1/29/2007harker picks an sis getting it right central applications for successful schools

1/29/2007 Harker picks an SIS

Getting IT Right

Central applications for successful schools


Where have I been 7 years NH Public School

6-12 Middle High School K-5 Elementary Total enrollment 580

Entering my fourth year at Harker K-5 Primary & Elementary 6-8 Middle 9-12 Upper

Total enrollment 1690


SIS Experience In NH

5 SISs in 7 years 3 Major Conversions

High School MMS to MMS 2000 High School MMS 2000 to Nordex Simultaneously

High School Nordex to PowerSchool Elementary MacSchool to PowerSchool

Much better at conversion than I intended


Old Assumptions 5+ years ago

Unified solution meant single vendor Data silos better than no data

Some batching for update Each island under a different charge

Development Business Student Records Schedule Learning Environment Etc., etc.


New Assumptions

There are Communication Options Schools Interoperability Framework (SIF) WebObjects Unitary solutions Integration consultants Do it yourself integration


Our Assumptions

All major apps should be capable of integration

Cost is a big part of the decision, but in about third place

Perceived Problems: Frequent redundant entry Hard to manage Poor integration


3 BubblesPublicFace(CMS)

LearningManagementSystem(LMS)

StudentInformationSystem(SIS)


Public Face - CMS

Constituencies Educational Community outside Marketing / Admissions General Public Parents Development Alumni


CMS

Keepers / Content Managers Communications Admissions Alumni Development Parent organization(s) Athletics / Activities Directors


CMS

Options Homemade FinalSite, Whipple Hill, SilverPoint Unitary solutions


Learning Management System (LMS)

Constituencies Teachers Students Academic Administrators Parents


LMS

Keepers / Content Managers Teachers Librarians Instructional Specialists


LMS

Options Moodle BlackBoard Desire2Learn Angel eClassroom


Student Information Systems - SIS

Constituencies Registrars Senior Administrators Academic Deans Division Heads / Principals Teachers Students Parents


SIS

Keepers / Content Managers Registrars Teachers Academic Deans Senior Administrators


SIS Options for Independent Schools

We found at least 15

Senior Systems Blackbaud Pearson

SASI PowerSchool Chancery

Rediker

Whipple Hill Spiral Systems eSchool Plus inResonance


3 BubblesPublicFace(CMS)




The Intersections Matter

SIS – Demographic and record keeping key

Public Face – market perception, parent communication, calendar, admissions

LMS – Assignments, activities, & resources


Intersections

What about calendar? Academic Non-academic Administrative

Demographic updates How and by whom

Communications


System Selection Process

Process is worthwhile Determine who will decide Determine your criteria Include All stakeholders

Screen Present Decide


Persuade the Head

Why do you want/need to change Efficiency?

Admin Teacher Student Family

Additional features? Things that aren’t working? Integration?


Who are the Deciders?

Limit the group Cover major constituencies Head must be a part Stakeholders need to be heard


Criteria

What are the features Must haves Like to haves Didn’t know you could do that Check with stakeholders


What did we do? Admin meeting on three bubble

theory Hold all software additions until we

had decided on all three bubbles Screening Group:

Office of Communications on CMS Director of Instructional Tech on LMS Dir of Inst Tech and Academic Dean on

SIS


Coarse Screen

Identify major criteria Hit friends & listservs:

ISED-L BAISnet Former contacts & personal experience


First Review

Between 15 & 20 narrowed to 11 First major presentation

Intended to show that things could be better

Became one of the final four


Spreadsheet Criteria


Final Four

More detailed screening “Ballpark pricing” The Excellent Question

10 years on SIS 5 years on LMS 5 years on CMS


Review Group Head & Assistant Head Academic

Affairs Academic Dean, Director of Inst. Tech All Division Heads Academic & College Counseling Admissions Business Office & IT Teachers from every division


3 Hour Meetings

Teacher experience IT requirements, security,

customization, integration Admin, counselor, etc. experience Written feedback collected by Ass’t

Head


Review of Options

What if we didn’t change? What if we only changed some? Could we meet criteria?


Consensus Meeting

Head Assistant Head Academic Dean Dir. of Inst. Tech Dir. of Information Tech Lead Scheduler Business Manager


Now where are we?

Final negotiations Implementation Timeline Kickoff integration plan


3 Bubbles

PublicFace(CMS)



Business

DevelopmentAlumni

Admissions

1/29/2007harker picks an sis getting it right central applications for successful schools

Documents

parent communication

managepoor integrationharker

sissis options

elementarytotal enrollment

uppertotal enrollment

middle high schoolk

sissis experiencein

been7 years nh public