School Management Software Reports Data Breach

Active Network, a company that provides software for K-12 schools and districts, reported a security breach last week.

According to a company notice, hackers gained unauthorized access to Blue Bear, a software platform that facilitates administration and management of school accounting, student fees, and online stores on behalf of educational institutions.

The hackers possibly accessed personal information of webstore users including names, credit and debit card numbers, expiration dates, security codes and Blue Bear account usernames and passwords between October 1, 2019 and November 13, 2019. The company says the security breach didn’t involve sensitive ID information like Social Security numbers, driver license number or similar government ID cards.

“As soon as we identified the suspicious activity, our counsel engaged a leading
cybersecurity firm to investigate the incident and took steps to enhance its monitoring tools and security controls,” Active Network said in the notice.

In addition, they are offering free identity monitoring services to customers and a reference guide for more information on how to monitor and protect personal information.

About the Author

Yvonne Marquez is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Missouri K–12 District Cuts Ribbons on Two New Middle Schools

    Springfield Public Schools in Springfield, Mo., recently celebrated the completion of two new middle school facilities with ribbon-cutting ceremonies, according to a district news release. The district officially opened the new Pipkin Middle School and Reed Academy on Sept. 3, both of which were funded through the $220-million Proposition S bond program approved by voters in 2023.

  • University of Rochester to Break Ground on New Student Life Center

    The University of Rochester in Rochester, N.Y., recently began construction on a new Student Life building, according to a news release. The first floor will contain campus-wide gathering, program, and rehearsal space; the second floor will play home to the Greenbaum Center for Jewish Life.

  • TCU Marks Campus Expansion Milestone

    Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas, recently held a topping-out ceremony to mark progress on a major campus expansion effort including four new residential facilities and a five-story parking garage, according to a news release.

  • Q&A: How to Prevent Kitchen Grease Fires in Commercial Kitchens

    School cafeterias and university dining halls serve thousands of meals daily, relying on high-heat equipment like fryers, grills, and ovens. While these operations keep students fed, they also generate significant grease-laden vapors. Without proper controls, this grease becomes a silent fire threat. As a certified exhaust cleaning specialist and business coach who has helped hundreds of institutional facilities achieve NFPA 96 compliance, I emphasize that proactive grease management isn’t optional; it’s a core fire/life safety practice.