RSU 52 outlines major technology upgrades: Chromebooks, phone consolidation, cybersecurity grant and battery backups

District technology staff delivered a detailed update on infrastructure and security work, saying the district has moved toward more efficient and secure systems while managing rising demand for service requests.

The presenter said the district has reached a one-to-one device model: iPads in pre-K–grade 2 and Chromebooks from grade 3 through 12, with device take-home policies limited by grade (K–2 devices generally remain in-classroom except for remote days). The presenter said the district manages more than 2,500 computers and has recorded roughly 3,700 work-order requests since August 2024, about 1,800 of which were technology-specific.

On infrastructure, technology staff described replacing and consolidating phone and network equipment, deploying a phone 'softphone' feature to allow staff to take calls on mobile devices, consolidating firewalls to a single system, and installing lithium UPS battery backups to keep phone systems running for approximately two hours during outages. The speaker said rewiring at Turner Elementary reduced multiple data closets and switches into a single locked location.

The district reported it was awarded a state-sponsored cyber-performance grant that funded certificate-based Wi-Fi authentication and multi-factor authentication for employees and will support a phishing-training platform. The presenter also described a secure print-release rollout (MyQ) that has reduced unnecessary printing; the presenter said it has saved roughly 75,000 pages since implementation.

No formal board action was required at the meeting; board members asked clarifying questions about device take-home policies and staffing for tech support.