I have asked the same questions
August 5, 2008
Mr. Gibb,
How is it possible to screw nearly 50 years of former students and no one at DPS seems to care?
Dr. Artis signed a contract that violated DPS policy "The Board will not allow the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information collected from students for the purpose of marketing or for selling that information (or otherwise providing the information to others for that purpose).".
This started at the end of April with the Alumni Directory Program. Its a letter "from" the principal of the high school you attended telling you to call and give out more information to appear in an directory.
This letter is from a company called Harris Connect Inc. and what they don't tell you is that you have a right to opt out, not appear in the book, and not allow them to sell the information to other 3rd party marketers.
I got this letter and was concerned what information was released, DPS has all former students Social Security numbers in its records. Its taken 6 letters/emails and 3 months, and finally a FOIA request, to find out what information was released. DPS Board Members only comment was they had done similar things, or their kids want to be in the directory when concerns about what data was released.
In the case of Edsel Ford, DPS sold approx. 20,000 records for $0.04 each, good for them $800 for screwing 20,000 people. They shipped permanent records to an outside company and allowed them to collect information, they claim they only took what was allowed. They do not tell you they have the right to then sell this information to other marketers if you "express and interest in products or services". They say only other former students can get copies, but the contract states "close relations" as well. The privacy policy online, if you google Harris Connect Inc. is very different than whats in the contract. This whole program REALLY smells like a scam and is being mishandled at every step by DPS.
Why is DPS stonewalling on this issue? Why when a former student directly asks did you hand out my Social Security Number do you not provide an answer? If DPS gets over 10% of the people to buy an overpriced useless book, they get $5.00 a book sold. (at least for the contract covering Edsel Ford.)
So they broke published DPS policy, one board member claims that policy only applies to current students, the contract also gives Harris Connect the right of first refusal for more student records into the future. Its very possible they have violated FERPA, the federal law protecting students privacy rights. Mr. Gutkowski has "misstated" the privacy policy of Harris Connect Inc. and ignored direct questions about this program.
People are giving out demographic information to a company pretending to be DPS and not asking any questions. They think DPS would never sell out former students. They did and on the cheap.
I guess maybe I am just angry that my privacy was only worth $0.04, and that 19 years after I graduated they decided to try to make a quick buck off of my privacy. Maybe I am pissed at the amount of buck passing and I don't know anything about this program I got in replies to questions. Maybe the fact they did not think enough of a former student to even spell the name right in replies. Maybe that the people we elected might need to remember not to take a dump on the people who put them there, and that it should not be to much work for them to find the answers to simple questions. That pushing someone to have to file a FOIA request to see if they set me up for identity theft might not be the reasonable thing to do.
But then I'm only a Dearborn resident, and graduate of their schools. I should just be a good little sheep and not rock the boat. Or maybe I should let people know whats actually happening and let them decide if they want to be in yet another marketing database. Let the voters know these people violate their own rules to make a few bucks off of their graduates backs.
I'd love to see a story about this on your site letting people know about this, but I'd also like to keep my name out of it. Imagine that, I like my privacy. I've got the letters and emails that backup everything I've said. I'm more than willing to let you copy them and verify my claims. I just think the people should be informed of the facts before they decided to hand out their information to this company who is not being upfront and forthcoming.
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10 Comment(s)
For all of their ridiculous amounts of unnecessary overhead staff at DPS - don't you think they'd have a decent lawyer to tell them this is a BAD IDEA?
--by on 8/5/08 Lives: USA
I am a resident, DPS grad, and a reporter for a local newspaper. If you would like to share your story with me and allow me to verify the facts that you have compiled I would be more than happy to do so. Also, I have access to these people so I would probably be able to get a little better response than "piss-off" as it sounds like you got. If interested please call (313) 584-4000 and ask for Pat. I won't ask you to identify yourself if you don't want to, but this is something that definitely deserves a look. Regards.
--by on 8/7/08 Lives: Dearborn
Harris Connect does not sell info to marketers. Research the company a little more, and help keep erroneous info off the web. There is already enough. They also operate within FERPA guidelines. . . again, I just simply googled it.
--by on 8/7/08 Lives: Dearborn
Well, at least now we have an answer to the question that has plagued the DPS for years...What is it axactly that Gutkowski does? It isn't a good answer and hardly justifies the existence of the position, but I am sure we all feel better knowing that he has brought in that eight hundred dollars to help fund the district. That amount of money can cover a superintendants car allowance for an entire month. Wow.
--by on 8/7/08 Lives: Detroit area
I received a number of these cards in the mail. Also sent to my home were cards for my brother-in-law and my sister-in-law; both graduates of Edsel Ford. I didn't receive one. Does that mean they had my info and sold it without my knowledge?
We never did respond to the cards but I did phone the number.
--by on 8/7/08 Lives: Michigan
Hell I would have paid 10.00 to buy my own records, for the sake of privacy and safety. You can not be too careful these days. Thanks a lot DPS for selling us out. When our identity is stolen whom do we sue?
--by on 8/8/08 Lives: Michigan
Nevermind Harris Connect internet PR. Tell me did Artis violate school policy by giving out student info ?
--by on 8/8/08 Lives: USA
I graduated 15 years ago and didn't know what the cards were when they started coming. I ignored them and I hope alot of others did too. I heard they are charging alot of money for the final product!! With the internet connections and things like classmates.com, face book, my space, ....if someone wants to be found they will be. You can also hit a class reunion......there's no need for that type of publication!! I know they were given alot of info by dearborn public schools because I'm sure like me alot of you are not at the same address. Pretty scary how there cards came to my current address. I've lived at 3 other addresses since high school and they new exactly where to send the post card. I also have a different last name!!! So three addresses later and a different last name and they pin pointed where I was. They had to have been given more than just my name when I was in high school. They were given at least a birthday.........very scary if you ask me.
I hope we can find out if this was legal and if not we should take action!!
--by on 8/17/08 Lives: Dearborn