Democrat Adam Haber, who is running to replace outgoing state Sen. Jack Martins in the 7th Senate District, called on Thursday for the state Education Department’s newly appointed chief privacy officer to hold public hearings with parents, teachers and taxpayers.
Haber, a Roslyn school board trustee, said it was important for the state Education Department to discuss the privacy of student data.
“As a parent, I believe that it’s crucial for the newly appointed chief privacy officer to visit our communities and engage with local parents, teachers and concerned taxpayers,” he said. “This is an opportunity for the state Education Department to provide information, listen to concerns and answer questions that parents have in regards to the protection of their children’s personal information.”
Haber, a commodities trader-turned-restaurateur, is set to face off against the mayor of Flower Hill, Elaine Phillips, in the 7th Senate District race in November.
Last Wednesday, the state Education Department appointed Temitope Akinyemi as its chief privacy officer after more than two years without someone filling the position.
Akinyemi’s position requires her to “develop, implement and oversee the department’s policies and procedures to ensure the privacy and confidentiality of student, teacher and principal data,” according to the department.
Haber pointed at the implementation of Common Core policies and the use of a student-teacher data cloud, inBloom, which caused an uproar among parents over the sharing of confidential school data, as reasons for wanting public meetings with the chief privacy officer.
“Following the misguided roll-out of the Common Core and the controversy over inBloom, parents still have many concerns and deserve every bit of information to provide assurances that our children’s privacy is protected,” Haber said. “It would be beneficial moving forward for the CPO and the Department of Education to listen to and take input from our community. Holding local hearings is the best first step to making this happen.”
Phillips, a Republican, said the chief privacy officer is already required to meet with the public and there were more pressing concerns about the appointment.
“The law that created the Education Department’s privacy officer already specifically requires ‘input from parents, education and expert stakeholders and the public,’ which is usually collected through public hearings or other forums,” she said. “But there is a more troubling question that’s raised by a delay of almost two and a half years in filling this position that I’m concerned could signal that the state still doesn’t take seriously the issues related to privacy and confidentiality of students’ data and personal information.”
Phillips also said that if elected, she would work to strengthen the security of confidential school data.
“At a time when security breaches are a constant and disturbing threat, we have a responsibility to provide the most stringent safeguards for personal information and data that is retained by the state, especially when it involves our children, and as senator, I will work to make sure that state officials follow the law and that privacy is respected,” she said.
Reach reporter Joe Nikic by e-mail at jnikic@theislandnow.com, by phone at 516.307.1045 x203. Also follow us on Twitter @joenikic and Facebook at facebook.com/theislandnow.
