Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Technology In Schools topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Antigo tech director outlines two‑ton hardware recycle, cybersecurity upgrades and help‑desk overhaul
Summary
Kesha Muschak, the district’s director of technology, presented a districtwide technology audit and a strategic roadmap that includes network upgrades, increased documentation, a new help‑desk approach and disposal of nearly two tons of obsolete equipment.
Kesha Muschak, the Unified School District of Antigo’s director of technology, presented a detailed audit of the district’s technology systems and a strategic plan for upgrades and operations at the board meeting.
Muschak said she began evaluating the district’s network, data security, hardware and software after starting the role on July 1. Her team completed classroom and IT‑room audits, consolidated legacy hardware and contracted a recycling vendor to securely wipe and dispose of obsolete equipment — "we disposed of close to 2 tons worth of old hardware," she told the board.
Muschak outlined four focus areas: network infrastructure, data security, hardware and software applications. She reported the current network is stable but will need capacity increases and enhancements; cybersecurity practices exist but require strengthening; and a wide mix of user hardware is creating support inefficiencies that the district aims to standardize.
Operational changes already implemented include an audit‑driven refresh plan, more documentation and cross‑training for tech staff, a certified help‑desk schedule, a mock help‑desk email process to prioritize tickets more effectively, and a proactive outage dashboard to notify staff when major services (for example, email) experience interruptions.
Muschak also described work to secure building access systems and to remove access for staff no longer needing credentials. She said the district is piloting age‑appropriate device‑care expectations and collecting device‑damage data to shape repair policies and replacement cycles.
Why it matters: Muschak framed technology as an operational asset tied to student achievement. The planned roadmap includes predicted refresh cycles, additional cloud integration and disaster‑recovery measures designed to keep school operations running during an outage.
Next steps: Muschak said she will partner with administrators, vendors and the board to finalize a multi‑year technology roadmap, professional development for teachers and further cybersecurity enhancements.
