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Edutech tells appropriations panel it supports K–12 technology, handled PowerSchool response
Summary
NDIT EduTech described statewide K–12 IT services, professional learning and student-data hosting; officials said they supported districts during a PowerSchool incident and seek small funding to replace aging training software.
EDUTECH SERVICES — North Dakota Education Technology (EduTech), part of North Dakota Information Technology, briefed the Appropriations — Government Operations Division on K–12 technology services the agency provides, including student data hosting, professional learning and statewide licensing support.
"EduTech has been a, integral part of the educational technology ecosystem for more than 30 years," said John Geezer, North Dakota educational technology strategist for NDIT EduTech, describing the unit’s role in hosting student information systems and coordinating statewide services. Greg Hoffman, deputy chief information officer, said the state pays much of the PowerSchool support through DPI funding and that PowerSchool hosting and related support constitute a significant portion of Edutech’s biennial budget.
NUT GRAF: EduTech told the committee it provides core IT services to public and private K–12 schools, manages statewide licensing arrangements that reduce per-school costs, runs professional development and assists districts during incidents. Committee members asked about private-school access, licensing costs, the Dakota Carrier Network connection to schools and a recent PowerSchool cybersecurity incident.
EduTech said some services are provided at no charge, that professional development reaches roughly half the state’s educators, and that about $6.7 million in E‑Rate reimbursements has been returned to schools. Hoffman said DPI funds the PowerSchool support and estimated the related support cost at about $5,750,000 per biennium. John Geezer described programs such as Skills for All (a reskilling program), ClassLink single-sign-on and a statewide Microsoft licensing aggregation that reduces districts’ licensing costs through volume discounts.
On the PowerSchool incident, committee members requested details. Greg Hoffman deferred technical specifics to the cybersecurity team, saying security staff would brief the committee when that portion of the budget is considered. Corey Mach, NDIT chief information officer, praised EduTech staff for helping districts during the incident, saying EduTech "were the unsung, unspoken heroes that helped facilitate the message to all of our schools." EduTech said it will support the transition from PowerSchool to Infinite Campus and requested modest funding to replace an aging training‑management application.
ENDING: Committee members said they will follow up on the Infinite Campus transition and the cybersecurity incident when the relevant staff present. EduTech asked for time to return with more detailed cost and implementation information at a later hearing.
