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District outlines network upgrades, Chromebook cycle and new parent app in technology update
Summary
At its May 19 meeting, the Oyster Bay‑East Norwich Board heard a technology presentation detailing security and network upgrades (E‑Rate–funded firewalls), a Chromebook replacement schedule for grades 3/7/10, expanded VR and robotics instruction, and the rollout of the GoGuardian parent app and new district website.
Miss Givens, introduced for the technology presentation, told the board the department has installed new servers for the security‑camera system and is planning “to add 2 additional firewalls for Vernon and Roosevelt” using E‑Rate funding to improve network resilience and security.
She said the district completed a rollout of new staff laptops, migrated to cloud‑based phone and print systems and will implement a Chromebook replacement cycle for grades 3, 7 and 10 to reduce device failures. “This year, we will be able to move to a Chromebook replacement cycle of 3rd grade, 7th grade, and 10th grade,” she said. The presentation also noted plans to add backup internet service at Vernon and Roosevelt to support disaster recovery.
The update described cybersecurity work guided by a NIST gap‑analysis, annual staff phishing tests and continued staff training. Miss Givens credited the district’s cybersecurity team and BOCES partners with helping “mitigate threats to our environment and ensure the safety and security of our network and student and staff data.”
On classroom technology, the presentation highlighted a PTA donation that brought virtual‑reality headsets to elementary classrooms, Lehi robotics kits at Roosevelt and podcasting equipment at Vernon; teachers are using VR for virtual field trips and health/PE simulations. The technology staff also described K–12 computer science alignment with New York State standards (digital literacy, digital citizenship, coding and robotics) and AP Computer Science offerings at the high school.
Miss Givens closed by pointing to communication tools for families, including the GoGuardian parent app for visibility into school Chromebooks and a new mobile‑friendly district website launched this year.
