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Board hears parent concerns about LifeTouch‑Shutterfly ties; superintendent says photos are student data and opt‑out/delete options exist
Summary
Parents raised questions about LifeTouch's ownership changes and links to a private equity firm with controversial reporting; Superintendent Navarro said the district's contract treats student photos as student data, that no contract violations or data breaches have been identified, and that parents can opt out or request deletion through the vendor.
Parents and board members raised concerns during the March 10 meeting about district use of LifeTouch (now part of Shutterfly and, historically, linked to private equity ownership). The concern, voiced by board member Mr. Hancock and echoed by members of the public, focused on reputational and data‑privacy issues given public reporting about individuals formerly connected to the parent company.
Superintendent Maria Navarro responded that the district reviewed its contract and data‑privacy provisions once the ownership ties came to light. "Our contract with LifeTouch reads… the pictures are treated as student data files," Navarro said. "All of the images that LifeTouch has belong to the school system and the parents."
Navarro told the board that: (1) the district has not been made aware of any contract violations or data breaches affecting student photos; (2) the vendor relationship is reviewed annually through procurement and may be re‑bid or not renewed at the district's discretion; and (3) parents may opt out locally from having their child photographed by the vendor or may request permanent deletion of images through the vendor's processes.
Board members asked district staff to continue monitoring the vendor, to notify principals and families about opt‑out options, and to include community concern as part of the procurement review when the contract comes up for renewal.
No policy change was adopted at the meeting; the superintendent said procurement and communications teams will: provide principals with opt‑out language, track opt‑outs to understand operational impacts (ID issuance and yearbook logistics), and report any material changes for board consideration when the procurement cycle advances.
