BCS Computer Network Deemed At Elevated Risk

by David Flint
The Berlin School Board received an assessment of the District’s computer network at its meeting Tuesday. Tom Buccino from Questar III and Jack Faber from Sirius Computer Solutions presented a report that covered the design and performance level of the network infrastructure and the adequacy of security systems. The purpose, according to Buccino, was to determine where the risks are and what holes need plugging, generally to refine practices  by making them more efficient and productive and to implement industry standards.
Berlin did not fare too well on the assessment. The infrastructure was rated as being at an “Elevated” risk level, one step below “Critical.” The key findings include a lack of redundancy features in both the local and wide area networks (LAN and WAN), performance issues due to shortcomings in the design of the WAN, insufficient physical security for the equipment and a lack of redundant power systems. Although the network has three T-1 lines, one of them is dedicated to the bus garage resulting in wasted bandwidth. Faber said the directory design is good but the physical infrastructure does not support it. He noted, too, that a lot of the critical servers do have redundant features but some of them have not been turned on.
On the security side, the assessment level nudges up into the “Critical” level. More than half of the servers and networking devices were rated as critically vulnerable with security holes that could easily be exploited. The key findings here included a lack of any comprehensive documentation of a District-wide security policy, no detailed plan for business continuity, no admission control system to prevent unauthorized access to the network, weak implementation of web content filtering and weak security for networking deployment.
Faber assured the Board that the picture is perhaps not as bleak as it sounds. The fix does not require replacing a lot of equipment. The computers don’t have to be replaced, he said, “But the road they are driving on does.” The physical delivery of services he said is not bad; it’s the configuration that needs tweaking. He noted, too, that the administration does indeed recognize that security is a priority. With a little help, he said, the District should be able to bring the system up to date relatively easily.
Distance Learning
The Board heard a presentation on Distance Learning from representatives of Questar III, Distance Learning Specialist Jeffrey Elliott and Mike Sylofski, Managing Coordinator of the BOCES Distance Learning Program. The BOCES program provides interactive classroom learning via electronic media. Some 44 school districts participate in the program in northeastern New York, four of them in the Questar III area. Participating Districts sign up to be hosts for some courses and receivers for others. It gives students the opportunity to take courses that would otherwise not be available to them. The closed network allows for high quality video signal. Among the courses scheduled for next fall are Bio-Ethics, Mandarin Chinese, Italian, AP World History, AP Psychology, Meteorology, History of Warfare, Sign Language, Theater Arts, The Civil War and Veterinary Science.
The program also affords opportunities for video conferencing, virtual field trips to museums, zoos and science centers, summer school programs, college courses, professional development and adult education. Other community uses such as EMT training are also a possibility. Elliott said the system is run by the participating school districts and the administrators are open and willing to facilitate whatever they want.
Elliott estimated that the one-time setup costs for Berlin would be $82,950 which would cover the cost of audio-video equipment and installation, furniture, network switch and maintenance and Fairpoint’s network installation charge. The net cost to maintain the program after the first year, including staff salaries and benefits and figuring in E-rate and BOCES reimbursements, would come to about $11,000 a year.
Two Board members have already attended a demonstration of the system at Maple Hill High School. Interim Schools Superintendent Charlotte Gregory suggested that others might want to do the same. She noted that a $100,000 grant received earlier from Senator Bruno’s office had been tentatively set aside for Distance Learning.
Superintendent Search Postponed
Board Member Beverly Stewart asked for discussion about when the search for a new Superintendent would be continued and whether the Board would be liable for breach of contract with the search firm. The Board had decided at the Reorganizational meeting to postpone the search reportedly to allow the new Board members time to become better acquainted with their roles and with the school and the history of the earlier proposed capital project. Board President Frank Zwack said that the search is postponed to January and that he had just received confirmation of agreement to that effect from the search consultant, Vincent Coppola. The Board’s counsel who was present at the meeting assured Stewart that the contract could be postponed by mutual agreement without any legal problems. Stewart said it was a shame to put it off because she understood that some 40 inquiries had been received and 18 applications, some candidates with lengthy superintendent experience.
Board Retreat
The Board set August 14 for a Board Retreat that will be held at the Stephentown Fire Hall. Gregory said that there might be an opportunity to have Tim Kremer, Executive Director of the NYS School Boards Association, speak about Board leadership, Superintendent/Board roles and responsibilities and related topics.
Feedback Asked For
Gregory asked for Board feedback on pursuit of a Shared Municipal Implementation Grant. The District was the lead agency on a Shared Municipal Planning Grant which Gregory said had come close to being funded but the State had only $11 million to give out. Gregory said the partners in that endeavor, Rensselaer County, New Lebanon and Hoosick Falls school districts and the towns of Stephentown, Berlin and Petersburgh, would like to renew the conversation. A meeting will be held in early August with the State representative, Carl Ublacker, attending.
Gregory asked for feedback also on an investigation with NYSERDA of New Construction Grants for Energy Savings. She noted that several schools in the area have been able to acquire grants after an energy audit with NYSERDA. Hoosick Falls, she said, had received a $279,000 grant for a geo-thermal installation. Other districts, she said, are exploring solar and wind possibilities.
Construction/Renovation Project Redux
Gregory asked for and received approval to develop a Superintendent’s Advisory Group to meet and work with the architectural firm CS Arch to develop an affordable capital project to address the needs of ADA compliance, deteriorating building systems and the possible need for new classroom space at Berlin if furthur consolidation is to proceed. Gregory said she would “pick people’s minds” and report back and, of course, ultimately any decisions will be made by the Board.
Board Member Tom Morelli urged that the Board provide the advisory committee direction as to what size of project would be sustainable. Jeffrey Paine thought that the Board should not try to “micromanage” the committee. This discussion was cut short, however, because the meeting had gone beyond 9:30 pm, a new self imposed limit the Board instituted at their Reorganizational meeting on July 1.
The Board set a special meeting for Wednesday, July 29, at 6:30 pm at the high school to discuss funding the architect as well as administrative salary increases.
The Board set their next regular meeting for Tuesday, August 18, at 7 pm.