Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Student Privacy Ferpa topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Lake Wales Charter Schools board adopts updated FERPA policy for student data protections
Summary
Board approved an updated policy to protect student education records and regulate vendor access to student data, with presentations from IT and HR staff and remarks from Superintendent Julie Conrad.
The Lake Wales Charter Schools Board of Trustees approved an updated Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) policy that formalizes how the district classifies, stores, secures and discloses student education records.
The board heard a presentation from Kevin Bender, the district IT director, and LaMari Burrows, HR director, who explained the policy’s main elements: classification of records into permanent and temporary categories; access and disclosure rules that require consent except in defined circumstances such as transfers, audits and emergencies; directory information opt-out procedures after public notice; security controls including encryption and vendor compliance; and a required review and approval process for online educational services that use student data. Bender told trustees the policy “establishes a required review and approval process for any digital tools or apps that involve student information” and that vendors must have written contracts limiting data use and requiring secure destruction or return of data at contract end.
Superintendent Julie Conrad thanked staff for the update and said the review made her “feel much more secure” about the district’s practices; she also noted staff had already audited some applications and tightened internal processes.
The board moved to approve the FERPA policy during the business meeting. Trustee Andy Blair made the motion, which was seconded and passed on a roll-call vote with all trustees voting yes.
Ending: The policy will be applied across campuses; staff said threat-assessment and related records will be retained per state safety rules and that annual parent notification of FERPA rights will continue as required.
