PowerSchool Data Breach Update

Silver Creek CSD

February 11, 2025

Dear Black Knight Families:

As you may remember, we sent a notification to District families on January 13, 2025, alerting you of a cybersecurity breach through PowerSchool. PowerSchool is the software vendor that provides our Student Information System.

On January 7, 2025, PowerSchool informed our district that they experienced a cybersecurity incident involving unauthorized access to certain PowerSchool customer data. Unfortunately, PowerSchool has confirmed that the information belonging to students and staff was accessed. The information accessed includes some personally identifiable information (PII) such as staff and student names, address, phone numbers, ethnicity, general alerts, parent and emergency contact information. We can confirm that social security numbers or financial information were not accessed, as we do not keep this information in PowerSchool.

PowerSchool has engaged Experian, a trusted credit reporting agency, to provide complimentary identity protection and credit monitoring services to current and former students and educators that had information accessed. In the coming weeks, Experian (on behalf of PowerSchool) will be distributing direct email notifications to involved individuals (or their parent/guardian, as applicable). PowerSchool will be reaching out via email to those affected if PowerSchool has a valid email address.

Additionally, PowerSchool has worked with Experian to set up a dedicated, toll-free call center to answer any questions associated with these offerings and the incident. All the information regarding the activation of and access to these services will be included in the email sent to you by Experian. Whether or not you receive an email, you may also visit PowerSchool’s website to learn how to activate the offering from Experian, linked here: http://www.powerschool.com/security/sis-incident/notice-of-united-states-data-breach/

Again, please know that this breach is separate from our district, and we cannot personally assist with questions related to your personal accounts. All those questions must be handled through the toll-free call center or PowerSchool’s website.

Protecting our students and teachers remains our top priority. Thank you again for your support and understanding during this time.

Sincerely,

Dr. Katie Ralston
Superintendent of Schools

Silver Creek CSD

Chautauqua County Crisis Helpline