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Superintendent reports railroad-crossing safety follow-up and PowerSchool cybersecurity response
Summary
Superintendent Follin updated the committee on a December railroad‑crossing bus incident and on the district's response to a PowerSchool cybersecurity incident that affected student data; administrators described steps taken and ongoing monitoring.
Superintendent Follin told the Canton School Committee on Jan. 23 that district and vendor follow-up is complete after a December railroad‑crossing incident involving a school bus, and he provided an update on the district’s response to a cybersecurity incident involving PowerSchool.
On the railroad crossing issue, Follin said the bus contractor, First Student, implemented multiple rerouting and training measures after the incident and provided written guidance and safety procedures to drivers. Follin said a federal rail authority inspected the crossing to confirm lights and gates were working and that the town repainted stop lines approaching the crossing. "They engaged a number of safety agencies within their company and then within the federal realm as well," Follin said. He credited his safety committee and First Student for following up.
On student data, Follin briefed the committee on the PowerSchool cybersecurity event that affected many districts nationally; district technology staff coordinated with PowerSchool and conveyed that PowerSchool would provide two years of credit monitoring to affected individuals. Follin praised district IT staff for client communications during the incident and said the district would continue working with the vendor and monitoring enhancements. "They confirmed that they're doing the credit monitoring for 2 years," he said of the vendor’s response.
In the superintendent’s broader report, Follin highlighted extracurricular participation at Galvin Middle School (GMS), athletics achievements (boys swim Hawkmark League championship), upcoming calendar dates, and recognition notices. Committee members thanked staff who led safety follow-up and cybersecurity communications.
