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District technology director outlines network upgrades, cybersecurity, ParentSquare adoption and AI pilots
Summary
Dr. Justin Lander presented a district-wide technology update covering network redundancy, device fleet counts, cybersecurity measures, ParentSquare roll-out, parent controls via ScreenGuide and AI pilot programs at middle and high schools.
Dr. Justin Lander, the district’s director of technology, updated the board and community on instructional technology initiatives, network and device infrastructure, cybersecurity practices, parent-facing controls and piloted artificial-intelligence tools.
Lander said the district now has two internet connections (Phipps and North High) aggregated for up to 3 gigabits of bandwidth with redundancy and Wi‑Fi access points in every classroom. He cited special high-capacity access points for large exam settings (AP exams) and an inventory of roughly 9,000 Apple devices (primarily iPads) plus about 2,000 PCs.
On cybersecurity, Lander described multifactor authentication for staff, weekly patching, monthly vulnerability scans with the Department of Homeland Security, 24/7 network and endpoint monitoring, ingestion of MS-ISAC threat feeds into the district firewall, disaster/incident response planning and an upcoming internal phishing campaign to target staff training.
For families, Lander described ScreenGuide (a parent app tied to the district mobile device management system that lets parents apply home-time controls and filters) and the district’s adoption of ParentSquare to centralize communications and provide automatic translations for families. He said nearly all district families are “contactable” in ParentSquare and shared usage metrics: tens of thousands of auto notices, about 40,000 direct messages between staff and parents, and several thousand posts recorded since roll-out.
On artificial intelligence, Lander summarized the work of a 42-member task force convened last year and said the district is piloting Magic School in the middle schools and SchoolAI in the high schools. He described the pilots as teacher‑overseen, template‑driven tools (text‑leveling, translation, tutor/feedback modes) with teacher visibility into student logs and said the district is emphasizing ethical guidance, professional development and teacher control rather than wholesale automation of instruction.
Board members asked about parent education and outreach; Lander said the district has held and will hold AI‑focused events for parents and will continue outreach and training.
