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IT secures $575,000 cybersecurity pilot funding; Chromebooks and backups ready for students
Summary
IT staff reported repaired and staged Chromebooks and ordered iPads for K‑1, a new cloud backup service, and a $575,000 USAC E‑Rate cybersecurity pilot award; enrollment counts remain incomplete ahead of the PowerSchool 10‑day period.
Sunnyside’s IT staff told the governing board they completed summer device repairs, bulk Chromebook preparation, and are deploying additional iPads for kindergarten and first grade. The department is implementing a cloud backup service and announced the district received $575,000 from the USAC E‑Rate cybersecurity pilot to fund advanced cybersecurity services for three years.
Sonny Gastone (IT) said the new backup system is immutable and air‑gapped, removing hardware dependency and improving data security. The E‑Rate cybersecurity pilot will pay for services and hardware that regular E‑Rate funds do not typically cover, including advanced firewall settings and email security. Gastone said the district was one of the few nationwide awarded the full amount requested and that the district is adding an additional cybersecurity service through the Arizona Department of Homeland Security.
IT staff noted procurement challenges for device batteries and screens during repairs but said they had sufficient spare devices to prepare for the start of school. They reported the department is fully staffed.
On enrollment, IT staff explained that seat‑count and PowerSchool registration will continue during the district’s 10‑day window and that up‑to-date counts were not yet available at the meeting because many student registrations were still being processed.
Board members asked about disposal of old lithium‑ion batteries; IT said the batteries are stored in the warehouse pending an approved disposal plan.
