Privacy Policy

Springfield Public Schools (SPS) is committed to protecting the privacy and security of our students, staff, families and community members. This policy explains how we collect, use and protect information gathered through our official websites (sps.org) and outlines our strict guidelines regarding email communications and anti-spam measures.

Information We Collect

When you visit our website or interact with our digital services, we may collect:

Voluntary Information: Information you submit through contact forms, enrollment portals or newsletter sign-ups (e.g., name, email address, phone number).
Automated Information: Standard web analytics, including IP addresses, browser types and usage data, to help us improve the functionality and security of our district website.

How We Use Your Information

SPS uses collected information solely for educational and administrative purposes, including:

Responding to inquiries and providing requested services.
Communicating important district news, emergency alerts and school updates.
Improving our website and digital infrastructure. SPS does not sell, rent or lease personal information to third parties. Data is only shared when required by law or with vetted third-party educational vendors who comply with FERPA and district security standards.

Email Communication and Anti-Spam Policy

SPS maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy against spam and unsolicited bulk email.

Official Communications: Emails sent from @sps.org or @spsmail.org are strictly for official district business, educational purposes and authorized community outreach.
No Unsolicited Messages: The district does not send unsolicited marketing emails. Any mass communications sent by the district are directed only to individuals with a legitimate affiliation with SPS (e.g., parents, staff, enrolled students) or those who have explicitly opted in.
Prohibited Use: Staff and students are strictly prohibited from using district infrastructure to send spam, deceptive emails (phishing), or unauthorized bulk messages. Violations of this rule are subject to disciplinary action under the district's Acceptable Use Policy.

Domain Security and Anti-Spoofing

Reporting Abuse or Suspicious Email

If you receive an unsolicited, suspicious or abusive email that appears to come from an SPS domain, please do not click any links or download attachments. We request that you report the incident to our IT Security team immediately to help us investigate and block malicious actors.

To report email abuse or spoofing: Forward the complete email (preferably as an attachment to preserve headers) to abuse@spsmail.org.

Prohibition of Unsolicited Advertising (Spam)

Springfield Public Schools strictly prohibits the use of unsolicited bulk email (spam), unsolicited text messages or unauthorized social media blasting to advertise, promote or link to our district websites (including but not limited to sps.org and spsmail.org).

This prohibition applies regardless of where the messages originate—whether sent from within our district network or from third-party external servers. Any individual, vendor, contractor or affiliate found to be driving traffic to SPS domains via unsolicited messaging will face immediate administrative and legal action, including the termination of network privileges or vendor contracts.