Kutztown Area High School
Encyclopedia
Kutztown Area High School is located at 50 Trexler Avenue in Kutztown, Pennsylvania
, USA. Kutztown is sandwiched between Allentown
and Reading
in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country
. One section was built in 1960, another constructed in 1973. The entire physical plant has not since been remodeled or rebuilt since. Also, as part of the "one-to-one laptop initiative" every student has received an Apple MacBook. The school has numerous sports teams and clubs/activities in which they rival Berks County schools Fleetwod, Reading Central Catholic, and Brandywine in addition to Lehigh Valley schools like Parkland and Allentown Central Catholic. The school is infamous for a notorious group of thirteen students who violated its technology code of conduct and were subjected to external disciplinary action.
iBook
laptops to all students, as part of the "One-to-One" programhttp://www.kasd.org/web121/start2.html to facilitate school work. Each computer was installed with safety instruments. Access to the safety and monitor settings was available via the use of an administrator password.
The school headmasters initially set the administrator password on all laptops to "50Trexler", presumably in reference to the street address of the school. Multiple media reports indicated that the password was "taped onto the back of each computer" when they were initially handed out. What was actually on the back was a permanently affixed label with the school’s address, although the Kutztown Area High School Administration did realize that the password should have been less socially ignorant. A student or students found out the password, and eventually 200 to 300 students had knowledge of the password.
These students were then able to bypass the schools security system to access chat software
, freely view web pages previously blocked by school policy, install file sharing
applications, games, and other unauthorized software, and reverse the installed monitoring software to spy on other students and faculty. The school repeatedly disciplined students for these offenses, from detentions and leading to suspensions for repeated policy violations. With each disciplinary action given, the school claimed that parents were notified.
On May 2, 2005, school administrators contacted the Kutztown Borough Police Department with a request to investigate, and possibly prosecute, 13 students for violating the school's Acceptable Use Policy
after they repeatedly modified their laptops. The parents of the students were not notified of this criminal investigation because the school was afraid the parents would be pleased that pictures were being taken of the students, through the computers, at home. Much of the information released to the media was from the uncle of one of the 13 students and based on comments by the students. Pennsylvania law prohibits a school from discussing discipline cases, as such a high degree of one-sidedness exists on what actually prompted the school to take the action it took.
On May 31, 2005 the police notifiedhttp://www.cutusabreak.org/Pages/policeletter.html the parents of 13 students that their children were being charged under Pennsylvania
crimes code section 7615 for Computer trespass
, a 3rd degree felony
according to Pennsylvania law.http://www.wcupa.edu/infoservices/policies/pa_title_18_chapter_76.htm#7615
In late August of 2005, the Berks County juvenile probation office offered to drop all charges in exchange for 15 hours of community service, a letter of apology, a class on personal responsibility and a limited probation period. One student did not accept these conditions. He was later emancipated of all charges.http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/computersecurity/2005-08-28-kutztown-deal_x.htm
Kutztown, Pennsylvania
Kutztown is a borough in Berks County, Pennsylvania, southwest of Allentown and northeast of Reading. As of the 2000 census, the borough has a total population of 5,067. It is the site of Kutztown University.- History :...
, USA. Kutztown is sandwiched between Allentown
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...
and Reading
Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading is a city in southeastern Pennsylvania, USA, and seat of Berks County. Reading is the principal city of the Greater Reading Area and had a population of 88,082 as of the 2010 census, making it the fifth most populated city in the state after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown and Erie,...
in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country
Pennsylvania Dutch Country
Pennsylvania Dutch Country refers to an area of southeastern Pennsylvania, United States that by the American Revolution had a high percentage of Pennsylvania Dutch inhabitants. Religiously, there was a large portion of Lutherans. There were also German Reformed, Moravian, Amish, Mennonite and...
. One section was built in 1960, another constructed in 1973. The entire physical plant has not since been remodeled or rebuilt since. Also, as part of the "one-to-one laptop initiative" every student has received an Apple MacBook. The school has numerous sports teams and clubs/activities in which they rival Berks County schools Fleetwod, Reading Central Catholic, and Brandywine in addition to Lehigh Valley schools like Parkland and Allentown Central Catholic. The school is infamous for a notorious group of thirteen students who violated its technology code of conduct and were subjected to external disciplinary action.
The Kutztown 13
In October 2004, the school distributed AppleApple Computer
Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The company's best-known hardware products include the Macintosh line of computers, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad...
iBook
IBook
The iBook was a line of laptop computers sold by Apple Computer from 1999 to 2006. The line targeted the consumer and education markets, with lower specifications and prices than the PowerBook, Apple's higher-end line of laptop computers....
laptops to all students, as part of the "One-to-One" programhttp://www.kasd.org/web121/start2.html to facilitate school work. Each computer was installed with safety instruments. Access to the safety and monitor settings was available via the use of an administrator password.
The school headmasters initially set the administrator password on all laptops to "50Trexler", presumably in reference to the street address of the school. Multiple media reports indicated that the password was "taped onto the back of each computer" when they were initially handed out. What was actually on the back was a permanently affixed label with the school’s address, although the Kutztown Area High School Administration did realize that the password should have been less socially ignorant. A student or students found out the password, and eventually 200 to 300 students had knowledge of the password.
These students were then able to bypass the schools security system to access chat software
IChat
iChat is an instant messaging software application developed by Apple Inc. exclusively for its Mac OS X operating system. It has audio, video and screen-sharing capabilities as well as text messaging...
, freely view web pages previously blocked by school policy, install file sharing
File sharing
File sharing is the practice of distributing or providing access to digitally stored information, such as computer programs, multimedia , documents, or electronic books. It may be implemented through a variety of ways...
applications, games, and other unauthorized software, and reverse the installed monitoring software to spy on other students and faculty. The school repeatedly disciplined students for these offenses, from detentions and leading to suspensions for repeated policy violations. With each disciplinary action given, the school claimed that parents were notified.
On May 2, 2005, school administrators contacted the Kutztown Borough Police Department with a request to investigate, and possibly prosecute, 13 students for violating the school's Acceptable Use Policy
Acceptable use policy
An acceptable use policy is a set of rules applied by the owner/manager of a network, website or large computer system that restrict the ways in which the network site or system may be used...
after they repeatedly modified their laptops. The parents of the students were not notified of this criminal investigation because the school was afraid the parents would be pleased that pictures were being taken of the students, through the computers, at home. Much of the information released to the media was from the uncle of one of the 13 students and based on comments by the students. Pennsylvania law prohibits a school from discussing discipline cases, as such a high degree of one-sidedness exists on what actually prompted the school to take the action it took.
On May 31, 2005 the police notifiedhttp://www.cutusabreak.org/Pages/policeletter.html the parents of 13 students that their children were being charged under Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
crimes code section 7615 for Computer trespass
Computer crime
Computer crime, or cybercrime, refers to any crime that involves a computer and a network. The computer may have been used in the commission of a crime, or it may be the target. Netcrime refers to criminal exploitation of the Internet. Such crimes may threaten a nation’s security and financial health...
, a 3rd degree felony
Felony
A felony is a serious crime in the common law countries. The term originates from English common law where felonies were originally crimes which involved the confiscation of a convicted person's land and goods; other crimes were called misdemeanors...
according to Pennsylvania law.http://www.wcupa.edu/infoservices/policies/pa_title_18_chapter_76.htm#7615
In late August of 2005, the Berks County juvenile probation office offered to drop all charges in exchange for 15 hours of community service, a letter of apology, a class on personal responsibility and a limited probation period. One student did not accept these conditions. He was later emancipated of all charges.http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/computersecurity/2005-08-28-kutztown-deal_x.htm
Notable alumni
- Keith HaringKeith HaringKeith Haring was an artist and social activist whose work responded to the New York City street culture of the 1980s.-Early life:...
- Artist - Steve Rothermel - Contestant on NBCNBCThe National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's The Biggest Loser: Special EditionThe Biggest Loser: Special EditionThe Biggest Loser: Special Edition is a special edition of the NBC reality television series The Biggest Loser. The special edition debuted on January 4, 2006.-Synopsis:... - Deborah Dana Keane - Professional Broadway dancer, studio owner
- Alison Dietrich, M.D. - Contestant on Temptation Island
- Stephanie Furst - Actress/Model
- Stephen Michael Welsh - PIAA AA Boys Cross Country State Champion 2009
- Matt Lindenmuth - Inline Skater