Earlier this year, Calabasas High School adopted a new program, Securly. After launching it this summer and mandating that every student download it, Securly has still not been officially implemented. Where does it stand now?
Securly is a downloadable software program that gives teachers visibility and control of online activity. Bennett Wutkee, the principal of Calabasas High School, believes that this new program will increase students’ focus and make learning more effective.
“Securly is just a way for a teacher to be able to make sure kids are on task and try focusing on the things that they are being taught,” said Wutkee.
With all the commotion in the first weeks of school, administration hasn’t been able to implement it yet. But now, as everyone is settling into the new school year, teachers are training and learning how to use the new program.
“We’re going to make sure all teachers are comfortable using it, so there are some staff members who are helping them with that,” said Wutkee.
In the coming weeks, administrators will be conducting computer checks on the students’ devices to make sure that every student has the Securly application downloaded, with alternatives if a student does not want to download it on their own device.
“You know, I understand that some kids may not want to put their personal device, and if that’s the case, we have District devices that they can use,” said Wutkee.
Hesitation to download Securly on personal devices has been a concern all across the country. According to K-12 Dive, two concerned California parents filed a class-action lawsuit on Securly in 2023. Alleging that the company had been selling their student’s information to third-party vendors without disclosure, damages exceeding $5 million were expected. Additionally, in a federal case in Minnesota, a judge dismissed a claim that Securly violated state privacy laws due to the complaint not meeting legal standards.
Many students feel that this program is invasive, including Malen Gaglani, a CHS freshman.
“They can see everything going on, and that might be private information,” said Gaglani.
Sadie Godburn, another freshman at CHS, also agrees that the overly invasive characteristics of Securly pose a threat to students’ privacy.
“I think that it’s invasive because teachers can see what you are doing at all times. In some ways, it helps, so they can keep you on track, but I don’t think they should see everything that you’re doing,” said Godburn.
With the start-date of Securly still unclear, several CHS students and staff’s concerns may reignite once it becomes fully integrated into the school.
