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Chandler Unified details major technology upgrades, cybersecurity steps and AI guidance
Summary
Chief technology staff told the board the district has completed large infrastructure upgrades since the pandemic, is rolling out interactive flat panels and cybersecurity measures, and is developing AI guidance and training for teachers while noting ongoing budget and staffing challenges.
Colleen Flannery and the district technology team briefed the Chandler Unified School District Governing Board on a multi‑year program of technology upgrades, cybersecurity work and emerging guidance on artificial intelligence during a study session.
The district framed the work as a response to two accelerators: the pandemic and the rapid rise of generative AI. “In that month, what happened with the pandemic really transformed the technology department,” Flannery told the board, adding that schools moved from a supporting role to making devices and connectivity central to instruction.
Scope of investments and network scale. Flannery said the district operates a large enterprise network: roughly 43,000 student devices for 1:1 access, about 80,000 devices that connect to the network overall, roughly 3,000 wireless access points, and some 850 network switches districtwide. The district reported bringing about 10 gigabits of bandwidth into the district office and said it currently uses about 7 gigabits of that capacity; staff said they had provisioned additional capacity to “future proof” the system.
Efforts to bridge home connectivity and short‑term funding. The tech team said they used ESSER funds and local grants to deploy mobile hotspots during the pandemic and have applied for E‑Rate funding this year to continue some home connectivity support. Flannery said those programs helped sustain learning when students lacked reliable home Internet during remote learning.
Cybersecurity measures. The presentation stressed cybersecurity as a high priority. Flannery described a cross‑district data governance team, a disaster‑recovery plan, and participation in a state cyber‑readiness grant that funded phishing‑simulation software and a device‑visibility tool. “95 percent of all cybersecurity incidents that hit k twelves are user based,” she said while describing quarterly phishing simulations and training tied to user responses. The district also said it joined the Student Data Privacy Consortium and uses vendor‑vetting processes (OneEdTech trusted apps checks and Digital Insight tracking) before approving classroom‑level applications.
Classroom devices and interactive panels. Technology staff said the district has shifted projectors to interactive flat panels (IFPs) in classrooms to support collaborative instruction; the IFP rollout includes a seven‑year warranty on panels acquired in the project. Device strategies are age‑segmented: iPads with detachable keyboards in K–2, Chromebooks in grades 3–8, and Windows laptops in high schools. Staff described additional investments in managed printing contracts, an inventory/service platform (IncidentIQ) to track devices and support tickets, and a small field‑services team that supports 50 buildings with 17 technicians.
AI policy and teacher training. Flannery said the district has released AI guidelines and is training staff to use district‑contracted models where data protections exist (she cited Gemini and Microsoft Copilot). The district is focusing on three uses of AI: operations (administrative tasks), teacher supports (data synthesis and resource suggestions), and student literacy and tool use. Flannery described in‑district training (an online AI course on a teacher work day) and an AI advisory group to develop K–12 learning progressions on AI literacy.
New programs and extracurriculars. The presentation also noted that Chandler Unified now fields formal esports teams; Hamilton High was mentioned as “in second place in their division” ahead of playoffs, and staff stressed the instructional and career pathways this program can create.
Budget, staffing and next steps. Flannery warned the board that sustaining the environment requires predictable capital funding and that recruiting and retaining IT talent in the public sector remains challenging. The tech team described plans for apprenticeship and internship partnerships with CTE programs and an internal leadership academy to develop staff.
No formal decisions were taken. The session was informational; board members asked about system availability during high‑traffic periods, warranty terms for the flat panels and how student devices are protected when used on home networks. Staff said they monitor bandwidth and can prioritize critical systems during peak loads, secured a seven‑year warranty on flat panels and apply endpoint protections on district devices that leave campus.
