An MCHS student returns to school after winter break. They open up their email to see a message from the superintendent. The email says that PowerSchool has been hacked and some students’ information was taken. The student becomes worried and unwell. What if their information was taken? What do they want with it?
An email from Superintendent Dr. Ryan Mctague caused some uproar among the campus when MCHS returned from winter break. This email said that PowerSchool, a popular student information site used at MCHS, was hacked over winter break.
“On Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025,” the email began, “PowerSchool informed our leadership team that they experienced a nationwide cybersecurity incident involving unauthorized access to certain PowerSchool SIS customer data. Unfortunately, PowerSchool confirmed this morning that some student and staff contact information contained within our Student Information System was included in the breach.”
The email goes on to explain that any forms of payment or social security was not taken during the hack, as that information is housed elsewhere. Powerschool is a nationwide site, so MCHS was not the only school who had information taken.
“From what I understand, it has been taken care of by PowerSchool. They’ve already been able to remedy it,” McTague says. “Some districts had nothing, some districts had a lot.”
Students, staff and families have been affected by this hack. Some students’ names, emails, phone numbers and addresses were exposed during the hack. At this time, the school does not know which information was taken from whom.
“That’s really scary, and that we don’t know who was hacked, everyone should be on edge right now,” says Junior Kaitlyn Norris.
PowerSchool has declined a request for an interview at this time.
Teachers also feel the repercussions of this hack, both as a staff member and for the concerns of their students.
“I view my students as my kids, as my responsibility,” says English Teacher Stacy Rockweiler. “I don’t want anyone to be put in a situation where bad things can happen.”
MCHS wants families to know that they are protected during times like these and that their students’ safety is of utmost importance.
An email from MCHS read, “Protecting our student and staff information is something we take seriously. PowerSchool has already taken many proactive measures to correct the situation and minimize the potential for this type of event to occur again,”
With powerful school sites no longer safe from cyberhacking, it brings up the question of, “what else can get hacked?” When big, nationwide corporations aren’t even able to prevent cyber hacks, who else and what else isn’t safe?
“Unfortunately, we live in a world right now where all types of computer systems are susceptible,” McTague states.
“It’s not just the PowerSchool hack, it’s the hack of so many things, right? Like everything’s online now,” Rockweiler said.
While MCHS can’t control everything, they are confident in their efforts and actions to protect their students and their identities.
“Just knowing our team at school, I trust that they are following up,” Rockweiler says. “I trust that they are following up and taking care of it.”