District to roll out cybersecurity training and E-Rate upgrades; superintendent reviews CA20 funding formula

District technology leadership told the board the district won a federal cybersecurity grant that will deploy a three-pronged approach: Barracuda cloud backups, Fortinet firewalls and a FortiPhish training tool that will enroll staff and students in brief remediation training after simulated phishing incidents. The technology director said the program covers all students and staff and will send fake emails to identify at-risk accounts and then require about one-hour training for those who click malicious links.

Staff also reported E-Rate plans to expand Wi-Fi access points and modernize network infrastructure; the biggest timeline risk is coordinating conduit and cabling for solar panels that must be integrated with technology work. A high-tunnel cover for an agriculture/CTE site has arrived and will be installed when scaffolding and weather allow.

Separately, the superintendent presented a detailed walk-through of the state's public school support plan (CA20), explaining the multi-step formula the state uses to calculate funding allowances including professional educators, service personnel, fixed charges, transportation, student support personnel and instructional improvement categories. The superintendent noted that, as a "sparse" district, Hardy County receives a higher per-student allowance for certain categories (citing 72.75 professional educators per 1,000 students) and highlighted that transportation reimbursement for contracted services is substantial (reported as 95% for this district). The superintendent warned that proposed state legislation could change how transportation or other components are funded and urged board attention to legislative proposals.

Ending: Technology upgrades and grant work will proceed with project coordination; the superintendent said the board should monitor proposed state funding changes that could affect the district's transportation and staffing budgets.