This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its unique location you'll be able to go to the hyperlink bellow: https://www.wral.com/news/local/wake-county-schools-reevaluate-lifetouch-connection-february-2026/and if you wish to take away this text from our web site please contact us [ad_1] Some mother and father with youngsters in Wake County Public Schools are voicing issues over the district's affiliation with Lifetouch, a widely known yearbook pictures firm. This comes on the heels of revelations connecting Lifetouch's father or mother firm, Shutterfly, to the controversial Epstein information. Lifetouch is owned by Shutterfly, which is owned by Apollo Group Management, a personal fairness agency co-founded by Leon Black, whose title has surfaced within the newest Epstein information disclosure. As of 2021 Black is now not concerned with Apollo. “It’s very regarding," said Krysta S, a former Wake County Student. "I imply, my nephews and all of my siblings additionally obtained their footage taken of by Lifetouch," Parents and neighborhood members have been vocal about their issues, with a number of petitions circulating that urge the biggest college district within the state to chop ties with Lifetouch. The affiliation with Epstein's community, even when oblique, has sparked worry and outrage amongst households. One father or mother commented, "If they are in any way associated with Epstein or his associates, I want my children FAR away." On Friday, representatives instructed WRAL News the claims have been "completely false." "No Lifetouch executives have ever had any relationship or contact with Epstein, and we have never shared student images with any third party, including Apollo," the assertion learn partly. Officials mentioned that Apollo and its funds have "no role in Lifetouch's daily operations and have no access to student images." "In fact, Apollo funds did not acquire Shutterfly, Lifetouch’s parent company, until September 2019-- two months after Epstein was put in jail and a month after Epstein’s death," the assertion continued. It comes after the corporate issued a statement on Monday in response to the rising unrest, aiming to reassure involved events. "No past or present member of Apollo’s Board of Directors or Apollo’s investors have ever had access to student images, for any purpose. This includes Apollo’s original co-founder and former CEO and Chairman Leon Black, who stepped away from Apollo in 2021," the assertion learn partly. For some locally, this controversy presents a chance to reevaluate how native assets are utilized. “The waters are so deep there. It’s hard to navigate whether they should continue to be a part of school systems," said Samantha Martin, a Wake County parent. "I honestly am of the opinion that we should be hiring locally. I think that locally, you get better packet rates for people who live in this area.” According to Wake County Public Schools, the choice to proceed to make use of Lieftouch as a vendor is a "school-level" choice. A consultant tells WRAL some colleges and parent-teacher associations are at present in talks about whether or not they'll proceed to maneuver ahead utilizing Lifetouch. They ask any involved father or mother to contact their kid's principal instantly. [ad_2] This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its unique location you'll be able to go to the hyperlink bellow: https://www.wral.com/news/local/wake-county-schools-reevaluate-lifetouch-connection-february-2026/and if you wish to take away this text from our web site please contact us