EduTech Steering Committee
September 29, 2004
September 29, 2004
RIT Inn and Conference Center
Members Present:
Bruce Amey, Avon Joe Backer, Letchworth
Bob Smith, Elba Bob Leiby, Manchester-Shortsville
Joan Cole, Elba Joe Marinelli, WFL Boces
Camille Sorenson, EduTech Jack McCabe, WFL Boces
Mike Glover, GV Boces Maria Ehresman, Williamson
Gary Hammond, GV Boces Tom Manko, York
Absent:
Dan Starr, NR-Wolcott
Introductions
Camille shared the committee member’s contact information with the entire committee.
Goals Update – Camille Sorenson
Last year we took the time to re-establish the goals of the committee and the goals the committee wanted Edutech to work on. When reviewing the committee set goals it was determined that there was an overlap with the action plan goals associated with the customer survey. Camille handed out a document outlining the current status of the committee and action plan goals. Camille discussed the success of superintendent visits and Tech Coordinator visits that would begin this year. Camille explained the progress on Communications and Improving response time and the changes made in the Help Desk Operations.
Action item : Dr. Marinelli asked if the committee could see a summary of the visits with the districts. What they are concerned about and what they are happy with. If patterns were noticed. More of a collective sharing of info.
Action Item : Bruce Amey asked for this to be shared with committee so that they can share with other superintendents.
Pricing: Contracted with Ray Wager to do a Cost Study.
Working on a tight timeframe to report by December.
Will have Ray in to present to committee on December 10.
Student Systems – Lisa Roberts, EduTech Manager of Student Systems
Lisa updated the committee with new service offerings in the Student System area -
1. Web based Schoolmaster PASS system allows parents web access to their student’s information;
36 districts currently using, 13 districts using the PASS system within Schoolmaster. This
system available to all Schoolmaster users at no additional cost.
2. PALM / PDA application for downloading student information to PDA’s currently used by 10 districts;
allows you to see the student’s schedule, daily attendance, roster of students in class, teacher schedules, student emergency contact information. Extra charge based on student database.
3. Web based – for Special Ed
ClearTrack:
-Rolling out regular ed access to Special Ed IEPs, 32 districts using it
IEP Direct:
- Entered contract with and will start supporting.
- 8 district using
4. Web based Medicaid
- - districts can have access to their own Medicaid information and not have to rely on their RIC for it.
- - Staff can work with district to show them how they can maximize their billing
5. PowerSchool – Web based student information system.
- 55 NYS public school districts using
- 5 RICs currently supporting
- Teachers can access from home
- All the functionality of Schoolmaster and more is available in PowerSchool
- Finding SASI to be difficult to work with as a vendor.
- 3 of the 6 schools using SASI are the first to switch to PowerSchool.
- Student/Parent – can create course selection on-line
On-line instruction of students:
Bob Leiby – any feasibility we will see credit bearing NYS courses on line?
Maria Ehresman – using to add courses and not take away from teacher.
Jack McCabe – housed and run through Accelerate U
22 BOCES distributing out to districts.
Have approx 40 accredited NYS teachers.
Future agenda item
Update on Statewide Data Warehousing – Camille, Jack McCabe
- Project Update
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Statewide
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EduTech Region
- Unique Student ID
- Data Readiness
- Data Mentor
- Identity Management
Presented this info at district technology coordinator meeting a week ago and will present to CSOs in
October. Data Readiness is key to successful Warehouse, State reporting, and data analysis. The need is there for district to appoint a central data administrator with the overall knowledge of the data in the district and the decision making position to effect changes in the district.
Tom Manko: at the local level you are going to have to have a person who this is their sole responsibility. What does this job consist of and what might it consist of 3-4 years down the road? Information that we can give a board describing the responsibilities of the position today and in the future. We need to be in a position to advocate for this with our board.
In past years with LEAP and STEP more often our contact has been a secretary in the guidance or main office. Dealing with clerical staff to make sure data is accurate. It has reached a point where we need someone in each district that is a point of contact. An individual who can work with us and assure the data is accurate, can work with the data, and can make decisions or authorizations. Need to work with someone for the accuracy, management of data, instructional.
Currently, the State is not sending money for data readiness we are however, lobbying with state for monies.
Camille shared a calendar outlining the various timelines.
LEAP reporting through the warehouse will now be 8/2006
Joe Backer: Do we need to address the School Board. Have to present them with concrete information on the needs of this position. Camille: Jim Kadamus has gone to various regions across the state.
Mike Glover: Tracy Lindsay is someone familiar with the GV Boces people.
Camille : Tracy will be presenting to both CSO groups in October and his handout can be used in talking to district boards.
Camille will share some of the job descriptions she has received. Most of the descriptions she has seen are 60% instructional and 40% data
Jack: Would it help if we just continue to share the information and work out a draft of what would work best? Would it be helpful to audit your districts and give you an evaluation of how you are doing?
Tom Manko: The sooner we have the audit the better for me to give the information out.
This is what is coming; this is the future.
ID Management:
The issue of data warehouse and student data amplifies the need for security management. We have multiple systems with multiple logins and passwords, There are ‘Islands of Identity”, how do we manage the logins and insure security of student data.
One way is through ‘Federated Identity’, or ‘circles of trust’. Along with 9 other RICs we are doing the advanced thinking. The glue piece in the middle of all this data warehouse and management is going to be identity management. We are working to create a common log in process federated by the group. We are going to have someone at the district level overseeing the user, giving them rights, removing them when they leave.
ID management is something we are pushing. We are joining forces with PING Identity Corp. the leading company of federated systems. We are doing a Proof of concept that we should be able to show you in the future. This will allow the ability to seamlessly jump from application to application (without needing to re-login)
LAKENet: Over the summer we upgraded the entire LAKENet system.
- 3 x faster service of download information
- 6.5 million URL addresses a day
- Increased Redundancy
- We replaced equipment
- Project went very well considering the size of the project.
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Virus Update:
- Shared email sent to district coordinators in July with status on virus protection efforts
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Next Meeting:
November 17, 2004
RIT Inn and Conference Center
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