The District 161 school board agreed to update its security through two contracts – one for building security and a second for its information technology systems.
At the special meeting on Jan. 29, the board learned that Securakey, the company that has been used for access control to district buildings, has gone out of business and the district cannot provide updates for fobs or related equipment for the system.
Associate Superintendent Fran LaBella told board members her office conducted a survey of south suburban school districts to learn what systems they are using. District 161 will be getting Motorola’s Avigilon Alta Access system. Two companies were interested in the work. Because the bid was only $500 difference, LaBella recommended the board stay with ITR for the Avigilon system. ITR, the district’s current security provider, has worked with the district for some time.
The board agreed to spend $92,695 for the new system, which includes a three-year licensing agreement.
The board also heard from Lennard Razor, director of information technology for the district, who urged the board to move forward on updating technology systems to prevent intrusions through Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Razor said the current system is functioning well providing services in security information and event management, endpoint detection and response services, disaster recovery and ransomware services and cybersecurity services.
But, it wouldn’t be able to stop AI which can change and impede systems “in real time” and be undetected until the damage is done, Razor said. He recommended the board approve a contract, starting July 1, with Net56 for a top-of-the-line cybersecurity solution that “monitors all incoming and outgoing network traffic, including threats generated by AI.”
Razor said there is “an uptick” from AI threats that are “larger scales, they process a lot faster and have the ability to change in real time.” The new Net56 system also includes a secondary bandwidth line which gives the district some redundancy “but gives us more protection.” Should there be an emergency with the mainstream network, District 161 needs would be run through the backup system, he told the board.
“At this day and time, it’s important for us to look for a better solution that will protect from AI,” Razor said.
LaBella said the district’s insurance cooperative is also interested in how security needs are being met. “They’re not taking a wait-and-see attitude,” rather the insurance carrier is checking to make sure the district meets the risk.
LaBella said the District 161 staff has been negotiating for months with Net56. Everything the company offers wasn’t necessarily what District 161 needs, so the original price came down significantly as the package was fine tuned.
Razor said the current annual contract is $113,442.24. The board agreed to go with Net56 security at an additional cost of $68,931.35 annually. Work on the new system will start in late May or early June.
