Technology employees in the Clark County School District are pointing fingers at the leadership in the department for the massive data breach that occurred last year. According to User Services Director Rick Allen, this breach was one of the biggest in the state’s history, affecting over 200,000 individuals. The hacker had access to student accounts until at least Nov. 13, exposing sensitive information like pictures, addresses, and birthdays. Former employees like Jesse Henderson and Hunter Nolen are recommending that students take precautions like freezing their credit and looking into identity protection services.
Criticism has been directed at Chief Information Officer Marilyn Delmont and Enterprise Technology Officer David Rosario for their failure in leadership both before and after the breach. Many employees have expressed frustration at the lack of action taken to address known vulnerabilities that could have prevented the breach. In addition to the breach itself, concerns have been raised about Delmont’s trip to Disney World on the district’s credit card shortly after the breach occurred. The trip, costing the district over $2,400, was for a conference on artificial intelligence but raised questions about Delmont’s priorities during a time of crisis.
A lawsuit filed by Allen sheds light on the alleged hostility and discrimination within the department. Employees who showed loyalty to Allen were reportedly targeted, leading to their reassignment within the district. Delmont and Rosario have been accused of retaliatory actions that weakened the district’s response to the breach and other critical issues. Anthony Pulido, a former administrator, criticized Delmont for being absent during the breach and prioritizing conferences over addressing cybersecurity concerns within the district.
Despite the breach, the district took a long time to disclose the incident to the public, leaving teachers and parents in the dark about the potential risks. The response to the breach was deemed weak, with millions of dollars spent on outside consultants that did not provide significant value. Interim Superintendent Brenda Larsen-Mitchell attributed the potential budget deficit to increased litigation and cybersecurity expenses, prompting additional investments in cybersecurity software and services to protect the district from future threats.
Employees have expressed dissatisfaction with the technical knowledge and leadership displayed by Delmont and Rosario during the breach. Delmont’s lack of expertise in technology coupled with Rosario’s ineffective management style has led to a sense of frustration among employees. The decision to surplus 26 employees in the department further exacerbated the chaos and loss of institutional knowledge within the district. Henderson, described as a “genius tech guru,” played a crucial role in resolving issues during the breach but has since left the district.
The ongoing challenges within the Technology and Information Systems Services Division reflect a larger issue of mismanagement and lack of accountability within the Clark County School District. Employees like Tamara Pfeffer have highlighted the district’s failure to provide proper accommodations and support for staff, raising concerns about the overall work environment and treatment of employees. As the district grapples with the aftermath of the data breach and the budget deficit, it remains to be seen how leadership will address these critical issues moving forward.