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Gates Chili technology team reports new automation, expanded staffing and AI-powered filtering
Summary
District technology staff told the Board the IT department added positions, automated account and transportation workflows, increased archival storage for video, and rolled out AI image‑blurring and live translation devices to buildings.
Chris Staley, a technology staff member, told the Gates Chili Central School District Board of Education on May 20 that the district’s information‑technology department has added personnel and launched several automation projects intended to reduce manual work and improve security.
Staley said the district added Roger Thing as IT supervisor and expanded the network‑technician team so every building now has a dedicated technician. “It’s really caused some efficiencies and we’re really able to do some things in IT we haven’t been able to do before,” Staley said.
The IT presentation described several completed and near‑term projects. Staff implemented automated account provisioning for Schoology and SchoolTool tied to the district’s personnel system, which Staley said removes much of the previous manual work when employees change roles or leave. He said that, “If someone were to leave tomorrow at 04:00, that system is fully automated and takes them offline.” The district also synced bus route information between SchoolTool and ParentSquare so families and staff receive real‑time notifications when routes are delayed.
The presentation listed infrastructure upgrades coming this summer: a district‑wide upgrade to Windows 11, replacement of UPS (battery backup) units in network closets using E‑Rate funding, and an upgrade to the district phone system’s call manager. Staley said a new video server will retain footage for up to six months; during a lighthearted quiz he noted an answer option of “2,400 terabytes” for storage capacity and described the longer retention as “unheard of.”
On security, the district is expanding its monitoring and governance. Staley described a revived Information Security Governance Team and a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) service that provides near‑around‑the‑clock alerts. The department is also evaluating more automated device patching and removal of unsupported software.
Two AI‑enabled services were highlighted. An image‑blurring filter previews and blurs images on allowed websites when the model flags them as inappropriate, and Translate Live devices were placed in every building to provide live spoken translation and on‑screen text for families and visitors who speak other languages; staff also noted a benefit for hard‑of‑hearing community members using the device for captions.
The presentation closed with operational metrics: the IT team closed about 3,500 tickets this school year and reported increased use of the ticketing system as response times improved. Board members asked clarifying questions; staff said most listed upgrades and automations are scheduled for completion this summer.
The technology presentation led into the capital projects update that followed.
