Prairie Spirit School division data impacted after cybersecurity incident

Parents whose children attend schools in the Prairie Spirit School Division are being sent a letter this afternoon, about a recent cyber security incident.

According to spokesperson Brenda Erickson, the division found out this week that a program used between 2009 and 2022 called “PowerSchool,” was targeted, and some historical data on the program was accessed.

“PowerSchool says the data primarily includes parent, student and teacher contact information with data elements such as name and address information,” read the letter.

In a telephone call, Erickson said it’s not clear at this point how many students may be affected.

Read more:

• Canadian school boards among those affected by cyber incident involving third party
• Record ransomware payment and breach affected thousands in Sask.
• Privacy commissioner investigates federal revenue agency data breaches

She said the company will also continue its analysis and provide more information along with credit monitoring and identity protection services.

In the letter, Dean Broughton, Prairie Spirit’s Deputy Director of Education, said he recognizes the critical importance of protecting personal information.

“We want to assure you that this matter is being treated with the utmost urgency,” he wrote.

At this time he added that neither parents nor students need to take any action.

Erickson said the school division now uses a program called “Edsby,” along with a provincially based student computer program.

In a statement, the Regina Public School and Regina Catholic School said neither one was affected by the PowerSchools breach.