Keystone Oaks: New Mascot, Urgent Privacy Overhaul | The Locally Times
As the district's Golden Eagle gets a fresh look, Keystone Oaks races to publish a list of all digital tools and their privacy policies before a federal online data protection deadline on April 22.
While Keystone Oaks students eagerly await a fresh look for their Golden Eagle mascot, district officials are quietly racing against a federal deadline to overhaul how their children's online data is protected. The district's records don't explicitly link the mascot update to the privacy push, but both initiatives reflect ongoing efforts to meet the school community's evolving needs. The privacy drive aims to increase transparency, showing families exactly which digital tools students use and how their personal information is handled. ## Golden Eagle Gets a Makeover The Keystone Oaks Board of School Directors officially approved a new image for the district's Golden Eagle mascot on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, during a Business/Legislative Meeting. This mid-March decision signals a fresh update to the school's branding. While an upcoming district communication, set for June 17, 2026, will detail the approval, specifics on the new mascot's visual characteristics remain under wraps. District records do not indicate any privacy concerns directly tied to the mascot update itself. ## The Race to Protect Student Data While the mascot update is a visible change, a far more critical deadline looms for Keystone Oaks: full compliance with the updated federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule (COPPA) by April 22, 2026. The district is scrambling to meet this mandate, which requires online service providers for children under 13 to clearly state what data they collect, how it's used, and to obtain parental consent. By April 22, Keystone Oaks plans to publish a district notice outlining its steps to strengthen student privacy. This will include an online, searchable list of all approved digital tools, complete with links to each company’s privacy policy. The district acknowledges its key role in transparency, especially since schools often select and require these digital tools for learning. This new list will empower families to review privacy practices and understand how their children's information is safeguarded. For instance, the notice will detail that students using Google Workspace for Education accounts can access core services like Gmail, Classroom, and Drive, plus other Google services such as YouTube and Google Maps. The district also permits access to third-party services via these accounts, with school administrators enabling access and authorizing data disclosure as needed. Google's privacy notice provides further details on its data collection, use, and disclosure for Workspace for Education accounts. ## Also Happening in Keystone Oaks Beyond the mascot and privacy initiatives, Keystone Oaks is buzzing with other activities. The district is currently hiring Buildings & Grounds staff for evening shifts, a detail also noted in the June 17, 2026, communication. Meanwhile, tickets are now on sale for Keystone Oaks High School’s 2026 Spring Musical, 'Mamma Mia!' And mark your calendars: the district's 2026 School Picnic at Kennywood amusement park is set for Wednesday, June 17, 2026. Families can snag tickets for $32.99 if purchased before May 18, 2026. ## What You Need to Know **Protecting Student Data:** Keystone Oaks is publishing an online list of all approved digital tools and their privacy policies, aiming for full compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule (COPPA) by April 22, 2026. **Mascot Approval:** The Keystone Oaks Board of School Directors approved the new Golden Eagle mascot image on March 17, 2026, at a Business/Legislative Meeting. **Impact on Parents:** Families will gain greater transparency, able to review the privacy practices of digital tools their children use and understand how student information is protected under the new COPPA compliance efforts.