Marlene Kolodziej, the district’s director of information technology, provided an extensive presentation on the cybersecurity infrastructure of the school system at a Feb. 10 meeting in Key West. Florida Keys schools suffered a disabling ransomware attack in 2018.
The school district takes a multilayer approach to cybersecurity with software operating in each user’s device and in a hardware-based system examining and sorting at the system level.
“Human error is the number one cause of data breaches,” Kolodziej said. “Email is the most common point for entry attack in the education sector.
She listed nine types of cyber attacks and the systems in place to thwart them. The district’s security system reported more than 17,000 events that could be classified as attacks in the last month. The average is 570 per day. The most common was “graymail,” emails that include marketing, advertising or promotional materials. There were 2,611 phishing attacks – which try tricking a victim into giving away online credentials. The system stopped 116 scams asking for fees or payments. Four attacks were sophisticated social engineering events aimed at making the recipient take actions to change banking, credit card or other actions to benefit the sender. More than 1,600 spam, or unsolicited, emails were intercepted.
Kolodziej said software in district-supplied personal devices such as the students’ Chromebooks can detect and report bullying and other inappropriate online content.
She said the IT department is the same size it was in 2021 and is currently running 62 projects deploying or replacing technology.
Board member Mindy Conn asked about reliance on the internet for telephone connectivity. Kolodziej replied that backup connectivity, including StarLink satellite terminals, is in place and more is being added.
The fiscal 2025-26 IT program includes $5.3 million in capital funds and $2.7 million in operational funds. The district uses the federal government’s E-Rate program. Administered by the FCC, E-Rate helps to ensure that K-12 schools and public libraries can obtain affordable access to telecommunications services, including broadband internet service and equipment. E-Rate doesn’t use federal money, but it arranges for substantial discounts, as much as 90%, from equipment and services providers.
Board member Darren Horan asked Kolodziej to look into a bill in Tallahassee labeled the Local Government Cybersecurity Program. Board member Sue Woltanski asked if the district rents space to cell towers on any school buildings. The district does get paid for cell antennas at Key West High School.
As part of a discussion with lobbyist Kate DeLoach, the board discussed the state’s Family Empowerment Scholarship program. The program, also known as the school voucher program, provides families with additional educational choices, primarily to attend participating private schools, but also homeschooling, therapies and online programs. The money comes from the state and is funneled through local districts.
If the demand outstrips the funding, the districts make up the difference. Woltanski stated the district is about $900,000 behind in state funding. The board discussed proposals to put the empowerment program through a separate funding channel.
Earlier in the meeting, Capt. Colin Thompson, commander of NAS Key West, presented Purple Star School of Distinction awards to Sigsbee Charter School and the College of the Florida Keys Academy. The award recognizes schools that support the needs of military families, help military-connected students navigate critical challenges and provide resources for them entering a new school environment.
Thompson praised the environments in these schools for incoming students of military families. Horace O’Bryant School, Key West High School and Sugarloaf School also hold the award.
The school board presented four Great Educational Moments (GEMS) awards. Social worker Monet Ray was recognized for the compassionate student-center support she provides and for being a role model for other social workers throughout the district. The Key West High School cheerleading squad, with coaches Kaitlyn Varela and Madison Garcia, was recognized for earning the title of regional champions.
Gary Hernandez, band director at Key West High School, was honored for his work throughout the district. And the Key West High School Marching Band was recognized for its success during an international festival in Rome.
