Parents urge Natrona County School District #1 to review Lifetouch photo contract amid privacy concerns

Multiple parents asked the Natrona County School District #1 board on Monday to pause or review the district's contract with Lifetouch Studios and to consider local photographers as alternatives.

Ashley Carter told trustees she was "angry" and "concerned" about what she described as the company's corporate ownership and the potential reach of student data. "They have access to a full catalog of our children, including name, school, grade, and address," Carter said, adding that families deserve more than an opt-out option in Infinite Campus.

Terrina Frederickson, who said she had contacted district leadership and provided a packet of local photographers, urged the board to open a request-for-proposal process so community professionals can demonstrate they meet district standards. She said a petition asking the district to re-evaluate the partnership had reached 235 signatures.

Lilith Lounsberry echoed those concerns and called for at least a pause while the district reviews how student images and data are secured. "We do have local photographers that are willing to step up and do all of the things that they need to do to prove to you guys that they're safe and they're capable," she said.

Trustee Hopkins said she hears parents "loud and clear" and asked the superintendent and staff to obtain "straight answers" from Lifetouch, including evidence that student photos and information are locked down and not accessible to outside corporate groups. "I'm encouraging the superintendent and her team to get some straight answers," Hopkins said.

Superintendent Hensley acknowledged the comments and the need for administration to follow up; trustees suggested staff investigate options such as local or regional photographers and report findings to the board.

What was said and what it means: Parents framed their request around student safety and data security, seeking district assurances beyond the existing opt-out mechanism. Trustees uniformly called for staff follow-up rather than immediate contract action; no formal motion to pause or cancel contracts was made during the meeting.

Next steps: Trustees asked the superintendent to look into the matter and provide answers. The district did not announce a timeline for any report or decision during the meeting.

(Reporting note: Parents referenced public reporting about corporate ownership links involving Apollo Global, Shutterfly and Lifetouch. Those allegations were made by speakers during public comment and were not investigated or substantiated during the meeting.)