That encryption is so strong that it cannot be cracked by modern computers for many years. So to answer to answer your question today, >> bi biometric biometric is like a fingerprint or the actual uh pieces of the face. This is not something that we're tracking. What we're uh tracking is attributes. So think of a color of a top or something of the top >> of of a shirt or also uh measurements of a face. So biometrics no but it's uh measurements and the attributes of an individual >> person. >> Um so that another um another question was it is regarding if the information is staying in house. So John, would you uh address that again please? >> So um so even though the c the cameras have data on them and they go to Amazon Web Services, what's in what is in Amazon Web Services is encrypted.
We are trying to make sure that our kids and our students and our teachers and our admin and our faculty, they get the best infrastructure, at least decent. We're we're just going for moderate right now. We're not even shooting for the stars. We're just basics right now. And at that point, that's a struggle. And so when we introduce a bill that can actually help cuz we're the ones talking to the parents. I'm sure you guys are too, but we're talking to the parents. So when we try to push legislation to help, if it's not your way, then it just it doesn't seem to work for you guys. So it it seems like you guys are not open to outside input. If at any in any way it affects your guys structure. So, so that's what I'm saying is your guys way is not working and that reflects in the irresponsible spending.
So >> I I'd like to interrupt and pardon me, but um please be respectful. We were respectful. We listened to you. We heard you and we have questions >> and we're cl clarifying the things that I I I'm the purpose of my questions are to actually I mean I wrote down things that I feel like perhaps the public wants more clarification on and then I think it's respectful to for if I ask the question for at least for somebody to be able to answer that question. You don't have to like the answer but I think we need to hear the an I would appreciate hearing the answer. So the data is in AWS, Amazon Web Services, but it's encrypted. And so if anyone was to break into that data store in AWS, they're just going to have a bucket of encrypted garbage that they can't extract or see.
Well, not nothing is really being spent right now, but projects are not being completed. And so when we don't get real answers out of you or when we don't get reports, you're le you're forcing us to respond in a very very aggressive way because we don't have time to wait for you guys to hopefully figure it out. You're talking about a successful plan that was 20 years ago. This is 20 years ago. And today we're still we we're still harping on that. And and as as I said, Senator, it was successful back when there were changes that really changed the process and flow of facilities. We want to get back to that. And I understand it was 20 years ago and things may not be the same, but the processes and procedures that we're putting in is showing results. Okay. >> And and and we are getting deferred maintenance done in our schools based on the allocations that we have.
They need the key that only Chica Unified holds to be able to unlock that data and see that data. So, and that is the key to this is that not only does Varcata not hold the key, I mean normally in the old days they would hold the key and so they got hacked and people could see the data. They've made changes since then. We hold the key now and nobody can get in, not even them. Nobody can get into that data. Only Chico Unified because that key belongs to us and we'll print off a copy and put it in the safe so that we don't lose it and we hold the key. So, another point that was made is that it it really, you know, it could come down to one person or one moment um where, you know, somebody could make a decision. So, again, I'd like to know.
We are moving things forward. >> And if I could, I'm sorry. We're getting calls that we have to end by a certain time and we have other other CIP as well as modernization which is next. So this can continue as we get into the next one because this is the only bill that is addressing this issue. Um so with that I'm going to move on to Senate Bill 2550 and 2550 is relating to school modernization requires a school facilities authority to establish a school modernization initiative through capital improvement projects planning database for school facilities statewide. appropriate funds. So here's another bill that people have come up with because they don't feel that you guys are probably doing what needs to be done. So we are in support HSTA and I see that you guys DOE hasn't sent in testimony on this but uh Ricky Fujitani.
So, you Chico Unified holds this the key >> Yes. to encrypt encryption and um I I think uh Tom asked so who's going to have access to the key and you you answered that but it sounds like could you restate that please? >> Yes. So the encryption key itself is um applied to the system and then we hide that away so nobody has access to the key. Nobody can see the key. It's been applied to the system. way again like AWS and our systems can talk because they both have the key but nobody else does and that's put away where no one has access to it. So no staff member is going to take it. Oh, I got the key. It's it's hidden, you know, it's put away in a safe where nobody can get to it. So the data is secure through that. And once again, when it comes to our staff accessing footage, they would need to then not only log in with their username and password, but utilize Duo to get into it to prove who they are.
Thank you, chair. Yeah, we support this bill. The key is that the legislature needs data and information to make data informed decisions and that that does not exist. What this bill does is seeks to create a database, a methodology that gives you the the information to properly use and deploy valuable CIP money. industry standard terms such as asset inventory, facility condition index, enrollment to capacity ratio, all of that should be common knowledge to legislators so they can make these informed decisions. More importantly, project identification should follow industry standards like the uniformat code for classification so you can see where the money is is being spent. That's what has to be built. Until then, you're deploying an average of $400 million a year without valuable information to make strategic decisions on schools. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Joy Bolosan comments. Malia Suchia support. Johnny May Perry in support.
So that way not just anybody can log in and we limit who has access to the SIM system to just those folks who who need access like our principles and and vice principles. >> Thank you. >> Welcome. >> And one piece I can also add in as well is uh with the features uh that are enabled in Vicata system by default these are all off and so nothing is stored on AWS until you enable these features. There are certain features that we would need to process something to work. But by default, if you choose to do so, it would all be housed locally on the camera. Nothing would be shared with AWS. And even if you choose to do so, you can actually offload that video if you want to store it locally. You could push that locally to your server. Now, of course, the huge value ad is we could save those storage costs.
Um DOE, you're not testifying on this measure. Okay. I don't see you on here, but please come up. Aloha chair, vice chair, Jesse Suki, deputy superintendent of operations, testifying on behalf of the Department of Education. Um, we have comments about this bill. Um, we did submit testimony, but maybe it didn't get over. >> Yeah, I didn't have to apologize. Um but um we believe that what is being proposed to duplicate existing work and create operational overlap with the department. Um school facilities represent a multi-billion dollar public asset and many of the buildings are decades old. Um we do have um data that we have in um certain um it uh including our asset inventory which is managed through maximal system. Um our facilities condition index which is high fit which um was from 2020 to 2030 and is scheduled for updates. We have enrollment data.
But if you choose to do so, you can save your footage locally on your own servers, protect it inhouse if you choose to do that. But once again, the idea with Vicata is to take that lift off you and the protection of data is a challenge today. I've worked with numerous schools that have been compromised and their data has been taken over. So with the extra security on AWS, that's typically where we see it and networking uh teams leverage us. But once again to call that out, if you choose to choose to do that, you can keep the stuff in house, not store on AWS. >> Is that a decision that can be made at any time or does it need to be made? >> It can be made at any time. Absolutely. Um just another um follow-up question. So again um there was there was a question about are are all the bells and whistles reliant upon uh re reliant upon one another basically.
Um we have project classifications which are managed through prioritization. Uh you know every district um every school has a pri priority list and they have a opportunity to look at that and coordinate on that with the department before we make our budget requests annually. So we do have uh systems that we use to determine priorities and spending. And in one of the reports we recently sent you know we have about was it 60011 million churning in projects that are you know working in contracts in different phases. So u right there. >> Yeah. >> Uh anyone else wishing to testify on this measure? Okay.
So, if we didn't have facial recognition, um how does that impact the the ability for, let's say, um administrators to be able to search um search information, the ability for like slips and falls and medical emergencies. Um, again, if if I've heard you say that none of the by default the features are turned off and we actually have to activate them to turn them on. And so I'm just wanting to know if we wanted to know uh be able to have the safety features of um you know slips and falls or be able to search quickly for um bites or for whatever but we did not want to have facial recognition. Um tell tell me more about that. >> So that is correct. So, um, and I'll take this one. Um, so, um, yes, when you turn off facial rec recognition, it only turns off the ability to identify a face.
Hearing none. So you have a school modernization initiative through your capital improvement project plan. >> Um modernization. >> Yeah. Modernization plan because this is what this this is the name of the bill relating to school modernization. >> Yeah. >> Requires school facilities authority to establish a school modernization. You said you folks already have this. >> No, we don't have a modernization. >> Okay. What do you have? >> We have the processes in place that we use to make decisions about CIP and deferred maintenance. Yeah. But what about how do we modernize our schools? >> It really depends on what is meant by modernization and how you defined it. >> Well, how is the DOE defining it? >> Well, a lot of the discussions we've been having with SFA about, for example, Central Middle um school in Maui is there's there's modernization elements using different materials, different strategies, but at the end of the day, it's not about uh modernization, it's about building less.
So, if someone has a slip and fall, um, you can still do that. If if someone has a red jacket with a blue backpack and, you know, that's who, you know, who shouldn't be on the campus, you can easily do use that as well. Then you can still use that as a a way to find something. >> Um, but so they are separate, right? >> That's exactly. So, so tell me, so, uh, when you say if somebody had a a red jacket and a blue backpack, uh, we could search for that. So, tell me about that. What do you mean by that, John? >> So, for instance, let's say that so it has the clothing recognition as well. So, if someone comes on campus who shouldn't be there and you know, hey, you know, I saw go a principal as say a student goes and says, someone came on campus, they have a red jacket and a blue backpack and I saw them walking down this way towards the, you know, the the B-wing.
So, you know, you get less school to save money because the cost of construction and development, the permitting, it it doesn't go away just because you move it from one agency to another. You still face the same challenges. >> Yes. But if you're not going to have a modernization plan, how do we move forward on these schools? How do we move forward on the classrooms? Yes, maybe less, but how do we ma manage what we have and modernize it? >> Yeah. So one example um >> I want to know what your plan is on how we modernize our schools. >> Thanks Senator. Um when we look at the term modernization I think there's there's different aspects to it. Facility modernization um does does a facility have the adequate space for student learning? Um if we're looking at middle schools for example uh do they have space where students can collaborate?
you can then they can go in and actually put that in a blue jacket, red backpack and bring up all the people in the campus that have blue jackets and red backpacks and quickly find them and remediate that situation very quickly. So if it is a problem, you can actually then know right away and you're not, you know, fumbling through different cameras like you are today in our current milestone system trying to find someone, you know, is very quick and it's very and that's makes a huge difference. >> Thank you. So, forgive me. Um, even if we opt not to use any of the AI facial recognition features, is that data ever used to train any of your guys' models that you use for other services? >> Not have access to the data at all. >> Okay. Madame President, I I don't have a question necessarily, but I do have something to say about statements have been made about um identifying um a student by uh what they look like, what they're wearing.
Um, is there room for um being able to be nimble in terms of the different kinds of CTE and such? >> So, what's your plan? Where's your plan? Do you have a plan? >> So, so we we do have our educational specs that um facilities has worked on. I think when we look at um uh you had alluded we had alluded to it earlier um Moapu Elementary when I go and I visit that site and I know we were working with the um the contractor to address the issue that you had brought up that you had shared that that's been done um especially on a new facility when we look at the modernization of the the site at Moapu as I walk through there's areas for there's large areas in the classroom for students to be able to work and to um um do things like pro project based learning and such.
That's what we do now, but we do it in a very slow and and inefficient way. But that's what we do. We have a principal or an assistant principal or a teacher come in and and you know, as long as it takes it, and it is lengthy. That's what we do. We look at, okay, does that student look like Dond Doe or does that student look more like Mary Jane? Because that's how we function by identifying students and that's how we we act to keep things safe. that's how we act to um intercede with discipline and finding things. So I I yes it would be enhanced by the um the rapid um identification that this new software provides but it isn't changing our function. It's just changing the efficiency of our function. my opinion, >> if I may, um the problem that I think a lot of people have is that the way we do it now, it is a person making, you know, making those connections.
There's room outside of the classroom for for classes to get together. There's areas um like a uh >> right but that's one school. So where is the plan from DOE as how do we modernize our school not just in a new school but in our old school simple things like having desk and chairs that can move around with wheels so they can go into a circle or go into a U or look at each other you know certain kinds of modernization things. Where is your plan for that? >> The um >> because you're obviously not in support of this. So again being opposed to something is one thing but what are you what do you have to to replace it or what do you have to in lie of? So I believe the educational specs that um facilities has is what was also used to um help to work with the with the contractor and design um moapu the in reference to furniture in the classroom.