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Parents and a local writer raise privacy concerns about iWellness mental‑health check‑in used in Tecumseh schools
Summary
During public comment, a resident and local author summarized reporting that iWellness' student check‑in has little peer‑reviewed validation and questioned data de‑identification practices; trustees said they would review contracts and data protections.
A local resident and author urged the Tecumseh board on Nov. 24 to scrutinize the district's use of the iWellness mental‑health check‑in tool and to reconsider vendor vetting and data protections.
Jacob Willie said he authored a piece in the Detroit Free Press raising concerns about iWellness, which he said "doesn't appear to have been the subject of peer‑reviewed research" and may not have been developed by individuals with formal psychology or behavioral‑health training. He also relayed reporting that founder Whitney Foley has been described as a wellness coach but is not a licensed mental‑health professional in the state, and that iWellness' terms allow use of de‑identified data "for any lawful purpose." Willie said de‑identification can be difficult to guarantee, particularly for sensitive mental‑health information.
Trustees responded during later comments that they take student privacy seriously and that any third‑party program should have clear protections. One trustee recommended a contract review and additional visibility into data practices; another noted Michigan's privacy and data requirements and urged staff to confirm protections before continuing use.
The board did not vote on iWellness usage at the Nov. 24 meeting; trustees directed staff to review the program, confirm legal protections and return with recommendations.
