Members present: Bruce Amey, Avon Jack McCabe, WFL BOCES
Joe Backer, Letchworth Tom Manko, York
Joan Cole, Elba Camille Sorenson, EduTech
Bob Leiby, Manchester Shortsville Dan Starr, NR-Wolcott
Members Absent:
Members Absent: Mike Glover, GV BOCES Joe Marinelli, WFL BOCES
Gary Hammond, GV BOCES Maria Ehresman, Williamson
Guests:
Guests: Tracy Lindsay, EduTech Bob Phillips, EduTech
Jeff Decker, EduTech
Camille Sorenson began the meeting by welcoming everyone for a new year and sharing what the upcoming year will hold for EduTech.
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Grade 3 through 8 testing triples the volume we handle. Working with CTB developing new process, re-arranging staff to handle the volume, and making sure we have the equipment to handle the increased volume.
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SED now handles non-public school assessments, but could shift to the RICs.
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Development of warehouses across the state
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Trying to do initiatives with current staff
Unique student ID
PowerSchool
Test Scoring
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Customer Survey
From the 2002-03 survey we developed an Action Plan. Re-surveying in 2005-06 to evaluate the progress we have made.
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Enhancements to Date Mentor
EduTech will be doing these initiatives while maintaining day-to-day operations.
Statewide Initiatives -
Statewide Initiatives - Tracy Lindsay, from EduTech, reported on the status of state reporting, data warehousing, grades 3-8 exams, school improvement reporting, and regents exams.
Spent last year prepping for the 2005-2006 school year. LEAP is gone. K-8 testing/enrollment will now be reported through the warehouse.
August 2006 will see the last STEP report.
For the first year, results will be held 120 days to be able to review before releasing the results. This will not give the school districts the preliminary results in a timely fashion for curriculum planning.
Tom Manko stated that this is unacceptable. Jack McCabe said the reality is the home schools will try and figure it out. Talking about putting together a group of individuals to map the test and put out unofficial results.
Joan Cole mentioned that districts need the data for summer curriculum planning.
Need to have a unified way of collecting data in student systems. Collectable data will have more levels of detail.
State Ed met with student information vendors to make sure they have what is needed in their systems.
If a school is not using a BOCES supported student system, templates are available for reporting the data.
In early November will have our first meeting with the data administrators.
Question was raised as to who has proprietary rights to the data? Can CTB send info to someone else?
The school districts own the data and approve or deny access to information.
Jack McCabe reminded everyone that SED is building the process as they go. Be prepared for technical and instructional issues.
Camille stated that all the pieces need to fit together. Unfortunately, this year all the pieces are not there. We will need to work as we go.
Joe Backer asked that we survey data administrators around June 1st to get their feedback on the year.
Joan Cole asked that the contact info is up to date for data administrators to allow for networking opportunities.
Joe Backer stated to let the people who are doing a good job write up the description.
Regional Initiatives
Regional Initiatives EduTech Customer Survey – Jeff Decker and Bob Phillips
Self-improvement initiative started in 1998. Goal was to identify level of satisfaction and to listen.
In 2002 did an on-line survey with 32% of tech coordinators responding. Did on-site visits with 89% of the superintendents and 36% of business officials. From the information received, developed an action plan.
Managers meet weekly to discuss issues.
Incorporate in reporting mechanism how we are communicating with districts.
In 2006 will do another survey to include 13 questions. Will meet first with the 10% of superintendents have not touched base with. Will share brochure, past survey results, action plan, and future survey.
Additional
Additional Bruce Amey has asked that EduTech allow white box computers. Camille indicated that, as promised, we would once again do a review of ‘whitebox’ vendors, as we have on two occasions in the past 3 years, and we will provide this committee with the information.
Camille continued, per a long standing regional understanding, EduTech supports a variety of standards (computers, student or finance systems, network operating systems etc) so that the districts have a choice. However, we do not offer all brands of computers, software etc as it is not cost effective to do so, the more variety we offer the higher the cost to deliver the service.
For example, an individual Superintendent wants us to procure, support and aid Seneca Data PCs....and say others want us to offer Great Lakes, Brite, Gateway, Soyata, Sony etc; everytime we expand the list there is a 'cost of operations' associated with it.
Bob Leiby wants to know if anyone is looking at telecom services over the EduTech backbone. At this time, the answer is no.
Next Meeting:
November 8, 2005
Lodge at Woodcliff
8:30 a.m. .