EduTech Steering Committee; November 17, 2004; RIT Inn and Conference Center
EduTech Steering Committee; November 17, 2004; RIT Inn and Conference Center
Members present:
Bruce Amey, Avon Bob Leiby, Manchester Shortsville
Joe Backer, Letchworth Tom Manko, York
Joan Cole, Elba Jack McCabe, WFL BOCES
Maria Ehresman, Williamson Camille Sorenson, EduTech
Gary Hammond, GV BOCES
Dan Starr, North Rose Wolcott
Members Absent:
Members Absent:
Mike Glover, GV BOCES
Joe Marinelli, WFL BOCES
Guests:
Guests:
Jeremiah Frink, EduTech Keith Henry, W-FL BOCES
Amy Perry-DelCorvo, EduTech Chris Saxby, EduTech
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Amy and Jeremiah were present to update the committee on Accelerate U and the on-line courses.
Partnering with SCT BOCES for teachers to create their own websites. Currently six schools are participating.
To date 6500 students have taken courses offered. Awarded a Teaching American History grant and also received in October the Best in the Web award. Other states have contacted us wanting to participate, but we are only New York State.
This is the second year of offering courses on-line. Superintendents need to sign the agreement saying that no teacher is being replaced due to the on-line courses. Questions were raised by the committee regarding signing off on an agreement that doesn’t involve them. This should be a decision made at the local level. This has been a hurdle for Accelerate U with concerns in many districts about replacing teachers instead of supplementing.
Joe Backer feels this is a dangerous path to take. Our students cannot become involved in this program unless we meet the demands of your union. If this is covered in the union contract within the local district, do you still need to sign the agreement?
Jack McCabe stated that the BOCES is developing and providing this service and has the right to do this.
Question was raised in how is buying this service from BOCES different than other services we contract for. The law allows you to subcontract with outside sources that are not core subjects.
Action item: The concerns of the committee were acknowledged and that there is a level of concern with the document. Currently all the districts that are using Accelerate U courses have signed and for many districts it was the only way it would work. EduTech will have a follow up discussion with the committee at a future meeting.
On a positive note this really has been a successful program. We are hearing the need for AP courses. Working with APEX to provide these courses. We are currently offering 14 AP courses. Course size limited to 20 and are taught by NYS certified teacher that have a concentration of at least 10 years in the content area.
GV contact: John Jakobovic
WFL contact: Amy Perry-DelCorvo and Jeremiah Frink
Jeremiah shared a brief demonstration of some of the courses offered.
Information has been sent to all of our 47 districts.
Tom Manko has concern over this being mass mailed to people within districts. Creates expectations that the district may not be able to meet. Camel nose in tent, hump will follow.
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Cost Study – a year or so ago developed an action plan. One item was EduTech pricing.
Step 1: have Ray Wager come in and do a cost study. We met with Ray and his associate and are doing cost study based on budget you are seeing today. Ray will present the cost study at the December meeting.
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Camille presented background information in building the EduTech Budget and presented a number of management statistics used to oversee the operation.
Highlights:
Upgrade LAKENet
Continue to work on survey action plan regarding service delivery and communications
Complete Help Desk process review
Completed SED Regents Projects
Continue to work regionally and at a statewide level to implement a student Data Warehouse
Work regionally to communicate and educate districts on Data Readiness
Complete search for Student based Web Systems, convert 35 districts to Cleartrack
Implementation of an Asset Management system
Continue to expand Data Mentor use and functionality
Continue proactive process in virus protection
4.1% increase over last year’s budget
Budget increases in salary, health care, retirement, O&M
Flat budget in equipment, supplies, travel, training
District Pricing will be presented on 12/10/04
Gary shared how positive Camille meeting with the GV business managers was.
Action item - Bob Leiby feels it is a responsible budget. Expect dialog from WFL BOCES. Be prepared
to explain what will happen if additional cuts are made. If you cut it down to 3% here are the
ramifications.
Camille: The problem with doing that the decision is short sited, but we can do that.
Action item - Joe Backer: Present it as look at the deal we are getting. If you went here this is what it
would cost. Toot your own horn.
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Update on NCLB - Camille shared info that was presented by SED at RIC directors meeting in Albany.
State issuing RFP for printing and distribution of state materials. Anticipate 250,000 tests for each subject. Most everything is cascading back to the RICs. A lot of things in flux.
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Follow Up of items requested at last meeting –
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Shared some information about possible role of data person.
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Amount of Medicaid filing that we have worked with the schools over the years
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Action plan: status of what we have accomplished. Provided a summary of the visits that we did last summer.
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Action item - Bruce Amey: breakdown of what priority 1,2,3 etc mean for help desk
Next meeting – December 10; agenda items - Ray Wager presenting cost study, District pricing 05-06 budget
Meetings – March 11, May 13 (Optional)
Meetings – March 11, May 13 (Optional)
Minutes are available in Docushare for all superintendents
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