District to require multi‑factor authentication; tech director warns families about hazardous TikTok challenge and notes BOCES onboarding

HENDRICK HUDSON, N.Y. — District technology staff told the board May 7 they will require multi‑factor authentication for all staff by June 30 and urged families to speak with students about a hazardous TikTok challenge that inserts metal into USB‑C ports and can cause devices to catch fire.

The technology presenter said staff had communicated MFA enforcement in an email and had discussed the change with school‑level technology facilitators. The district reported staff concerns but said the majority of conversations with faculty indicated readiness to comply by the June 30 enforcement date.

On the TikTok challenge, the presenter described reports from neighboring districts of device damage and said at least one district was considering criminal charges because property damage had occurred. The district asked parents to talk to students and noted the danger of inserting metal into charging ports.

Technology staff also described an ongoing internal IT risk assessment with the district’s internal auditor, using NIST framework controls; the audit process was broken into control groups and will require documentation across systems.

Finally, the district said it is onboarding to managed IT services provided through BOCES, with the goal of July 31 for full onboarding; Edutech will continue to provide limited remote data support through June 30 while the transition proceeds. Staff said they are reviewing standards and user experience settings to align systems before turnover.

The board asked for updates on the MFA rollout, the results of the internal risk assessment and timelines for the BOCES onboarding.