Gilford School Board deals with open access to the web

By THOMAS P. CALDWELL, LACONIA DAILY SUN

GILFORD — The Gilford School Board moved quickly to address a potentially serious problem with the school district’s web filter that could allow a computer virus to infect the network, or permit students to gain access to inappropriate websites.

Director of Technology Brenda McGee told the School Board on Monday that the filter, which both blocks access and provides reports on system usage, has had intermittent problems over the past month and, a week ago Friday, it created problems across the whole network, affecting the business office, food service, and other areas.

“Rebooting helps for a short time,” she said, but if it crashed without a replacement on hand, it could open the network up to significant risk. “We can bypass it,” she said, “but then nothing would be protected.”

Scott Isabelle, the assistant superintendent for business, said the district could use money from contracted services or maintenance funds to purchase a new web filter and service contract.

The board voted unanimously to approve the $18,902 expenditure.

Members also agreed to seek grant funding to add a secured entrance to the elementary school as part of that building project, being overseen by Bonnette, Page and Stone.

Isabelle said the deadline to apply for a Public School Infrastructure Grant is March 5, and it would provide 80 percent of the cost with the district having to make up the additional 20 percent.

The estimated cost of the entryway is $159,103, and Isabelle suggested that the board also include security glass at the entryway of the middle and high school, and additional security cameras at all of the schools. If all of those items are in an approved grant, the cost to the district would be $4,082, he said.

The board asked for bids to paint all of the classrooms at the elementary school. They had budgeted enough to do a few classrooms, but with $45,900 remaining in the owner’s contingency fund, Isabelle said they could save money by doing it all at once.

A preliminary request indicated it would cost $79,000 to do all of the work, and board members agreed they did not want to exceed what they have available for funds, so they asked that bids be done to cover the cost of painting the classrooms, with optional add-ons for the other work. They could then decide how much to take on based on the cost.

The board also agreed to replace the indoor batting cage at the high school, at a cost of $11,000.