GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – Less student information will be given to School Choice Wisconsin in a narrower open records request with the Green Bay Area Public School District.
In a joint statement released by the school district and the pro-voucher group, the revised request only seeks student mailing addresses. It does not request students’ names, phone numbers, grade levels or school of attendance like the previous one asked for.
“Because the initial coverage of this request left many parents with questions,” said School Choice Wisconsin President Jim Bender. “We worked with the district to both clarify our use of the data and help resolve parental concerns. It was never our intention to use the data in any way that would cause privacy concerns.”
Bender added that as part of their ongoing mail program, they requested the “directory data” to augment their mailing list.
“We believe the modifications that were made should address our families’ concerns,” said Green Bay Area Public School District Superintendent Michelle Langenfeld.
Green Bay Democratic Rep. Eric Genrich says he was as concerned as other parents after learning of this request.
“We heard a lot of concern in our office about their child’s privacy being at risk,” said Genrich. “I reached out to School Choice Wisconsin and relayed the concerns I was hearing.”
Genrich described his conversation with Bender as cordial, but declined to discuss specific details. He issued a statement as well on Wednesday, in which he said, “While I remain opposed to this open records request in principle and in its entirety, I am pleased that some progress was made in the short-term to better safeguard student information.”
Genrich went on to add that he is working with State Senator Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay) about strengthening privacy protections for all Wisconsin public school children.
