Student Disciplined For Tampering Attendance Records on School Computer

A student broke into attendance data stored on a computer of Hilton Head High School and changed the records of a minimum of 12 students, according to school officials on June 3, 2007.

School authorities imposed disciplinary action against the student but did not disclose his name or punishment, said Tom Hudson, spokesman for Beufort County Schools. The State.com published Hudson's statement on June 3, 2007.

The records of some students were altered because they had missed the cut off attendance to get the class credit. It is assumed that there are more students with changed records while the probe is ongoing, principal Helen Ryan said in a statement. Island Packet published Ryan's statement on June 1, 2007. According to school officials they had put a number of safeguards and so could not understand how the student hacked into the database.

Ryan said there could be many other students besides the 12 identified whose attendance records may have been altered. He added, the investigation was continuing. As of now the investigation has revealed that junior and senior students' records underwent the change. Both Ryan and Hudson are unable to figure out how any hacker could reach the computer systems and gain access to the attendance records of the students.

Investigators imposed charges against the errant student who broke into the institution's computer system that connects to all the schools' network in the town. The investigators decided the charges because the student was blameworthy for penetrating into the system, Police Chief Thomas Lambert said. Metro West Daily News published Lambert's statement on June 1, 2007. While the town employees were compelled to change their passwords, the school had to change its door locks as a result of the breach, Lambert added.

Milford High School Principal John Brucato believes Holliston administrators are possibly taking flak because disciplinary action on students resulted in senior mischief. A suggestion by some students for a graduation boycott via an online chat to press administrators to withdraw the students' disciplining seems to have lost emphasis.

Holliston administrators have clearly warned students about the consequences of such pranks, Brucato mentioned.

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» SPAMfighter News - 6/15/2007