Board to ask NCDIT for briefing after PowerSchool data concerns; schedules agenda review presentation
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Summary
Board members discussed recent data-security concerns tied to vendor incidents and voted to invite a representative from the North Carolina Department of Information Technology to a future agenda review so the board can ask questions about protocols and protections.
The New Hanover County Schools board discussed ongoing concerns about student and staff data security in the wake of vendor incidents and voted to request an NCDIT (North Carolina Department of Information Technology) briefing at a future agenda review.
Board member Tim Merrick said the district should learn more about what protections and contract provisions can prevent a repeat of past incidents and that the board wanted to be better prepared to advocate for the district. "We should learn to advocate for ourselves," Merrick said during the discussion.
Board member Pat Bradford and others noted that the district is already scheduled to receive a cyber health assessment from MCNC/NC State in December, and the board asked that district technology staff brief members before the NCDIT presentation so trustees can ask targeted questions. Miss Barnhart, who had been working with the attorney general’s office and state technology officials, said she had communicated with the office investigating the earlier PowerSchool matter and that multiple states are participating in that action.
The motion to place an NCDIT representative on a future agenda review passed by voice vote, recorded as 6-0. Board members said the presentation should arrive after staff briefs the board and in time for trustees to develop follow-up questions, procurement safeguards, and recommended contract language that could strengthen vendor oversight.
The transcript shows trustees asked for clarity on what the state is doing and whether the district can reasonably expect closure of legal action; staff said the state and NCDIT are coordinating with the attorney general’s office but could not offer a timeline. The board emphasized it wants to review up-to-date model contract terms and MOU practices to ensure ongoing oversight throughout multi-year agreements.
