November 2005 — Features
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Is Your Network Safe?
- Keep stakeholders—teachers, students, school board members, parents, and district administrators—informed about the issues related to IT security. Download Cyber Security for the Digital District: An Introductory Slide Show (http://www.securedistrict.org/Downloads/cyber_security_intro.ppt) to kick off your meetings with stakeholders, and structure the conversation for maximum audience participation.
- Conduct a comprehensive district security assessment that sets a baseline for future planning. The District Security Self-Assessment Checklist (http://www.securedistrict.org/assessment/checklist.cfm) can provide guidance on the kinds of questions you should be asking.
- Keep the big-picture planning goal and process in mind as you implement your detailed security planning activities. Use the Security Planning Protocol flowchart (http://www.securedistrict.org/tech/Planning/flowchart.html) to help you visualize and prioritize your planning and implementation activities.
- Document all organizational requirements and activities necessary to guarantee successful security measures and ongoing district and stakeholder support. The comprehensive Security Rubric and Planning Grid: Overview (http://www.securedistrict.org/tech/Evaluation/SecPlanGrid-SummaryView.html) helps educators plan and execute this systemwide activity.
Learn From These Schools
Uncover your vulnerabilities by discovering what other districts
have experienced with IT security, and then tailor
your individual and district plans to build on those lessons
learned. The district case studies below, as well as others on
the CoSN Web site (http://www.securedistrict.org/tech/case.html),
provide the kind of background that is indispensable for a
technology leader.
TIPS FOR TEACHERS AS THE INSTRUCTIONAL LEADER in your classroom, you should be familiar with your district’s acceptable-use policies and security procedures. The need to protect your private password and stay on top of student use of IT resources is a responsibility only you can fulfill. While the secure district Web site is designed for use by your district’s CTO, superintendent, and school board, you need to know the basics to keep your students and classrooms safe.
Ayer Public Schools (MA). Ayer is a small, middle-class community located about 30 miles outside of Boston that serves 1,400 K-12 students in two buildings—one elementary and one combination middle/high school. The district has 200 staff members, 118 of whom are teachers. Two T1 lines come into the district, up from one the previous year, and every classroom has a phone and computer. The overall annual budget for IT is approximately $300,000 and supports three full-time staff: a system administrator, an administrative technology support specialist, and a technical support assistant. Brian McDermott is CTO of Ayer Public Schools, and also serves as the district’s business manager.
