Copyright M Live Michigan
OTTAWA COUNTY, MI - A year after receiving a $4.6 million grant from the state to expand its cybersecurity services, Ottawa Area Intermediate School District (OAISD) says it’s seeing success - to the tune of $2 million in savings. The grant, which was announced in November 2024, has allowed OAISD to create a cyber security operations center and help local school districts protect staff and student data. OAISD Chief Technology Officer Rex Thelen said combining cybersecurity services will save participating districts approximately $2 million over the course of four years, when compared with the cost of managing services on their own. The grant funds allow OAISD to provide services to 13 area school districts, including: Allendale Public Schools Black River Public School Coopersville Area Public Schools Grand Haven Public Schools Hamilton Community Schools Holland Public Schools Hudsonville Public Schools Jenison Public Schools OAISD Saugatuck Public Schools Spring Lake Public Schools The West Michigan Academy of Arts and Academics Muskegon Area ISD’s Oakridge Public School District In Allendale, technology director Paul Mulder described the program as an efficient way to keep data safe for all districts. “As cybercrime has increasingly targeted schools, we have become more and more concerned about the resources needed to prepare, prevent and respond accordingly,” Mulder said. “Working with OAISD has helped us significantly improve our district’s cybersecurity posture, safeguarding our student and staff data.” According to OAISD, working as a team has allowed the creation of a formal incident report and threat level structure, which ISD leaders say will result in the discovery of and fast response to more threats. Phil Rowley, director of technology for Jenison Public Schools, said that even with his “significant background and training” around cybersecurity, certifications and knowledge don’t replace having additional people capable of monitoring for threats. “Cybersecurity takes every one of us helping out,” he said, “and we appreciate and look forward to the partnership that OAISD … provides Jenison Public Schools." OAISD was one of only five Michigan school districts to receive a portion of the $101.6 million in state funding. The funds were awarded through the state Department of Education’s consolidation incentive payments grant, a $101.6 million pot of money allocated in the 2023-24 state budget. According to a press release shared by the state in November 2024, the grant funding was originally anticipated to save the districts around $3.7 million in total by combining services.
