MASSENA — It’s been a busy year for the Massena Central School District’s Information Technology Department, and the department director says they’re not slowing down in 2026.
Michael Allen told school board members that they’ve accomplished a lot with a staff of five.
“Three are Massena employees, two are BOCES (Board of Cooperative Educational Services) members. They’re good guys. They all have a unique set of skills, and they make one heck of a team. We’ve done some exciting things this year,” Allen said.
For starters, he said they’ve swapped out about 650 old 15-inch computer monitors since the start of the school year in September, replacing them with new Dell 24-inch ultra-sharp monitors.
“That makes a huge difference,” he said.
Allen said they also upgraded all of the district’s Windows desktop computers from Windows 10 to Windows 11. They also implemented an Apple Management System on the district’s network.
“We’ve created a Mac Lab for our art students and all of our students to use. We’ve inventoried, labeled and upgraded over 3,000 Chromebooks to the latest OS (operating system),” he said.
The department has also installed new wireless controllers, which will allow wireless devices to run at a higher speed. They’ve also addressed security.
“We’ve enhanced the door security system this year. We’ve given new badges to all the employees. I believe everyone on the board has got a new badge,” Allen said.
He said his staff is also better prepared to help others who need technology assistance.
“I’ve trained my staff so they can better equip themselves being out in the field and helping our teachers out,” he said.
Looking ahead, Allen said they have 160 computers on order and they’re planning to upgrade all of the wireless connections in the classrooms.
“Going from there, we’re looking at our first round of Chromebook replacements. I’m actually going to be meeting with the board and through the Budget Committee and we’re going to see what we have for numbers and what we can replace and what we can afford so that every student gets an equal opportunity,” he said.
The current Chromebooks have been difficult for some students to use. Student ex-officio Andrew David has told board members that they’re not powerful enough to handle assignments in the high school’s International Baccalaureate program.
However, the district will be moving away from the IB program following the May exams and switching to Advanced Placement courses in 2026-27, which David said the Chromebooks will likely be able to handle.
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