We Broke Into a School District. Here’s What Happened.

Most districts have never seen what a determined attacker can really do. In this round table discussion, Karhu Cyber and Chippewa Valley Schools share what happened when the district commissioned a full-scope red team engagement, including physical entry, network exploitation and the hard questions that followed. Explore what separates a real-world assessment from a compliance checklist, why physical and human access such as tailgating into a building or reaching a network closet are real attack paths, and how to read and prioritize findings without panic. Hear how the district turned uncomfortable results into a successful case for increased board funding, then translated recommendations into concrete hardening steps and measurable improvements over the following year. Education and IT leaders will leave with a practical framework for commissioning, interpreting and acting on a cybersecurity assessment, plus language for making the budget case to their own boards. No technical background is required, just a willingness to see your district the way an attacker would.