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Yelm schools technology director outlines security, E-rate plans and device challenges
Summary
The district technology director described a shift to certificate-based Wi‑Fi authentication, expanded spam and traffic filtering, use of E‑rate funding for fiber and hardware replacement, eight Wi‑Fi-equipped buses and device lifecycle pressures ahead of a Windows 11 migration.
The Yelm School Board received an update on district technology infrastructure and funding at its Feb. 13 meeting, where the technology director summarized recent security steps, E‑rate-funded upgrades and device-replacement challenges.
Jonathan, identified in the meeting as the district’s technology director, told the board the district moved to certificate-based Wi‑Fi authentication for district devices, improved email spam filtering and limited inbound traffic from certain foreign countries as part of a layered security approach. “We moved to a certificate based Wi Fi authenticator for all district devices,” he said.
The director said the district is using E‑rate federal funding to reduce local cost for infrastructure upgrades, including district fiber and replacement of end-of-life Wi‑Fi access points and deteriorating network panels. He explained the district’s local share is roughly 30% for covered E‑rate costs: “If something costs a thousand dollars, we only have to pay 30% of that.”
Jonathan reported the district operates eight Wi‑Fi-equipped buses on longer routes so students can do homework while riding home and said the district is delaying lifecycle refreshes for staff and student devices this year and likely next year because of budget limits. He noted the district must plan for a migration to Windows 11 because “October Windows 10 is no longer supported,” and that some older devices will be unable to upgrade.
The director described efforts to find grants and creative device-allocation strategies to meet state testing requirements while stretching existing hardware. Board members and others thanked the technology team for their work and said the upgrades help create a safer environment for students and staff.
