Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Data Privacy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Resident raises data-privacy and opt-in concerns about student surveys; commissioners urge direct dialogue
Summary
A resident from Oliver Township urged more parental notice and opt-in for student surveys including the Pennsylvania Youth Survey and a community partnership gun-safety survey, raising questions about data storage and third-party access; commissioners responded that local data is intended for county use and offered staff meetings for follow-up.
During the public-comment portion of the Oct. 15 Monroe County Board of Commissioners meeting, a resident identified as Theresa Pesch of Oliver Township raised concerns about student surveys distributed in local school districts and how data from those surveys is stored and used.
Pesch named two surveys: a community partnership for gun safety survey and the biennial Pennsylvania Youth Survey. She urged that parents be given clearer notice and an opt-in option rather than an opt-out process and asked how the survey data are stored, who collects the information and whether data could be transferred outside Pennsylvania. She said the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) is involved in administering or funding the surveys and questioned the role that third parties play in data collection and storage.
Commissioners responded during the meeting, saying the county’s intent is to use the survey data locally to inform training and programming. One commissioner said the data are “our data” and intended to guide local training for gun safety and related programs. The transcript records the chair inviting residents to meet with county staff and noting that fiscal-office staffer Jen Barclay is available to meet and answer questions about grants and related data. A commissioner also invited residents to call and meet with staff rather than rely solely on Right-to-Know requests.
Nut graf: The exchange highlights community concerns about student-survey consent processes and data governance; county officials emphasized local control of the data and offered direct meetings with staff for residents seeking details.
Ending: The board did not change county policy during the meeting; officials encouraged residents with data or grant questions to meet with fiscal or program staff for more detailed information.
