Board weighs Gaggle monitoring system after SecurelyAware discontinuation; residents ask for privacy alternatives

The Berkeley Heights technology and communications committee reported that Securely Aware(the district's current free student-monitoring product) will discontinue its free version on June 30, 2026, and recommended the paid service Gaggle Safety Management as a replacement.

A technology committee member summarized the proposed change and the vendor's capabilities: Gaggle would provide 24/7 monitoring of student Google Workspace activity, web searches and AI-based chat tools, with human review and phone escalation for urgent cases. "Gaggle provides a multilayered escalation process, 24/7 human review of all alerts," the committee report said, noting a one-time installation fee of about $3,000 and annual subscription costs of about $17,500.

Several board members and residents pushed back during discussion. Resident John Maguire asked why the district appeared to be negotiating toward a single vendor without public discussion of alternatives and raised privacy concerns about student data leaving district control: "I'm worried about student information... I don't like these things where you land on one choice without there being a discussion about what was reviewed and the pros and cons," he said.

Administrators and committee members said the district must adopt a replacement before the SecurelyAware free tier ends and that Gaggle reduces false positives through human review, provides after-hours escalation for serious risk, and integrates with PowerSchool to notify parents after hours. The technology committee noted limitations of the current free product (high false-positive volume, email-only alerts) and argued that paid human review would reduce staff burden and improve response times.

Board members requested additional information about comparative vendors, false-positive rates from pilot testing, and data-privacy handling (including whether alerts leave the district and how after-hours escalations are managed). Administrators agreed to provide follow-up materials and to brief the board on alternatives and privacy safeguards before making a final procurement decision.

What was proposed

- Proposed replacement: Gaggle Safety Management (one-time setup ~$3,000; annual ~$17,500). District would retain Securly for web filtering; Gaggle would provide human-reviewed alerts and phone escalation. - Deadline: Securely Aware free version ends 06/30/2026; district needs a replacement by July 1.

Next steps

The technology committee will provide documentation on vendor comparisons, false-positive rates, and data-flow/privacy safeguards; the board asked staff to return with these materials to inform any procurement decision.