District technology director outlines cybersecurity upgrades, device policy changes
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Summary
Tim Ressler, Beech Grove City Schools director of technology, briefed the board on department staffing changes, a migration from VMware to Scale Computing, a Windows 11 rollout, device policy shifts for K–8, vendor partnerships (Vistar, Managed Methods) and multiple cybersecurity measures including a next‑generation firewall and mandatory multifactor authentication.
Tim Ressler, the district director of technology, told the Beech Grove City Schools board on July 15 that the technology department has refocused staffing and cybersecurity after several years of change.
Ressler said the department has moved three on-site support technicians in-house and retained three former teachers as integration specialists to work with classroom staff. The district continues a managed‑service relationship with Vistar Technology Solutions to supply engineering and infrastructure support and recently added cybersecurity consulting services to that agreement.
"We are a Google school. We live, breathe in Google, and it's been great," Ressler said, noting the district holds Google Workspace for Education licenses and a paid Workplace Plus tier that provides additional security and investigation tools.
On infrastructure, Ressler said the district migrated last spring from VMware to Scale Computing for server virtualization, citing cost savings and a five‑year warranty on new hardware. He also reported a near‑completion rollout of Windows 11 desktops across the district to replace Windows 10 before end‑of‑life.
Ressler described several changes to the 1‑to‑1 device program: K–1 students use iPads; grades 2–12 use Chromebooks (a mix of HP, Dell and Lenovo); and the district moved take‑home devices back onto campus for K–8 to reduce loss, distraction and charging problems.
The presentation listed software in use (Skyward for student information, Canvas retained for secondary grades, and Google Classroom to be introduced in K–6) and explained the role of the district’s warranty and repair partner, K12 Tech, which supports in‑house repairs and student tech training.
On cybersecurity, Ressler outlined recent investments: a next‑generation firewall, next‑generation endpoint antivirus monitored by a 24/7 security operations center, mandatory multifactor authentication for staff Google accounts and privileged systems, monthly vulnerability scans and annual penetration tests, and incident‑response planning.
He said the district is also using Managed Methods to continuously monitor the Google domain for student‑safety signals and automated controls against account takeovers, ransomware and phishing. Ressler described state‑provided phishing simulation and staff training programs that the district has implemented.
"This has meant modernizing some of our hardware in the data center, including replacing the aging firewall," Ressler said, summarizing the district’s recent cybersecurity push.
The board praised Ressler’s work and acknowledged the cybersecurity improvements as vital to student and district safety. The presentation closed with an acknowledgment that work continues and that the district will pursue further improvements as threats evolve.
