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Board hears technology update: bandwidth upgrades, AI pilots and search for chief IT officer
Summary
Issaquah district technology leaders reported increased high‑school bandwidth, results of a penetration test, progress on 1:1 laptop monitoring and AI pilots, and said the district is recruiting a chief information and technology officer ahead of levy planning.
District technology leaders updated the Issaquah School District board Wednesday on a bundle of technical priorities that staff say are intended to support classroom learning, district operations and an anticipated technology levy.
Presenters — including Rich Melish (technology), Diana Eggers (director of educational technology) and Martin Turney (district leadership) — said the district has recently increased Internet bandwidth at all three comprehensive high schools and is prepared to double the district’s main Internet feed once the K-20 network resolves a configuration issue. The team said that work is meant to improve reliability for testing and high-demand activities.
Security and staffing: A district penetration test identified a server that was isolated and decommissioned; the district said its internal security team detected and responded quickly. The district also announced the planned departure of the director of IT infrastructure, Kathy Cropp, and that it has launched interviews for a combined chief information and technology officer (CITO) role to centralize technology leadership.
AI pilots and classroom use: The district is piloting teacher-facing AI tools and exploring student-facing systems. Presenters described a limited Colleague AI student beta at the high-school level and said an expanded student-facing release could be available in the fall; the district said it is also working on lesson plans to teach students what AI is, how to craft prompts and how to use tools ethically and safely.
1:1 program and devices: Staff said ongoing monitoring of the district’s 1:1 laptop program shows improved reliability and fewer quality complaints recently, though they acknowledged increased incidents of accidental damage and the need for clear replacement processes. Leaders told the board that tech specialists at each school triage devices and replace machines when repair is not feasible.
Levy planning and business intelligence: Technology staff said they have completed a pro bono technology audit with recommendations that include the penetration testing already done and organizational changes. The district plans to use an already budgeted position to build a business-intelligence function and said that these staffing changes will inform the next technology levy proposal and how the district will support teachers and students in classroom technology adoption.
Why it matters: Board members raised training and change-management concerns — particularly around artificial intelligence and how to ensure teachers have the training and voice to adopt new tools. Directors said the district needs to partner with teacher leaders to pilot classroom uses of AI and document how AI can reduce staff workload while improving student outcomes.
Next steps: Leaders said the district will continue the CITO hiring process, complete the network-bandwidth upgrade when the K-20 connection is cleared, expand cyber-security training (especially around personally identifiable information), and return to the board with details for a technology levy proposal.
