001Okay, our webinar is live. Our YouTube feed is also live. Mrs. Runick, the meeting is yours. >> Excellent. Thank you, Mr. Gilma. So, this calls this month's August 2025 safe school meeting committee meeting to order and we will begin as always with the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay, we'll move on the approval of the minutes uh from our last meeting which was the 27th of May 2025. Uh do we have a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. Uh so since it's just us that's approved. Uh any comments or questions regarding the minutes? >> Nope. All right, we're good. Um, all those in favor uh either
002raise your hand or say I. >> I. None opposed. Good. The minutes are approved. Um, so there are no action items this evening. Uh, but as always, the safe school uh committee continues to work diligently uh to ensure the physical and psychological safety of our students. So with that we have some updates and uh someformational items um that have been noted in the agenda. We'll start with uh Mr. Ran who provide a high level update on the preparation for the 2526 school year. Mr. Ron, >> thank you Mr. Ren and good evening to the committee uh fellow administrators and the community at large. So, I want to take this opportunity to uh walk through some of the things that we do in preparation uh for not only for this school year but every school year
003across the district uh as it pertains to school safety. So, for our agenda, we're going to talk about uh some staff training uh department of meetings. A lot of collaboration has to happen uh amongst buildings, amongst municipalities, amongst other uh amongst uh first responding agencies. uh want to talk a little bit about bus patrol, remind uh our community that bus patrol uh will be active again at start of school year and and safe uh also safe to say um and then Alice training. So those are the uh bullet points that we will talk through this evening. So uh as required by law uh staff must complete three hours of safety training. Uh and the law speaks to one of those hours must be uh in person and the other two hours uh can be online.
004So uh our staff across the district uh will be participating um in Alice training for their 1-hour inperson. We'll talk a little bit about that when we get to that slide. Uh and then participating in uh two other trainings for their online portion um as as well. And uh the safe schools staff in particular uh today did their updates for uh first aid, CPR and AED uh which is a also a requirement uh and something that we certainly should have in in the field that we work in. So of a lot of collaboration amongst organizations just some some highle meetings that take place um at the beginning of the year and throughout the year uh regularly. So I meet with uh the six north uh chiefs of police that make up our district from the
005six municipalities. We discuss a wide variety of things um from events going on in the district uh our trainings make sure that they are invited to our trainings their officers uh come out and can uh participate in them as you know they do their walkthroughs um so lots of collaboration that's going on there. I also we also participate in weekly facilities meetings at the high school. As we all know the high school is very very busy and lots of things happen uh lots of events both school events and uh contracted events happen at the high school. So we walk through making sure that we have the appropriate staffing and uh you know things are the events take place in a very safe and orderly manner. Uh and so we have now added uh high schools
006construction projects. So we sit in bi-weekly meetings again to uh be in on what's happening with the project and provide insight from a safety perspective and collaboration with uh all the folks uh there to make sure that we are all aligned and and rowing in the same direction. Uh we meet with I met with building administrators to talk through some updates for school safety for this year and walk through what their uh training will look like for staff. Um and some updates on uh student coding for disciplinary as you know we talk in this meeting uh quarterly about the uh disciplinary dashboard. So just kind of walk through th those things and make sure that we are all again uh marching into the same tune there. also spent some time with one of the local
007co-responders uh in our community uh to talk about like mental health supports and and how can we collaborate and work together um and and foster really good relationships and partnerships um to to support you know our community is doing a really good job we do a really good job um but let's let's put that together as right it is it happens both internal within the district and external um and so uh there are there is a monthly meeting that hap that takes place uh at Lansdale Burough Hall where a lot of county resources and local resources get together and discuss um how they can help and support our community um and folks that are in need of these resources. So we are looking to be a part of that conversation. Uh myself, Dr. Kler, Dr.
008Balden, we met um with the Lance demon adult co-responder and and we're going to uh work together um a little better to to make sure that um we're all we're all sharing the same information and and being have resources available uh to support the community at large. Uh and then Dr. Bowerer and I spent some time uh Wednesday, I believe it was last week. Uh Dr. Ber, correct me if I'm wrong, I can't remember anymore. um where we you know we've talked in this committee last year about Alice training for staff uh and we talked about Alice training being rolled out for students in the 2526 school year and voila here we are 2526 school year uh so Dr. Ber and I took some time last week and we held two parent sessions, one in
009the morning and one in the evening for parents to hear from us about what Alice is and what Alice is not. Right? There are a lot of people who are conducting drills and training and scenarios uh in the name of Alice or avoid deny defend or run high or whatever optionbased response strategy that an organization is using. Um and unfortunately some people decide to uh add or take away or customize training and and do things that uh maybe was never really written in the curriculum and should be trained that way. So, as much as we shared about what Alice is, we shared what Alice is not um and what not and what will not take place in the North Pin School District in regards to Alice training and what will take place in regards to
010Alice training um and what parents can expect uh their student experience to be like. So, when they come home and have that conversation, it is not brand new and they're not hearing it for the first time. Um so it was a very very good uh time. Uh each session uh ran uh very well. Lots of great questions, lots of community involvement. I received a number of email and so it was really good to have that opportunity to talk to to parents and and share that information. We'll talk a little bit more about Alice um as we go through. So, I want to remind folks um as we've done in this committee, uh we've talked about bus patrol and uh the number of citations and the locations and the time of day and and those things.
011I want to remind folks um a yes, bus patrol is happening again this year, but also please, please, please drivers, I know every last one of us, we read that driver's manual cover to cover before we took that permit test and that driver's test and we remembered all the rules of the road. Um, but I I want to remind that you must come to a complete stop within 10 ft before approaching a school bus when the red lights are activated. And you may not pass that school bus unless you are on a divided highway. And divided highway means there is actually a there is a separation by more by something physical more than just uh double yellow lines. Um, so I'll use the example uh 202 or 309 or 202 that just has uh double
012yellow solid lines. If you are on the far opposite lane of where the bus is and the bus is stopped with the stop arm out, you must stop because that is not a divided highway. So, uh, community members, please remember this as bus starts as our buses start to hit the road, um, uh, on Wednesday morning and, uh, Wednesday afternoon and students are out at bus stops. Please remember the the rules and the laws of the road, uh, to stop for the buses with the uh, stop arm out and the red flashing lights. And again, just a reminder again, I cannot emphasize enough. Please, please, please remember you must stop if it is not a divided highway on any road. All right. All right. Safe to say um certainly a program that uh most are
013not a stranger to, but for maybe those coming into our district, maybe you're new kindergarten or just new to us in a different grade. So, safe to say is a anonymous tip reporting program uh that was offered to every school district in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for any individual. A lot of people think that only students can use Safe to Say um that it's factually incorrect. Anyone can use Safe to Say um by way of uh downloading their app and submitting tips or you can call and speak to a analyst and submit tips. Um and you can submit tips for bullying. You can submit tips for all kinds of things. Um the one thing that we we do ask and safe to say ask is that you submit tips that are factually correct, right? Um
014or and don't submit tips that you're I want to get my friend in trouble so I'm going to submit a false tip. Um that is abuse of the system. There is actually legislation that allows for um accountability for people who knowingly and purposely abuse the system. Um, and what I mean by that is you know that the information you are submitting is factually wrong. It's not correct. Um, you made it up because you want to get somebody in trouble. Um, so please don't do that. Uh there are a number of you know there are thousands of individuals across this commonwealth um that that use this platform and there are analysts that are monitoring it 24/7 and uh we certainly don't want analysts to spend time on tips that are not correct. Um, but with that
015being said, if you feel like your friend is in danger or you're in danger or um there's something going on, there's something not right, there's information that you're aware of, um, that something is about to happen that is is not good and should not happen, that is 100% the most appropriate platform to use to share that information with adults. Um, and it allows you to do that anonymously and you can put uh as much information as possible. I will say as one of a handful of people that receives the tips for our entire school district, um I can tell you every one of them is received uh and every one of them is vetted and then we make the necessary uh adjustments and response to those. Um you know there are times where I have
016uh woken up Dr. Bower or Dr. Nicholson um to make sure we are taking the appropriate steps um whether it be uh in the middle of the day or the middle of the night. uh every one of those taps every one of those tips uh certainly gets processed and we take the appropriate steps. So parents um if you uh have not already I would encourage you to uh your student will certainly hear about safe to say uh in the coming days and weeks in the beginning of the school year. But certainly please uh have dinner conversation around what's appropriate, what's not appropriate. um and also empowering them and knowing that they are supported and and sharing those tips um as they see necessary. So, uh let's talk a little bit about Alice. Uh so, last
017year we rolled out Alice to all of our staff and as I mentioned in the agenda, um we're going to be rolling Alice out to our students. And so, I'll spend a just a couple minutes talking about what that looks like for students and share some of the information that Dr. Dr. Bar and I shared uh last week with with parents. So uh staff will receive another 1-hour session of training that's going to happen this week. Um and then students will receive training um as outlined by their building administrator. So not every building will receive it at the exact same day at the exact same time, but every student will receive it before participating in the Alice uh drill. So, so for an example, uh let's say one elementary school, I'll use Nash. Let's say
018Nash was going to train their students uh next week and then they may have their first drill in the end of September or the beginning of October. And Oak Park may have their first drill in the middle of September or I'm sorry, their first training in the middle of September and then have their drill maybe the end or the beginning of October. Um what I can tell you parents is that communication will go out so that you are aware when that's going to take place. Uh so there will be no surprises. I I don't believe in unannounced surprise drills. There are uh mindsets out there that say you should do unannounced drills because if you announce them then people don't take them seriously. Uh I don't believe that to be the truth. Um so we
019don't do unannounced drills. Parents, you will know when they're going to happen. You will know when they begin and you will know when they end because we we will communicate that for the student learner. Um they will learn it in an age appropriate manner. So what is learned for a let's call a second grade student is going to be different than what is learned uh by an 11th grade student or even an eighth grade student. Right? So, uh, the the image that you see here is a book that we're using is called I'm not scared, I'm unprepared because I know about Alice. Um, and we're going to use that really in our elementary level. And so, it's a readaloud um that is very very much so age appropriate. Um, and there's also an activity book
020that uh walks through how to have uh appropriate trainings and drills uh to not induce trauma and inflict anxiety against uh with our within our students. And at the secondary level there is a uh curriculum again that is age appropriate to make sure we are having the conversation in the right way using the right words and terms again to make sure we are not uh inducing trauma or anxiety for for our students. Um I've used this example a number of times with Dr. Bower. Um you know I've said to them you know we've been doing fire drills in schools for decades decades and decades and decades. Um, and never once has a school set a building on fire to run a drone. Um, so we we don't need to do those type of things to
021uh get the appropriate level of training across. Um, and so we're not going to again we will communicate those things out. And I uh will say to parents again, please if you have questions whether it be today, tomorrow, next week, next month, please do not hesitate to reach out to me u so that we can answer those questions. Um, I've talked to many of parents since our conversation last week. Um, and had wonderful conversations and certainly want to make sure that everybody understands what we will and will not do regardless of what may be seen on social media or in the news about um how organizations have trained Alice. All right. So I I shared uh a lot of information. Uh there's a lot of things that happen in the beginning of of a school
022year from uh the office of safe schools as much as uh my colleagues and and the educational side. So I'll pause there to take questions from the committee um that that uh regarding what we just discovered. Miss McMerry. >> Thank you Mr. Ron. >> Is that okay? Mrs. Rodnick if I please. Yeah. >> Oh okay. Thank you. Did anyone have a doubt I'd ask questions? Um, but on a serious note, um, Mr. Ran, thank you for the information regarding AEDs in the high school because of the construction. Um, have they moved locations and everyone that needs to be informed has been informed? >> Yes. So, our AEDs are checked yearly um, across the district, not just the high school um, but across the district. Um and so pads and batteries are also replaced whether they
023are used or not based on the life cycle of the machine. Um so um you know we could have had an AED in a AED box and it never got touched but on the pads re have an expiration and so those pads get replaced whether they're are used or not based on the expiration. Um as far as relocating AEDs based on the construction yes we certainly um have done that. Our facilities department uh Mr. slaughter and I talk if not every day, it's about every other day. Some days it's every other hour. Uh depending on on what we have going on. Today I think I talked to him probably five or six times. Um but so we we do that often uh just to make sure that uh we are certainly staying on top of
024those um uh details, you know, kind of deep into the weeds in the details. Uh, one of the other things that I did not mention, um, well, I mentioned that kind of not real deep too. Um, we also uh had walkthroughs and I've reached out to all of our emergency responders in the township uh so that they can come and walk through u to understand the changes in the the uh temporary classrooms, what is online, what isn't online, so that they know, you know, if they're coming in to respond for a medical emergency that they may not they're not going to be able to get in the HL lot. Uh and they're may not be able to get in, you know, not going to be get. So, um we had VMSC out today. uh we'll
025have the fire department out. So, um we're communicating with all of those folks who also could be coming in and they're used to being able to come in at a particular location based on where we tell them the the patient is or the situation is. Um and as we move through different phases and things close off and things open up again, we will continue that conversation so that they are aware of what is currently unaccessible to them and what is accessible. >> I'm glad you said that. I didn't think of that, but that's so important at because it's so dynamic. So, thank you for that. I have one more question, Mrs. Rodnik. Um, so back to the Alice training um slide. What can you help me understand a bit more what does traumainformed mean? >>
026yeah. So, you know, folks, um, you know, folks have different experiences, right? um you know there may be uh people who are who are directly involved in some sort of violent critical incident or some sort of you know violent situation whether it be in their workplace in school or you know just in their their everyday living. Um and and what happens is, you know, sometimes when you when you do these things inappropriately and and not in a trauma-informed way, you you really rekindle that flame of that experience that that person had, right? Um and so and then and that could be very traumatic for an individual, right? Um because you don't know what their experience was. you don't know whether it was directly them, whether it was a family member, whether there was um you
027know some serious tragedy to that. Um, and when you when you push that envelope, you know, there I I mentioned this earlier, there are people who believe that you need to have auditory stimulus such as blanks fired in a hallway um to to get people to train and respond accordingly or you need to uh call in the drama team and have a bunch of makeup put on of of people with wounds and injuries to accomplish the goals. That's trauma-informed, right? Um if if somebody who experienced a house fire or some other violent incident, right, they don't they don't need to relive that moment to have a learning opportunity and safety, right? So we can still accomplish that moment of of learning about how to keep yourself safe without rekindling that situation. Um and so that's
028really what trauma informed is, right? making sure that we are not making somebody relive a a terrible experience. >> Thank you. Thank you, Miss uh McMotrey. I have a couple of quick uh clarification questions. First of all, um I really like that you are connecting with the community on the mental in the mental health space. I'm assuming it's mostly I'm assuming but maybe you could clarify what is uh which demographic is their focus. Is it adults? Is it students? Is it all of the above? Um and then because I think it it would be as you stated a good utilization of shared resources. >> Uh yeah, great question. So it is both. Um and what happens is is the the the group meeting is called the hub. Um, and essentially what they do is there,
029you know, all of the local police departments and then all of the local resources and then county resources and sometimes state resources come together and talk and discuss, okay, uh, this particular individual or family is struggling with this, right? Um, what can we do, right? What services do they currently receive or do they receive no services? Do they need more services? Do they need more support? um you know so in our case it it really helps because sometimes we just we just um see the student and maybe we don't have a connection to the family or the home, right? And maybe there's there's a dynamic there that helps us understand what we're seeing from the student and the resources that we're giving the student. but maybe the student needs something at home or maybe the
030the um the the family at home needs some support as well. So having that that open dialogue and that conversation to put those two um folks together for what's best for the child or the family really helps, right? Because if if we're only um speaking to and looking at the student, we could be missing things that are really helpful to us to understand how we can better support the student. Um so u I I I use this term often. Uh we collect a lot of dots, but oftentimes we don't connect those dots. Um and this was this is an opportunity to connect those dots because there is work that's happening in the community that could help us and there's stuff that we're doing that could help the community. Um, and we we could work together
031to to do better. >> Yeah. I'd love to hear the evolution of this. I know it's um and and how it's actually being woven into like our daily operations from a safe school perspective. So, thank you for that. And then just one final comment before uh we move to Dr. Landis. I know that there's been there was um a lot of um anxiety but it was around the Alice training but it was uh due to you know not knowing and not having information. So I want to thank you and Dr. Ba for taking the time to have not one but two sessions and accommodating two different times for parents in our community. Uh I know and I suspect that there will still be a lot of questions because it takes sort of multiple emails sometimes
032for these things to uh connect for people that it's happening. So I'm assuming uh Mr. Ran that uh if parents have additional questions or were unable to attend the session what could they do? They could email you for starters. Yes, they certainly can email me, which a number of parents have done already. Um, they can certainly call me. Um, you know, we we can we can make any sort of resource available uh to, you know, if we we find that there is a need to have another uh webinar. Uh we'll do that, right? We'll we'll do what we need to do um to make sure that we are addressing um the questions or the thoughts that may be out there. Um certainly uh we are making the recording available of the webinar um for folks
033to for not only for folks who missed um but maybe you know as the year goes on and the conversation um becomes more regular you know somebody might need to go back and refresh their memory like oh what did they say about this or what did they say about that um so so that uh you know we'll we'll have that available as another resource. So, um I will reiterate again um please if you have questions, if you have comments, if you have concerns, please do not hesitate um uh to reach out. Uh Dr. B, did I miss anything regarding the the parent meeting um and that that the Alice conversation? >> No, I think you did a great job and I also uh commend our board directors really good questions as well. So, thank you
034all. >> Great. Thank you. Uh Dr. Landis, I believe that you're providing an update on our cyber security position. >> I am. Yes. Thank you very much. Um, so this >> Dr. Landis, I'm sorry, Mrs. Rodnik. I saw Dr. McKenna's hand up. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Thank you. >> I think so. I'm sorry, Dr. Landis. >> No problem. >> I missed that. >> No problem. I was just going to add some more context to your question. Your first question, Mrs. runick about the mental health co-responder and just answer. I've sat in multiple meetings with her um and we've worked on services for both the student and the family including the parent. So, she supports services or accessing services for both students and families and I've witnessed that firsthand in many of our meetings. >> Awesome.
035Thank you. And thank you, Miss McMurray, for keeping me honest. >> Team effort. >> Any other hands? No. All right. I'm I'm back on my game, Dr. Lis. >> All right. Well, thank you so much for the opportunity to give you a brief update this evening. Um, I think Mr. Gilmer is queuing up the presentation. Here we go. Um, so tonight I'm going to talk a little bit about technology as well as cyber security because they really go hand inand um as we think about protecting all the data that goes across our network in North Penn School District. So if you uh I know neither of you were on the board, but um 10 years ago when I got here, we were actually installing a new core. So the core is one of the most
036important pieces of our network because it it everything else hinges on that. So we have an infrastructure refresh cycle that has five components including that core. Um real briefly, the routers are the pieces that direct all the traffic. The edge hardware is out in every single building and that's what connects every classroom. Um so the edge hardware connected to the routers. The routers route the all of the um traffic from each building to our core um and then out to the internet from there. Our firewall actually protects us from all of the things that come in and out. So, a really critical piece of hardware as well in terms of keeping us cyber secure. And then servers, storage, and backup, which I'll talk about a little bit later. Also critical in making sure everything's running.
037Um, we don't try to update everything all at once because that would be financially impossible to do. So, we do strategically update over time. Um, so over the last 10 years, we've moved from a one gig pipeline for the district to a dual 10 gig pipe, which allows us to have full redundancy. If anything would go down from one of our internet providers, we can switch to the other one. Um, and the hardware that we're purchasing will provide us with the capability to go up to 40 gig should we choose to go that way. And the more we see video coming across our network, the more we start using AI, the more data we're going to need. Um, so we're preparing for the future. Um, most of the infrastructure is supported by -ate. And I
038say most because not all of it. we can't we can't afford to purchase all of it um by -ate but a large portion of everything we invest in in the back end um comes with at least a 50% discount through the - program and then for cyber security we'll talk a little bit about how we're maturing um and how we've grown over the last couple years and just a reminder to everyone this really is going to be high level in terms of cyber security for cyber security reasons um if the board has any specific detailed questions certainly happy to answer them um in an executive session if that would be a request. So let's talk a little bit more about infrastructure. Um this past school year we purchased our core through and we've been working
039on installing that. It's not we haven't totally flipped over to that. We've been working hard on that this summer. Um we've had a number of other things come into play um including some construction u pieces where we need to pivot. So um that will be completed very shortly. Um and this year you just approved um our firewall refresh. So our firewall was becoming end of life, end of support. Um and it was actually going to be more costly for us to renew for one year on the old firewall than it would be to renew a new contract and put in um state-of-the-art hardware. that's going to be has some AI built into it. So right now our firewall if there are any security updates or we get cyber security pieces that we have to patch
040that's all a manual process. Um and through dynamic software with our new firewall it will actually be learning and able to grab those cyber security updates that we get and put them right in our system without having any manual intervention. our routers and edge switches. Um they can serve a building or a function. So I know um you've also um spoken about the security switches. So as we're adding more cameras and as we're adding the vape detectors, we found it was really important to make sure we had specific switches just for security hardware so that it's easy to find in our network racks. Um, so this isn't a picture of our network for X here in the presentation, but when we have multiple switches, anytime we need to find a specific piece and make sure
041it's connected properly, it's a lot to go through there, even though we have network labels and diagrams. Um, so we are in the process of finishing um the configuration and installation of all of the security switches that Brandon invested last year. Um, they're ready to go. They just aren't racked yet. All devices are connected. They're just not in those switches yet because we're trying to finish up our core first and make sure uh everything is good to go there. Last year, we actually also updated four of our elementary schools. The three middle schools are still in progress. And the reason for that is we have to take down the entire building um to actually bring it back up with all the new hardware. And as I'm sure you can appreciate, there's really no good time
042for that. Even in the summer, there's a lot going on. Um, and everything runs on our network. So, our phones, our scan cards, our security cameras. Um, so we really try to do that in a really off time. And then servers, storage, and backup. Um, again, ongoing support for that. Um, next year in my budget, you will see that we're going to be needing a storage increase mostly for servers. So, anytime we bring on a new security system or we upgrade systems, oftentimes we'll need to create new servers or additional servers depending on the scope um and so our um server and storage platform which is also a next generation storage platform um is constantly growing. For example, with online testing sometimes we have to to build four to eight different servers to handle all
043the network traffic that will go through. for example in PSSA test testing or other pieces like that. So um one of the pieces you may remember from a previous update would be our cyber security score. In this image here you can see the score average across industries is at the fair level and I am very excited to report. Not going to give you our number um just um to keep it secure. However, we are now in the good range in North Penn school district. So, of course, we're moving towards excellent. You know, that is our goal. Uh, but we felt really good about that and it's really thanks to the investment and support of the school board um for all the pieces that we've put into place and really for all of our departments. You
044know, special shout out to Brandon's department as well as um Bill Slaughter's department and upgrading some of their older servers so that we could get a higher score. um because that's all part of it, making sure that our servers are up todate and can receive the most recent patches so they're not vulnerable. Um next slide, please. So, our cyber security areas of focus, um one piece that we were able to engage in last year, um really critical piece for making sure we have that good score are immutable backups. And if you're not familiar with what that means, once the data is saved, it's locked. So even if somebody would get a hold of our data, they wouldn't be able to manipulate it in any way. So we we currently have not only immutable backups, but
045immutable off-site backups to two secret locations that I won't disclose. Um but uh know that all the data that we have in North Penn School District is being backed up and it's safe. Another piece that we did this year, um, we renewed our EDR contract. Um, and there was a statewide consortium for the product that we use, which is CrowdStrike. Um, it's pretty industry standard. Um, most, um, five Fortune 500 companies use CrowdStrike. And, um, so we were able to add an additional area of focus this year because of that contract rewrite, which will now help us with identity management. So right now um all of our identity management is manual meaning so for example um when someone retires like let's say Dr. Dietrich retires and we keep his account open for 30 days to
046make sure everything's transitioned. So we have to put a note in our calendar to say okay in 30 days disable this account. So with this software, not only will it manage our systems, but also ma help us manage our accounts and be more efficient making sure that people um accounts especially highle accounts that shouldn't still be active will be deactivated. And then you can see all the pieces that we're continuing to do. Um we are continuing our complex password reset not only for staff but also for students. Um as well as doing MFA for our staff and students uh 10 to 12. Um we continue to do B vulnerability scans. Actually weekly we get reports on um how our servers are facing the internet and our internal servers and if there's anything that's been compromised,
047anything that they're seeing, any attacks that maybe we have missed through some of our other software. So, we review that weekly and share that data with our virtual um chief information security officer that we work with um to identify anything that we need to remediate. And then last but not least, um ongoing cyber security training. So, if you haven't started your season two of your training yet, um this year, last year we launched um our cyber security training. It's like a Netflix series about keeping our data safe, keeping our technology safe, even our physical security. So, making sure when you walk away from your computer that you lock it when you um you know, leave technology somewhere that you that you lock that classroom or building. So, it's been a pretty big hit. Uh and
048I know some people were really excited for year two. So, um, we're continuing with that and also with our fishing simulations, um, which helps us to to again educate people on not to click on links, not to open attachments that they shouldn't attach. Um, and so they're getting they're getting harder because our scammers are getting smarter. So, we're trying to really help people understand that, you know, no time is a good time to get fished. A lot of times it will happen when you're not paying attention around a holiday or on a Friday. Um, so those are the really important times to pay attention. So that's a really brief update and uh happy to answer any questions. >> Thank you, Dr. Landis, Ms. McMatry. >> Thank you, Mrs. Rodnik. Dr. Landis, congratulations on the score
049because I recall you mentioning it before so you must be thrilled that that happened and it just speaks to how robust we are becoming. Um, so thanks for that. So I do I have asked before about the physical separation of equipment. Um, I know there's redundancy. Um, I just heard you speak to it. So, I appreciate that. But in terms of physical separation to protect the equipment, can you speak to what the strategy is the plan for that unless it is really confidential and you'd prefer to discuss it later? >> Um, no, it's okay. I can speak to it at a high level. So, um, it would be very expensive to have all the components in our core of the data center offsite as well. Um so we do not currently have that capability for
050the hardware piece, the routing piece. Um what we do have for example with our firewall is we have two firewalls. So we build redundancy in there. Um we build redundancy in certain parts of our core where we're we move we used to have a single chassis where all of our pieces connected. Um, now we're moving to a a chassis that it's actually not a chassis. It's multiple. They look more like switches, but they're core switches. So, some of those pieces we are able to have a backup. Um, but we also pay for six-hour um turnaround time in all of our core hardware. So, if something would go down within six hours, we could get a new piece of hardware. And that's for us we feel more coste effective than building a whole second uh data
051center. >> I I appreciate that. I know this conversation h I asked it before and it isn't I understand now that it truly isn't coste effective but um what you are doing makes sense and is still something that is um reasonable in terms of the district and protecting us. Um there was I think and I don't remember where it was. It was the ESC or the high school there was some occurrence where there was a I don't know if it was a resistor or a capacitor that smoked and so what happens when that situation happens if it would happen again? >> So actually thank you for asking that question. Um, I've been working with uh Bill Slaughter and that had to do with the air conditioning system in the high school as you're probably aware.
052It's old. It's 20 years old, I believe. Um, so we worked at the end of last year to come up with a solution. He was he had one um that he had worked with, I believe, somewhere else. And so we're getting a redundant air conditioning system. I believe it will be installed sometime this fall if I remember correctly. Um, so the current we'll have the the current air conditioner, I believe, will actually be the backup as we go through the construction process and we'll have a redundant air conditioning system because that's really one of the most critical pieces. If the equipment gets too hot, it's going to shut down, right? Because it can't be it can't get too hot. And so with that piece in place, I don't think we'll have to be worrying about
053that um transistor piece or or um not exactly sure if that's the correct terminology myself. >> I don't know either. It had to do with the air conditioner. So, uh, we're going to be good there. And they do in the interim, uh, until we get those installed, we do have backup air conditioners that can be wheeled in the room if they would find that that it's getting too warm at any period of time. And we get alerts uh, if it goes above 72 degrees. So, there is a monitoring in place for that as well. >> Thank you for that. Actually, now that you've explained that to me, I do recall that um discussion with Mr. Slaughter about the present AC would become the backup AC. So, thank you though for refreshing my mind. >> Uh
054yeah, Bill just uh sent me a message saying deliveries end of October. That's right. I remember that because it's right around my birthday. And then it should be installed uh hopefully be before the end of the year. >> Okie do. Thanks again. Any additional questions, comments? So, Dr. Landis, congrats on your own uh type of credit score, I guess, with the S2 S2 score. Um, glad to see that we're inching towards uh excellence. And I just another comment just um I love the fact that you're referencing the cyber security as a Netflix series. I guess that's one way of getting us to to watch it. Uh I like the subliminal messages there. So I will be looking forward to doing my second uh part of that. Uh if there are no other questions, thank you
055Dr. Landis and thank you Mr. Ran for a very informative uh start for the school year. Uh Mr. Gilmer, do we have anybody um in the audience for comments or questions? >> We do. We have one hand raised currently. >> Okay. I will read the notice then. Individuals attending this meeting or intending to speak to the committee should be aware that they are being recorded. In order to meet the requirements of Pennsylvania's sunshine law, it is necessary to record the names of all citizens who speak to the committee during the meeting. To asssure compliance with this requirement, it is essential that those planning to address the committee raise their hand electronically and state their name in the municipality. As a reminder, the public comment portion of the meeting is designed for residents and taxpayers of
056the district to provide comments and feedback on matters being discussed at tonight's meeting or matters that may come before the school safe schools committee. It is not designed for debate or discussion with members of the committee. When appropriate, committee members may choose to respond to public comments that have been made or request that a member of the administration follow up with the speakers after the meeting. Members of the audience are asked to limit limit their questions and comments to three minutes. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Yep. Up first is Jason Laneir. Jason, I've enabled your microphone. So, when you're ready to begin, you can state your name and municipality for the record and begin your comments, please. >> Uh Jason Landdale, uh I really only had question regarding the the upgrades to um the
057uh online infrastructure. It sounded like we're getting new servers and some switching uh switching uh infrastructure. Anyhow, the the idea of increasing the bandwidth and then there was also talk of cameras. Does that mean that there is going to be cameras being put in the classrooms as many people have asked for or is this just to incorporate the cameras that are currently uh in operation and maybe the additional of some exterior security cameras? What is the extent of that is is my question for clarification. And uh if we're not if that doesn't include uh onsetting uh classroom camera classroom, sorry uh cameras in the classroom. Uh will will the new um upgraded servers be able to to handle that additional uh bandwidth requirement? And I'll leave it there. Uh if if somebody could someone knows,
058I'd appreciate a a comment back on that. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Laneir. Um, Dr. Bower, do you have or Dr. Landis? >> Yeah, I'm I'm happy to answer that. And Dr. Landis, if you want to add anything, feel free. Um, but we are not currently exploring installing the cameras in the classroom. Um, we've been collaborative with um the group of parents who requested that and we continue to work together. There's definitely some things uh to work through on the legislation side if we move forward with that. Um but it is not currently um on the horizon I would say. So Dr. Landis, you would have to comment on uh whether or not the capacity if school districts ever move in that direction. Um I would assume we would have the flexibility to expand.
059>> We would have the flexibility. We would not have the switch hardware. Most likely we would need to purchase some additional switching hardware to make sure we could accommodate all of those cameras depending on how many classrooms it would be. >> Okay, >> great. Thank you, Dr. Landis. Thank you, Dr. Bower. Mr. Gilman, >> one more. Yep. One more hand is raised. So, Christine Coin is up next. I'm going to go ahead and enable your micros microphone. So, Christine, when you're ready to begin, unmute your microphone and state your name and municipality for the record. >> Thank you. I'm Christine Coin. Um, Hatfield, uh, had a question about the Alice training or I guess a request. Um, appreciate the webinars and recordings for information about the Alice training or um, but is there a possibility
060to have like a frequently asked questions document that could quickly address any qus, concerns, um, or misconceptions that the community has had for you? Um, and that that's it. >> Thank you, Miss Coin. Uh, Dr. Bower. >> Sure. Um, yes. So, I will I would definitely say I think Mr. Ran would agree that there were themes to the questions that came from parents and there are themes that come from folks every time you speak about it. Um, so if one does not exist, my bet would be there is one that exists from Alice themselves. Um, but if not, we could certainly put one together and add it to the safe schools um, and website. Um, so Brandon, I don't know if you want to add anything, but I don't think that's an unreasonable request and
061appreciate the suggestion. Mr. R. >> Sure. I I can and I will and I will say in typical fashion, uh, Mr. Gilmer and I have already discussed that and have a plan in place. >> Excellent. It's a very efficient uh suggestion and efficient response. Thank you very much everybody. Uh Mr. Gilma, >> that will conclude public comment for tonight. >> Excellent. So if we see no additional hands up, um I think that I can Is this where I say can I have a Do I need a motion? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Yes. >> Can I can I have a motion to close the meeting? Oh, sorry. I'm I'm supposed to say the next school safe schools committee meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 29th at 5:45 p.m. Now, can I have a motion? >> So
062moved. >> The meeting is adjourned. Thank you everybody. Thank you. >> Thank you. Banks was