October 2, 2024 at 9:00 AM - Information Services Committee Meeting

Discussion:  Call to order at 9:00 AM.

Staff: Larianne Polk, Deb Hericks, Scott Isaacson, Rhonda Eis, Andrew Easton

Discussion:  We are completing this process.  

Discussion: 

142 school districts and ESUs are participating in the Proofpoint Security Awareness Training platform, utilizing 22,118 staff licenses. For the 2024-2025 school year, licenses are available for $2.46 per staff user. 4 "light" users (could be students) are included with each staff license purchased.

51 school districts and ESUs are participating in the Duo Security multi-factor authentication system, utilizing 8,756 licenses. 1,244 licenses remain available. For the contract year which runs through March, 2025, Duo licenses are available for $8 per user.

The STEADfast project is a browser plug-in designed to help school districts collect data about the performance of home broadband Internet services and indicate areas of the state where service improvements are needed. This project was started with the development work of ESU 10 using GEER funds earlier, and a pilot with schools is funded with $45,000 of remaining ESSER III state level funds extended into this 2024-2025 school year.

Discussion:  ESU 6 gave an update on their Cybersecurity Grant.  He shared what the Dashboard looks like through Resolute Guard.  The GANS for Year 2 Cybersecurity have not yet been released.  CEO Polk shared some updates on Erate.  Erate Article. The Technology Director gave further updates on some cybersecurity projects. The NCNE team is preparing server infrastructure and donated Blue Cross Blue Shield devices to provide automated vulnerability scanning for member ESUs and districts. A year 2 SLCG project proposal will add centralized event logging and monitoring to the services available. The team regularly presents updates at superintendent and technology director meetings in member ESU areas. Andy Boell is the lead contact for this project. The Network Operations Committee (NOC) cyber security sub-committee has decided to explore a cyber security rubric web application developed by ESU 3 based on the spreadsheet rubric developed by the sub-committee earlier this year. This would provide a smoother user experience to complete the survey and a central database to collect and track the data over time.  Cyber Incident response planning workshops were held in-person and on Zoom during September at ESU 10, ESU 16 - North Platte and ESU 18. 114 participants attended these workshops. Feedback was positive and the leading suggestion for next steps are to hold in-person work days for schools to come together and keep working on their cyber incident response plans. This complements the work being done by the NCNE and Resolute Guard projects. I will keep looking for steps that will help all ESUs and schools across the state improve their cyber security preparedness and bring us together.

Discussion:  The Technology Director gave information on the ESU 3 contract server infrastructure hosting.  

Discussion:  Information was shared on SIMPL and rebradning to SMART.  

Discussion: 

The Technology Director also shared updates on technology team is working on new versions and updates for a number of software projects: SRS, NVIS, Project Para, the new Behavior Intervention Reporting Tool (BIRT), and the textbook loan request application.

Discussion:  The Digital Learning Director gave updates on his reports.  Continue to research Artificial Intelligence (AI) and they are working on state guidance.  They will be creating some short videos to offer some conversations on AI.  Updates on the behavior intervention training and reporting tool (BITS/BIRTS).  

Discussion:  Rhonda Eis gave some updates on TLT Training with Eric Curts.  She is working on purchasing some new books for SORA.  OER is promoting them on our website.  

Discussion:  Erate

Shared website:  https://www.finalsite.com/blog/p/~board/b/post/ada-update-school-website-accessibility-deadline#:~:text=The%20ADA%20Title%20II%20update,everyone%2C%20especially%20people%20with%20disabilities.

Discussion:  Meeting adjourned at 10:04 AM.