District staff outline phased Google→Microsoft transition for central office; schools set for later implementation

District technology staff presented an implementation timeline for transitioning central office email and productivity services from Google to Microsoft A5 licensing.

Staff explained the district has historically used Microsoft for server and finance systems but had used Google for school‑level collaboration tools. After evaluating licensing tiers, cyber‑insurance requirements and feature sets, staff said moving central office to Microsoft A5 would provide added security features (mobile device management, email archiving, advanced threat protection), reduce licensing costs in a bundled scenario and meet cyber‑insurance minimums.

Technology staff summarized a multi‑year pilot rollout that began in 2021 and moved central technology users in phased pilots through 2024. Central office departments are being migrated through summer; special education staff and transportation remain scheduled later. Staff said school‑level migrations (teachers and students) are paused to avoid concurrent changes during the district’s Infinite Campus student information system implementation. Staff assured the board that Google Drive files and email would be migrated automatically and that training resources are available.

Board members asked about real‑time collaboration features and user notifications; staff replied that Word/OneDrive and Teams support real‑time co‑editing and that notification settings can be configured to match users’ workflows. Staff said Google services will remain available during a transition period and that training and a Technology Learning Center site are available for staff to learn Microsoft tools.

No procurement vote was required; this item was informational and described an ongoing, multi‑year migration plan.