PowerSchool Cybersecurity Incident Update - May 15, 2025

Dear Greene County Schools Families,

We want to make you aware of a recent update related to the PowerSchool data breach that was originally reported in January of this year. The week of May 5th, several school and North Carolina Department of Pubic Instruction (NCDPI) employees across the state received messages from threat actors claiming to have access to student and teacher data from that breach. We have been informed that several Canadian school districts have received similar messages as well.

Based on the current status of NCDPI’s investigation, we believe that the threat actors have access to the same data tables that were originally compromised. These data tables include student and staff names, contact information, social security numbers (limited student social security numbers), birthdays, medical notes, passwords (limited) and parent/guardian information.

NCDPI has already notified appropriate law enforcement agencies, who are actively investigating this incident.

We want to assure you that Greene County Schools and NCDPI have done everything possible to protect this information. PowerSchool, the vendor responsible for the incident, has taken full responsibility for the breach and is providing support services for those impacted.

What You Need to Know:

● Please do not open any suspicious links or emails related to this incident.

● Do not engage with anyone claiming to have this data.

● PowerSchool is offering two years of free identity protection and credit monitoring to all affected students and educators through July 1, 2025. NCDPI is advocating for this window to be extended further to ensure everyone has time to enroll. Affected individuals can enroll in identity protection and credit monitoring at no cost to themselves here. Services include:

○ Two years of complimentary identity protection for all students and educators affected

○ Two years of complimentary credit monitoring for all adult students and educators affected

○ These services are available regardless of whether an individual's Social Security number was compromised.

● Additional protection: Impacted users can freeze their identity for free through the North Carolina Department of Justice.

As we continue to work through this incident, we are committed to supporting students, families and staff with transparency and care.

Additional information is available at the following website - https://www.powerschool.com/​security/sis-incident/

District Improvement Plan Feedback

As a low-performing district, we are required to develop an improvement plan that specifically addresses how the district will improve both the school performance grade and school growth score of each low-performing school in the unit and how the superintendent and other central office administrators will work with each low-performing school and monitor the low-performing school's progress. The preliminary plan was presented to our local school board on October 28, 2024. The plan can be viewed by going to indistar.org (Login: guestd2592 | Password: guestd2592).

You can view the letter that was sent home to parents here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CKFgtXd27lseJF20Vuyu55BPlOkfeYuP/view?usp=sharing

Your feedback is important to us as we work to make our schools the best they can be! We invite you to review our district improvement plan and share any thoughts you may have. Visit https://forms.gle/bxUK2tS6Jj8ukYsN9 to provide your input.

Transcripts Updates

As of April 29, 2024, graduates will need to contact the high school they attended.

2022-2023 graduates requests are not available for electronic services but they can be requested online for mail or in person pick-up and they may have delayed processing times.

If requesting a copy of birth certificate and/or immunization, still contact our office before completing online request

For questions; please contact Tiffany Williams at 252-747-3425 ext. 226 or tiffanywilliams@greene.k12.nc.us

June Update: SUN Bucks Benefit

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has released information regarding the new SUN Bucks program. You can also visit https://www.ncdhhs.gov/sunbucksapplication for more information about eligibility and the application or call the Sun Bucks Call Center at 866-719-0141 and select Option 2 for assistance with your application, to apply over the phone, or to ask questions about your case.

Flyer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VBbTKh0F5qXsbFSqqDCwRxetOV813CRm/view?usp=sharing

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El Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte ha publicado información sobre el nuevo programa SUN Bucks. También puedes visitar https://www.ncdhhs.gov/sunbucksapplication para obtener más información sobre la elegibilidad y la solicitud o llame al Centro de llamadas de Sun Bucks al 866-719-0141 y seleccione la opción 2 para obtener ayuda con su solicitud, para solicitar por teléfono o para hacer preguntas sobre su caso.

Folleto: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IzXidMi1LiHBQGIcq1fhZpyunNXOg4Uk/view?usp=sharing

Six Emergency Drills

The safety of our students and staff is very important to us. We practice our emergency and crisis response plans by having drills and by practicing procedures. We have six emergency drills during the year. Please see the notification that is posted in the District Alerts window.

GCS Announces Teacher of the Year for 2023-2024
GCS Teacher of the Year Griffin Gurkin

Greene County Schools would like to congratulate Mrs. Julia “Griffin” Gurkin, the 2023-2024 Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Gurkin teaches second grade at West Greene Elementary and has been teaching for 4 years in Greene County.

Mr. Phil Cook, principal at West Greene Elementary says "Mrs. Gurkin is one of the most rounded teachers I have had the pleasure of working with. I have watched her grow into an amazing educator who builds positive relationships with all students. As you enter her room you immediately feel the positive energy and family atmosphere she has created. Not only does she push her students to new heights academically, but also behaviorally and socially. From small group instruction to restorative circles, she makes every student feel valued and walks alongside them as they reach their fullest potential."

Every year between March and May, each individual school selects its teacher of the year representative. Each school may have a different process for doing this. Once each school forwards their nominee to the district level, a panel is created. This year the panel consisted of Dr. Rodney McNeill, Mrs. Cathy Williams, and Dr. José Garcia. They interview each nominee extensively and then sit down to make a tough decision, as all the nominees have outstanding qualities. Mrs. Gurkin was selected this year and she is an excellent example of someone who shapes young minds for a bright future.

Digital Children's Reading Initiative

Please check out this one page flyer providing information about the Digital Chiildren's Reading Initiative (DCRI) or visit the DCRI website.

Pfizer Vaccine for Children ages 12 – 17 now available at Greene County Department of Public Health

From the Greene County Department of Public Health

Greene County Department of Public Health will now begin offering the Pfizer Vaccine for Children age 12 – 17 years old. Appointments are required and can be made by calling the Greene County Department of Public Health at (252) 747- 8181. Parental/Guardian consent is required.

Greene County Department of Public Health now offers the Pfizer Vaccine for children age 5 – 17 years old and the Moderna Vaccine for individuals 18 and older. Call to make your appointment. Same day service available on most days.

We encourage everyone to continue to monitor Greene County Department of Public Health’s Facebook page and website for updates (www.greenecountync.gov/health).