Board approves FCC cybersecurity grant agreement and release of RFP to enhance network security

The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board approved an FCC cybersecurity program grant agreement and authorized staff to release a request for proposals and enter contracts to enhance network and data security on 2025-05-01.

Board members asked whether the cybersecurity work would affect classroom filtering. District technology staff clarified that the cybersecurity grant and proposed work are distinct from the district’s GoGuardian student-filtering tools; the cybersecurity effort is intended to strengthen network and data security rather than to add user‑level web filtering.

Terica Jamieson, director of technology resources for the district, appeared and confirmed the cybersecurity program is intended to leverage grant funds to bolster district cybersecurity capabilities. A board member asked whether the program would prevent students from using alternate logins to reach blocked websites; staff said GoGuardian remains the tool for student device and web filtering and that the cybersecurity grant work would not replace it.

A motion to approve was moved by Board member Lanus and seconded by Board member Rust. The board voted and the chair announced the motion carried.