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Everett Public Schools details technology plan, Synergy rollout and AI pilot
Summary
District technology staff presented an integrated technology plan tied to the 2022 capital technology levy and described the launch and staff training for the Synergy student information system, cybersecurity steps with CISA, and pilot work on classroom AI tools.
Everett Public Schools technology staff on Oct. 28 told the school board the district is implementing an “integrated technology plan” that ties hardware and software purchases to the $96,000,000 capital technology levy approved in 2022 and to the district’s strategic plan.
Mister Beckley, presenting the update, said the plan focuses on infrastructure, lifecycle replacement of devices, classroom presentation systems and the district’s large Synergy student-information-system implementation. "The plan is the framework for implementing the $96,000,000 2022 capital levy," he said.
The presentation described work across six goal areas including: replacing classroom document cameras and teacher presentation stations; updating Chromebooks and desktops to Windows 11; and deploying new staff laptops. Beckley said the team spent an estimated 2,700 hours preparing to launch Synergy, including eight rounds of data conversion and a multi-modal training program that combined in-person sessions, online courses and building-level trainer support.
On cybersecurity, Beckley credited a weekly partnership with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). "CISA is part of the Department of Homeland Security, and they are a free resource for districts to be able to use," he said, describing regular scans and proactive alerts the agency provides.
The district also described a controlled pilot for artificial-intelligence classroom tools. Beckley said the district’s AI committee recommended an approved tool (behind a single sign-on “walled garden”) and is running teacher leadership cohorts to study classroom uses, student impact and ethical guidance.
Board members asked about Canvas integration and CISA monitoring. Beckley said Canvas integration with Synergy is in progress and that the district receives weekly CISA reports and interim alerts. Student representative Kova Rubias added that Synergy had made tasks like transcript access easier, saying, "I love Synergy. Like, it has been so helpful."
Next steps in the presentation included continued lifecycle management for student and staff devices, a planned website relaunch, classroom voice-amplification solutions for secondary schools, easier sign-on for young students, and ongoing Synergy feature rollouts (report cards, master schedule, hall pass and emergency-reunification modules).
The district emphasized ongoing professional development for staff and continued outreach to families to support technology adoption.
