New CIO outlines cybersecurity, device and AI priorities after limited data‑access incident
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Summary
Jason Gold, the district’s new chief information officer, described plans to strengthen cybersecurity (user education and multifactor authentication), pilot a student device program to gather user input, and phase ethical AI tools into classrooms. Staff noted a limited data‑access incident earlier in the year that was contained and mitigated.
Jason Gold, the district’s new chief information officer, told the Issaquah School District board he has spent the last 97 days assessing technology and plans to prioritize cybersecurity, infrastructure redundancy and student experience. "The number one thing that's important with cybersecurity is the user education," Gold said, and he said the district will expand phishing tests, roll out multifactor authentication for staff and explore convenience features such as Windows Hello to reduce password friction.
Gold said the district will pursue infrastructure improvements to maintain uptime and redundancy, including additional ISP paths and AI‑assisted network monitoring tools to reduce troubleshooting time. He also described a planned device pilot that will let secondary students test several device models over 30‑day cycles so procurement decisions reflect student preferences for features such as touchscreens and digital inking. "When I can get that and I can visually see this in the district ... that's when I'll know we've had success," he said.
On artificial intelligence, Gold said the district is taking a phased approach, piloting tools and updating policies and professional learning to introduce AI in "a way that is safe, ethical, and beneficial to the students' learning." The district has already been working with vendors (Colleague AI and Microsoft partnerships) and plans to integrate safeguards.
The OE‑15 monitoring report noted one exception: a limited data‑access incident in 2024‑25 in which a single student gained access to some staff documentation that contained sensitive student information. Staff said the incident was contained, families were notified and additional technical controls were put in place.
Board members and student representatives asked for clearer communication about device repairs and loaners, and students asked that pilot devices be consistent within grade levels so ownership expectations are fair. The OE‑15 monitoring report was accepted by board members during the meeting.