April 25, 2024: Update and FAQs
This is an update to the notice shared on April 23, 2024, regarding past due fee invoices that were sent in error. The HF Business Office has worked collaboratively with the vendor the district contracts with for these services to better understand the error that happened and to seek answers to the questions the district has received from the community.
Again, we apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. We are taking steps to ensure it does not happen again.
Q: Should I be concerned about data security related to this incident?
A: No. Families can rest assured that this was a coding error and not a data security issue. The company was only given access to name, address and account balance.
Q: How is it possible that a family received an invoice whose child was never enrolled at HF?
A: Each school year eighth grade rosters from partner elementary school districts are rolled up to the high school student information system. This includes all eighth grade students in the student information system at the partner schools. The system automatically assigns a freshmen student fee when entered into the HF system. Invoices were generated in error for all students in the system regardless of whether they enrolled at HF.
Q: If I received an invoice for past fees for my student who graduated from HF many years ago, do I need to pay the bill?
A: If your student graduated prior to 2023, please disregard the invoice.
Q: If I received an invoice for past fees for my student who never attended HF, do I need to do anything?
A: If your student did not attend HF, please disregard the invoice.
Q: Who can I contact if I have further questions?
A: Please send an email to [email protected] and your message will be responded to by the appropriate school personnel.
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4/23/2024: Original Message
Homewood-Flossmoor High School became aware on Monday, April 22, 2024, that when invoices for outstanding student fees were issued recently the notices were sent to families beyond the time frame intended. The notices should only have been sent to graduates of 2023 and current students.
Families can rest assured that this was a coding error and not a data security issue. The company was only given access to name, address and account balance.
The process of sending past due invoices in the spring has been in place for more than a decade. This is the first time the school is aware of that the invoices were generated for years beyond the 5-year scope. We are working with the vendor to ensure that this mistake does not happen again.
We apologize for any inconvenience. If your student graduated prior to 2023, please disregard the invoice.