Canal Winchester board hears DataServe cybersecurity assessment, hires new director of technology

Canal Winchester Local Schools hired Sam Akuli as the district's director of technology and received a report from DataServe that identified priorities for a multi‑year IT and cybersecurity roadmap.

The board voted unanimously to approve a two‑year contract for Sam Akuli after a presentation from Tom Munson, director at DataServe, who summarized an in‑depth technology and cybersecurity assessment the company completed for the district.

DataServe said the assessment focused on three objectives: the district's cybersecurity readiness and insurance posture; the qualifications and mix of internal and external IT resources; and visibility into the district's existing technology infrastructure. Tom Munson told the board DataServe spent “over 250 hours” on the review, conducted on‑site inspections of district buildings and interviewed staff and leaders. “We developed strategic and tactical recommendations as well as the road maps themselves for the district and its technology department based on all that data that we gather,” Munson said.

Munson outlined district priorities the assessment surfaced: incorporating technology into the district’s CW Promise, producing a five‑year IT budget, creating a cybersecurity roadmap, defining the future role and leadership of the technology department, and improving vendor and partner management. He stressed cybersecurity is “a constant journey” and recommended annual review of the roadmap to keep pace with new threats.

Board members said the findings helped frame the district’s search for technology leadership. The board approved the employment motion by roll call (Talley, Twist, Barnes, George and Green all voted yes). According to the board’s public presentation, Akuli holds a master's degree and a Ph.D. in education‑related fields, professional project management credentials and experience in public and private IT roles. The contract begins in late September.

The DataServe presentation and the hiring were presented together: Munson said DataServe participated in candidate reviews and interview panels to help the district identify a candidate who could “hit the ground running” and implement the recommendations from the assessment. Board materials and Munson’s remarks said the district will pair Akuli with the district’s IT staff, use the DataServe deliverable to inform priorities and continue vendor and partner oversight to implement the road map.

Less central details discussed in the meeting included the district’s plan to use input from the new director and the consultant deliverable to refine technical designs that reduce long‑term costs while enhancing classroom capabilities. Munson and board members noted the district is recruiting new leadership for the technology department and that DataServe planned to brief the incoming director on the assessment deliverable.

The board did not take additional formal actions on specific procurement or contract changes at the meeting; the motion on the director’s employment was the primary formal technology action. Ending: the board welcomed the new director and said implementation of the road map will be a priority for upcoming meetings and staff reports.