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New educational technology director outlines inventory, security and communication changes
Summary
Wendy O'Loan, the district's educational technology director, briefed the Batavia board on staffing adjustments, inventory controls, privacy work, vendor contract reviews and a switch to ParentSquare for the district website and communications platform.
Wendy O'Loan, the Batavia City School District's Educational Technology director, told the board she has been on the job a little more than three months and outlined ongoing work on staffing, device inventory, cybersecurity, classroom software access and communications.
O'Loan said the technology department reviewed BOCES staff assignments on site, tightened inventory tagging to match a prior controller audit, and reestablished leadership roles within the department. She said the district reappointed Richard Smith Riapuenathy as the district's data-security protection officer and is working to meet applicable state data-protection compliance requirements.
On classroom technology, O'Loan said the department is working to reduce help-desk ticket durations, rotating staff across buildings and using FMX as a ticketing and inventory tool. She said the district moved its website and communications platform from Thrillshare to ParentSquare to enable closer integration of messaging and site content. The update will allow the district's ParentSquare communications to integrate with the new website.
O'Loan described ongoing work auditing vendor privacy agreements and contracts, reviewing classroom software licenses and single-sign-on (ClassLink), and updating the district's acceptable-use policy. She said student Chromebooks remain a recurring issue because devices are lost or damaged and the department is tightening inventory and reset procedures.
The director said the department is piloting an E-Hall Pass system at the high school beginning in January and that staff are coordinating computer-based testing for grades 3— in April.
Board members thanked O'Loan for the update; she said she is meeting weekly with technology staff and shadowing teacher aides to better understand classroom needs.
Direct quotes: "I've been here for a little over 3 months," O'Loan said, and "we try to make sure our tickets are closed within a week."
