To: Asha Riley
From: Steve Rippl
Date: April 15, 2026
Subject: Technology Report
We’ve been working on some background network security items to improve our cybersecurity stance. The single biggest piece we’re introducing is blocking certain Google accounts from being able to log into any device that isn’t owned or approved by us. For a few years, 2-factor authentication has been sufficient to stop the phishing attacks, but 2-factor authentication is now so prevalent that attackers are crafting ways to get that second factor code from end users, and unfortunately, some of our staff have recently fallen prey to it. Fortunately, in these cases, we found out quickly enough that we prevented any loss of data, but it has me concerned, hence this next level of security. We’ve turned it on for tech department staff already as we test, and will soon be rolling it out to admins, secretaries, SPED staff and nurses. In all likelihood, we’ll eventually turn this on for almost all staff. Staff will still be able to use a personal device to access their school data if they wish, it will just have to be approved by us first.
In terms of hardware upgrades, we’ve moved a few more staff over to the new Chromebook setup, this time from the middle school. We’ve also purchased our annual portion of new CTE lab student computers as part of their on-going refresh cycle. This year, however, the annual budget of $9,000 only got us 9 computers instead of the usual 13 to 14. This is again due to the current steep increases in most tech costs that I referenced in my last report.
We’ve added a couple of significant features to Sips, our student data portal. Ashley Kleinschmidt spent time on a regular basis pulling together Acadience/DIBELS growth data in spreadsheets for CES admins and teachers, and all of this has now been automated within Sips. We’ve also pretty much completed the new tool, allowing our elementary buildings to build new class rosters quickly, balancing classes using both existing data in Sips and the results of an end-of-year survey that the previous homeroom teacher fills out. I believe both North Fork and Columbia will be trying it out as we wrap up this year and move into next.
Finally, we have something that is leaving Sips! For the last few years, we have been using Sips to help track and hold the various pieces of the High School and Beyond Plan that students in grades 7 through 12 are required (by the State) to work on. Because there was tremendous variability in how this was being implemented across the State, Washington decided to purchase access on a common platform for all schools. SchooLinks is that platform, and we’re in this year’s cohort of school districts migrating over to it in preparation for the 26-27 school year. Staff and student rostering is in place, and now various team members are (or will be) getting training on how to use it with our students.