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Munster IT rolls out cybersecurity tools and vets AI classroom tool
Summary
The district reported near‑complete deployment of Ninja RMM and Sophos XDR for endpoint visibility and is vetting Magic School AI to replace an existing vendor at lower cost and expanded grade coverage; further vetting and phased rollout were planned for the fall.
Director of Technology Kevin Podzik (S13) told the board the district’s cybersecurity posture is being strengthened with near completion of Ninja remote monitoring and management (RMM) deployment and Sophos XDR rollout.
Podzik said the Ninja solution will provide improved visibility into endpoints and help the district identify vulnerabilities quickly; Sophos XDR plus a state‑funded CrowdStrike installation will allow improved detection and response across staff and student devices. "This is gonna truly empower our media centers and ... help our kids like never before," Podzik said.
He also said the district is vetting Magic School AI as a potential replacement for the current vendor (reported in the meeting as Conamingo). Podzik said the new option could expand coverage from grades 5–12 to K–12 and come at roughly half the price; he emphasized the district was in final vetting stages and planned teacher and principal training before any rollout, likely after the start of school.
The board heard that vendors included state‑funded and locally funded components and administrators promised further communications about employee benefits tied to some cybersecurity purchases (home antivirus offerings for employees).
