Riverdale to implement new online safety program for staff

By SAIGE THORNLEY

Times news bureau

MOUNT BLANCHARD – Riverdale schools technology coordinator Zack Voll discussed a new computer training program that would educate staff about identifying malicious emails both in their personal and professional lives at Monday’s school board meeting. 

The program, NINJIO, would send a monthly email to staff that would play a short video and then ask a few simple questions about the lesson. Voll said that it would count for the required yearly professional development training.

“This, basically, is to aid in identifying malicious or spoof emails that causes most of the computer lockdowns you see in the news,” he said. “… The human element is the thing that is letting these things in.”

Voll also said that it happens most of the time on Windows computers and even software or emails that look legitimate could be hiding a virus. He warned that as soon as someone clicks on an attachment to an email or downloads something, it opens up the possibility to infect that computer. 

He also warned that it could even happen at home. A staff member could bring his or her Windows laptop home, click on something with a virus and then as soon as it reconnects to the school’s network, it’s inside the firewall that is meant to keep the viruses out. 

Superintendent Greg Rossman reported that he was not sure that the district would be fully staffed, but said that everything was all set for the school year to begin. He advised the school board that the district is very short on substitute teachers in the event current teachers would need time off.

Rossman also advised the school board that it is not going to be too long before the Nov. 8 election that would ask voters whether or not the school district should receive a levy that would help fund the district. He said that it is important to educate the community about what the levy is and why it is important.

In other news the school board approved:

– Overnight field trips for the Riverdale FFA throughout the course of the upcoming school year.

– Personal leave days for Amy Beckley, Melissa Borkosky, Levi Brown, Brittany Hayter, Angie Wherle and Nathan Craig.

– Tony Butler as the delegate to attend the 2022 OSBA business conference and Rick Clark as the alternate delegate.

– Maternity leave for Aubreah Jellison.

– A one-year contract for Jared Tousley as the middle school and high school physical education teacher and Meagen Stauffer as a K-2 certified teacher.

– Brett Farmer, Jon Sessler, Heather Speyer, Jim Speyes and Julie Taylor as school monitors on Thursday and Friday school days.

– Brittany Hayter, Lacie Reinhart and Jon Sessler as academic assist monitors.

– A resolution to approve the posting of both teaching and non-teaching positions.

– The usage of school facilities by the local youth football team.

– The daily rate payment of $120 for substitute teachers.

– A resolution to temporarily adopt modified education requirements in order to retain substitute teaching staff.

– The annual homecoming powderpuff football game to take place Oct. 2.

– A contract with Craig Hughes to serve as athletic trainer.

– The Forest-Jackson Public Library budget for FY 2023.

– A one-on-one aid agreement with the Hancock County ESC.

– A shared service agreement with Kenton City School District for special education services.

– An agreement with Strategic Solutions that would allow for the scanning and storing of files and records digitally.

– Jan. 4 2023 to be used as a professional development day instead of a student instructional day.

– The resignation of Catherine Flechtner as full time cook.

The next Riverdale school board meeting is Sept. 20.