Cleveland Public School District 391

School/District Logo
Industry
K–12
Enrollment
600
Region
Midwest

Cleveland Public School District 391

School/District Logo
Industry
K–12
Enrollment
600
Region
Midwest
Profile
Profile

A Digital Future for Fairbanks Students

Fairbanks North Star Borough School District in Alaska serves approximately 11,000 K-12 students. With a diverse student population, the district has embraced digital learning to enhance access to educational resources. Megan Douglas, a tech lead with experience in various roles, has witnessed the district’s digital transformation and the growing need for efficient technology management.

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Challenge
Challenge

Breaking Free From Manual Processes

Before ClassLink, the district relied on outdated manual processes, including “pen and paper” methods, to manage student and staff accounts. As they transitioned to modern digital tools, educators faced challenges with multiple logins and account management, creating inefficiencies and accessibility issues. The district needed a streamlined solution to simplify access, automate resource management, and provide IT staff with better troubleshooting capabilities.

Solution
Solution

Bringing Order to a Digital Learning Environment

ClassLink provided a comprehensive solution with LaunchPad, the ClassLink Management Console (CMC), and Roster Server. LaunchPad streamlined access by allowing students and staff to sign in once and instantly access their digital resources. Teachers also benefited from its ability to organize apps, assignments, and class setups efficiently.

Roster Server automated the import and synchronization of student and staff data, eliminating manual uploads and reducing errors. Rule-based Permissions enabled the district to assign resources by grade level, school, or role, ensuring a more tailored digital learning experience. Additionally, the CMC’s impersonation feature allowed IT staff to troubleshoot user issues remotely by simulating user experiences.

Since implementing ClassLink, the district has significantly improved efficiency and reduced IT workload. Analytics have helped leaders track app usage and optimize vendor contracts. With enhanced resource management and troubleshooting capabilities, Fairbanks North Star Borough School District continues to refine its digital ecosystem, ensuring students and staff can focus on learning rather than navigating complex systems.

Tavish Satrom
Technology Coordinator at Cleveland Public Schools, MN
School Logo

Cleveland Public School District 391

Minnesota
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How a Small Minnesota District Went from Manual to Modern With ClassLink

Cleveland Public Schools is a small K-12 district with around 600 students, nestled in a quiet town. Tavish Satrom, the technology director, joined the district in 2018 after running his own computer repair and network setup business. His arrival marked the beginning of a transformation in how the district managed its technology systems—an effort that became more pressing as the school’s processes were bogged down by outdated, manual systems.

Challenge

When Tavish started, Cleveland Public Schools tasked a staff member with manually creating user accounts for both students and teachers, a time-consuming and inefficient process. The staff member would create accounts in Google Console and Active Directory, but these systems were not synced, resulting in students being unable to log into their accounts. The district also dealt with severe security risks, including students using the same passwords for years. On top of that, the district was using a small, unsupported provisioning system that worked for some applications but couldn’t provide the necessary single sign-on (SSO) integration for the growing number of apps the district relied on.

Solution

Cleveland’s ClassLink implementation brought immediate results. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) was rolled out quickly, ensuring that even the youngest students could securely access their accounts through image selection. Older students could use a pin, which maintained their ability to use two step verification without using a cell phone. With LaunchPad, all applications were organized in one central location, making it easy for students and staff to access their tools with a single sign-on. ClassLink’s Roster Server seamlessly integrated with the district’s student information system, Infinite Campus, automating the rostering process and ensuring that student data was accurate and up to date. With the ability to customize data sharing through DataGuard, Tavish could control what information was shared with third-party applications, ensuring privacy and security.

Results

ClassLink helped Cleveland Public Schools shift from maintaining outdated systems to improving their overall technology infrastructure. By automating account provisioning and rostering, ClassLink freed up valuable time, allowing Tavish to focus on strategic improvements. Teachers no longer create Google Classrooms or roster students and guardians manually—ClassLink handles it all automatically. The district also strengthened security by raising password requirements and provisioning sub-accounts for substitute teachers automatically. This streamlined system empowers the district to work more efficiently during the back-to-school process, reducing manual data entry and improving accuracy. With ClassLink’s integrated solutions and ongoing support, the district now runs with smoother workflows and stronger security.

“We’re doing things automatically now. Everything is happening as soon as the sync is done. Since we’re not having to spend time manually doing things, we’re saving money.”

Tavish Satrom
Cleveland Public Schools, MN