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Board hears committee reports; district cites need for technology director, cybersecurity fixes and ticketing changes
Summary
Committee reports and district staff highlighted operational needs including hiring a director of technology after a cybersecurity audit, adopting an online ticketing option for events with fees, and a buildings and grounds committee update about payments to Northeastern Interior Services LLC.
Hillside Public School District committee chairs reported on recent meetings and district staff outlined several operational needs, including a planned hire for a director of technology, follow‑up from a cybersecurity audit, and a proposed online ticketing option for district events.
Vice President Horton Givens and committee chairs summarized recent committee activity. Board member Edwahidi said the buildings and grounds committee met March 19 and "discussed the approval of payments to Northeastern Interior Services LLC for the completion of the new electric service work, coiling, kitchen, door, and site work completed to date." The buildings and grounds report also referenced a revision and approval of a prior motion from Feb. 27, 2025.
The superintendent told the board that Hillside Public Schools is one of the few districts in the area without a director of technology and that the district has "grown significantly" in technology needs since 2020. The superintendent said the district is "understaffed" in technology, cited findings from a cybersecurity audit and said hiring a director would address gaps the audit identified.
District staff described an online ticketing option for events that would allow patrons to scan or pay online; staff said most ticketing fees would be borne by purchasers ("it would charge a dollar, dollar fifty depending on the event") and that a small annual contract fee to the vendor is expected. The superintendent said much of the work on new positions and some policy updates are funded through grants rather than general funds.
Policy committee updates included references to revisions prompted by the district's policy director and legal guidance: remote public meetings during a declared emergency and clearer rules around gifts from vendors were discussed. The policy committee also noted planned abolishments and revisions to several policies.
The buildings and grounds committee noted the contractor payments but the public session did not record a formal board vote on those payments; the committee report is part of the board's informational briefing to the full board.
The board recessed to an executive session later in the meeting to discuss personnel, litigation and negotiations; the public session record states the matters discussed in closed session will be disclosed when confidentiality no longer exists.
