Police: School Data Hacked, Grades Altered

Via republicanherald.com (Pottsvilla, PA) -

Pottsville police anticipate filing charges against one or more computer hackers who unlawfully made changes to an online grading system used by Pottsville Area School District.

“You had some people who hacked into a school-functioned, online site and found ways to change data that was put in there,” Pottsville police Capt. Ronald J. Moser said Wednesday

“In this case, someone figured out a teacher’s login and password. It is still a federal offense,” said Monica Langenberg, Shawnee, Okla., director of business development for Classroll.com.

Classroll.com is an online classroom assessment and instructional management system the school district pays to use, according to Langenberg and Pottsville Area Superintendent James T. Gallagher.

Teachers use it to post student grades and attendance records as well as their lesson plans and assignments, leaving students with no excuses for missed work. And parents can log in to check their children’s progress.

Only teachers, school administrators, parents and students can access the site, Langenberg said.

On Wednesday, Steve Guers, the Pottsville police detective in charge of the case, said the district filed the complaint with city police in December.

Langenberg said a person not authorized to use the account gained access to student grades posted by Pottsville Area teachers and made changes.

“Apparently in this case it went on for a while. I don’t know any details beyond that,” Langenberg said.

“We have a way to track the IP address so we can fully help the school figure out and find out where it’s occurring. Our CEO has also been working with the Pottsville school district,” Langenberg said.

Guers said the incidents were isolated.

“With the cooperation of school officials and employees, several suspects as well as all students affected by the actions have been identified,” Guers said.

The Web site has been secured and is safe and reliable for all users, Guers said.

Guers said he intends to file computer trespass and identity theft charges, but did not say when. “Upon the completion of the investigation, further details will be made available,” Guers said.

Gallagher refused to comment on the case until police have completed their investigation.