then good! Shine a light on stupid stupid stupid FCPS, Callie.

[Anonymous]

Why isn't FCPS suing her to disclose who she gave the data to and to delete the data?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

And a normal person would put aside files not intended for her. Oettinger? She publishes them.

Great advocacy...

I completely agree. From what I've read about Oettinger, it seems like she is less concerned about her child and more concerned about harming district officials. Yes, I am concerned that the school district accidentally released my child's private data, but I am more concerned (and upset) that Oettinger purposefully published the data that she was given without restraint or concern to the hundreds of families she affected. She is no advocate of mine...

+1 to all of this.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]

And a normal person would put aside files not intended for her. Oettinger? She publishes them.

Great advocacy...[/quote]

I completely agree. From what I've read about Oettinger, it seems like she is less concerned about her child and more concerned about harming district officials. Yes, I am concerned that the school district accidentally released my child's private data, but I am more concerned (and upset) that Oettinger purposefully published the data that she was given without restraint or concern to the hundreds of families she affected. She is no advocate of mine... [/quote]

Yup. Some people really just want to burn it all down and they GAF who they hurt along the way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child doesn't have an IEP or 504. How did he get involved in this?? Is something in error in his file? I'm concerned about that as well. Can someone tell me what years she pulled so I can think of what could possibly be in his file.

Thanks!

We got one because one DC has a 504. Asked a friend and she only got one for her daughter who is in her second year of college — not for her kids currently in FCPS. Yikes!

My third-year college student got a letter. What a lovely "welcome home" surprise. Gee, Callie, thanks a bunch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Now Reid sent out a follow up email regarding this breach. Why would they give this mom Spreadsheets of data?

There was a second email? What did it say? I only received the first.

[Anonymous]

It is profoundly disconcerting and unacceptable that Callie's website persists in displaying an extensive array of charts and data pertaining to students, data that was originally obtained in November. The continued publication of this sensitive information blatantly contradicts FCPS's assertion that Callie has eradicated the data. Particularly alarming is the presence of a chart depicting students with notable mental health challenges. The format of some charts is such that individuals acquainted with the school could potentially identify these students. I am utterly dismayed and perplexed by Reid's email, which regrettably failed to address this critical and pressing issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Now Reid sent out a follow up email regarding this breach. Why would they give this mom Spreadsheets of data?

There was a second email? What did it say? I only received the first.

December 21, 2023

Dear FCPS Parent or Caregiver,

I am following up with you regarding some important updates related to the inadvertent Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) disclosure to a parent. I also share this correspondence to provide increased clarity regarding the situation.

As described below, the Division has taken steps to prevent further disclosure of the information involved in this matter and corrective actions to prevent incidents like this from happening in the future.

The parent and their attorney have provided declarations under oath and penalty of perjury stating they have deleted and do not have any of the identifiable student information that was involved in this incident.

As we have shared, this incident occurred during an in-person review of documents related to the parent’s own child. At that time, information relating to other current FCPS students was inadvertently and unknowingly made accessible to the parent. Most of the information inadvertently disclosed was contained in spreadsheets that listed a student’s name with few, if any, other details. However, in full transparency and out of an abundance of caution, we officially notified all families of students involved in this inadvertent disclosure.

We deeply regret that this incident occurred.

The external independent investigation has concluded.

As we shared with our community last month, I retained privacy law specialists at the law firm Woods Rogers Vandeventer Black PLC (“Woods Rogers”), to conduct an independent external investigation into this incident and to make recommendations as to any subsequent measures that FCPS could take to protect against an incident like this occurring in the future. Woods Rogers has now concluded its investigation and delivered those findings to me. A summary of those findings, and their recommendations, are available at this link.

Immediately after the incident we identified systemic changes that will prevent inadvertent FERPA disclosures such as this one going forward. We are implementing all recommendations advised by the independent investigation to further strengthen FCPS’ privacy protections. We continue to look for ways to improve our privacy programs and welcome you sharing your suggestions with us on this topic.

If you received a letter from FCPS stating that your child may have been impacted by the inadvertent disclosure and have any questions, please email [e-mail]. A staff member will be back in touch with you as soon as possible.

We remain committed to safeguarding personal information and will continue to evaluate additional actions to strengthen privacy protections for our students and the data with which we are entrusted.

Warmest regards,



Dr. Michelle C. Reid
Superintendent of Schools

[Anonymous]

Or you can read about the investigation here:

https://www.fcps.edu/node/49292

I really hope some of you parents sue this Callie person.