Category: Technology Alerts

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Google 2-Step Verification / Mutli-Factor Authentication Requirement

Google 2-Step Verification / Mutli-Factor Authentication (2SV / MFA) will be required for all staff beginning April 3, 2024 in order to align with standard cybersecurity practices and better protect accounts and data.

All staff must enroll prior to the deadline (April 3, 2024) to maintain access to school Google accounts. Please reference the following article for additional information and instructions for enabling this.

https://it.bentonschools.org/?epkb_post_type_1=google-2-step-verification

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Connecting a Chromebook to home WiFi

Your school-issued Chromebook can be connected to your home WiFi.

If you are prompted with a list of networks:

  1. Select your WiFi network from the list
  2. Input your WiFi Network password in the box that comes up. This is often found on the back, side, or bottom of your home network router that connects you to the Internet.
  3. Once connected, you should be able to log in with your school credentials (or Clever badge if that is available to you) and access your Google Classroom, Clever, Lexia, etc.

If you are not prompted with a list of networks, follow these instructions.

  1. Click the WiFi signal icon in the bottom right corner of the screen.
  2. Click “Not Connected”.
  3. Select your WiFi network.
  4. Enter the password to connect to your WiFi network. This is often found on the back, side, or bottom of your home network router that connects you to the Internet.
  5. Once connected, you should be able to log in with your school credentials (or Clever badge if that is available to you) and access your Google Classroom, Clever, Lexia, etc.
Visual Instructions can be found here!

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Internet Availability

There are various methods to get your student and your family connected to the internet. We wanted to make sure you were aware of the multiple options available.

The Benton School District provides student accessible WiFi in the main student parking area and around the PDC at Benton High School as well as in the Football/Soccer, Baseball and Softball field stands, and near the ticket booths at the Athletic Complex.

The Saline County Library is open Mon-Thur 9am – 7pm, Fri & Sat: 9am – 4pm. They have high-speed internet available as well as library computers that patrons can use for 90 minutes a day.

T-Mobile also has “Project 10 Million” to provide free hotspots and internet service to 10 million eligible households.  Link: https://www.t-mobile.com/brand/project-10-million

Fidelity, Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and others all service our area in various capacities and each provide a discount to qualifying households of up to $30/mo (or even free) through the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). For more information on the FCC’s program you can visit this link https://www.fcc.gov/acp

Fidelity Link: https://www.fidelitycommunications.com/acp#ebb-form

ViaSat Link: https://www.viasat.com/satellite-internet/affordable-connectivity-program/

HugesNet Link: https://www.hughesnet.com/acp

AT&T Link: https://www.att.com/help/affordable-connectivity-program/

Verizon Link: https://www.verizon.com/home/promo/affordable-connectivity-program/

T-Mobile Link: https://www.t-mobile.com/news/offers/t-mobile-brings-the-federal-affordable-connectivity-program-to-more-customers-with-free-wireless-service-at-metro-by-t-mobile

*Disclaimer: This post is informational only, the Benton School District is not endorsing nor promoting the providers listed or lack thereof.

Staff – TAC/ESchool VPN

UPDATE 2/1/2023 2:26pm – New Macbook instructions below. We’re working on the solution for Windows systems… Update 6:52pm – New Windows instructions below..

Instructions for MAC and WINDOWS below:

Staff with school issued Windows laptops — We are rolling out a VPN configuration to your computers that doesn’t rely on the state VPN. This is being provided temporarily while we study making it permanent, if possible. It should install soon after connecting to the Internet. It could take up to 30 minutes before the install starts.

  1. Click the Wifi icon (bottom right next to the clock)
  2. Click VPN (Windows 11) or BPSD-VPN (Windows 10; this is step 3 also – skip to 4)
    ** If you do not see this option yet, your laptop hasn’t applied the policy. If you’ve been connected to the Internet and actively using your laptop for a while (15-30minutes), please reboot and try again. We have some additional steps we can take to try to prompt the install if it doesn’t install as expected.
  3. Click BPSD-VPN
  4. Click Connect
  5. You should be prompted for your username and password
    Enter your SCHOOL short username (The part before @bentonschools.org; ie: jdoe)
    Enter your SCHOOL password (the password you login to email with, not the one you use for TAC, eSchool,etc and click OK
  6. When finished, Repeat steps 1-3 above and click “Disconnect“
    Please – Always Disconnect when finished working for this session so others can use this resource!

After successfully connecting to the VPN use the following links to access the resources that you need:
TAC – https://www.bentonschools.org/tac
ESchool – https://www.bentonschools.org/eschool
EFinance – https://www.bentonschools.org/eFinance


Staff with school issued Macbooks — We are rolling out a VPN configuration to your computers that doesn’t rely on the state VPN. This is being provided temporarily while we study making it permanent, if possible. It should install any minute as long as you are connected to the Internet.

  1. Click the Wifi icon in the top right corner of your Macbook desktop
  2. Click “Network Preferences“
  3. Click “BPSD VPN” in the list in the left column.
    ** If you do not see it yet, your Macbook hasn’t applied the policy. Reboot and try again. Some policies may only apply after rebooting.
  4. Check the box at the bottom “Show VPN status in menu bar” and Apply.
    ** This will place a new VPN icon in the top right corner of your screen. Left of the wifi icon, left of the battery icon. It looks similar to a battery or the grill on the front of a Jeep.
  5. Click the red X (top left) to get out of this settings window.
  6. Click the VPN icon described in step 4 above
  7. Click Connect BPSD VPN
  8. Your username should be listed.
    Enter your SCHOOL password (the password you login to email with, not the one you use for TAC, eSchool, etc) and click OK
  9. You should now be able to access resources as if you were on campus!
  10. When finished, Click the VPN icon described in step 4 above and click “Disconnect BPSD VPN“
    Please – Always Disconnect when finished working for this session so others can use this resource!

After successfully connecting to the VPN use the following links to access the resources that you need:
TAC – https://www.bentonschools.org/tac
ESchool – https://www.bentonschools.org/eschool
EFinance – https://www.bentonschools.org/eFinance

UPDATE 2/1/2023 1:05pm – Stay tuned… We should have a solution very soon…

UPDATE 2/1/2023 11:25am
The state VPN (F5) that is used to access eSchool, TAC, EES, etc from remote networks is currently experiencing a licensing issue causing it to reach max capacity which is preventing users from connecting. This is an issue at the state level; however, BPSD IT is currently looking into options to alleviate this issue.

F5 VPN Error - The maximum number of concurrent user sessions has been reached. No new user sessions can start at this time.
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Original Post
AS OF 2/1/2023 – Please use the directions above for VPN access..
Staff – ESchool/TAC – Friday, April 3, 2020

To access TAC, E-School or E-Finance from home you must first connect to the APSCN VPN.  Instructions for the VPN are here: ApscnVPN via F5 (Jan 2021) (Updated 3/16/2021 with Jan 2021 version)

Once connected to the VPN, Even if the option isn’t displayed, TAC should be reachable at www.bentonschools.org/tac and ESchool at www.bentonschools.org/eschool

MAC USERS:
If you get the following message, please follow these instructions to Reinstall the F5 VPN (link).

WINDOWS USERS:

If you get the error shown above for Mac users (The session reference number: nnnnnnnn):

  1. You will need to install a new version of the F5 VPN for accessing TAC.
  2. Click the start button (lower left corner), type in “Software Center” (without the quotes) then click the App to open it
  3. Select the “2021 F5 VPN Install” – follow the prompts.
    *** If it asks for the server enter: apscnvpn.k12.ar.us
  4. Select TAC and/or login when prompted.
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Student Tech Help!

Benton School District Technology Team is here to assist you with issues regarding your school account and/or school issued Chromebook, Macbook or iPad.

Our technology workorder for students is located here (click here)!

We will primarily communicate with you via your school email address. Please be sure to keep an eye on that at https://mail.bentonschools.org . You can also review your workorder(s) by clicking the “View/Edit Workorder” link in the menu at the top of this page.