EduTech Steering Committee, Dec 15, 2014
RIT Inn and Conference Center
Present:
Bruce Amey, Avon CSD
Terry MacNabb, Waterloo CSD
Chris Dailey, Batavia CSD
Camille Sorenson, EduTech
Scott Bischoping, WFL BOCES
Julia Reed, Letchworth CSD
Absent:
Kevin MacDonald, GVEP
Charlene Harvey, Manchester-Shortsville CSD
Mike Hayden, Clyde-Savannah CSD
Guest:
Chris Saxby, EduTech
Lisa Roberts, EduTech
Laurel Skellett, EduTech
Gary Rosenthal, EduTech
Mike Smith, EduTech
Assessment Scoring and Analysis Program - ASAP
Camille Sorenson introduced Lisa Roberts to present ASAP, the Regents scoring system designed by EduTech and used throughout the state. Lisa introduced the team that designed, developed and support the system
In June 2011, SED required all districts scan Regents answer sheets immediately after teachers scored the exams EduTech decided to leverage our item analysis process to calculate accurate scores and provide reports, and print answer sheets, becoming ASAP. Other RICs bought into our ASAP and pre-print service In 2012, EduTech began designing the Regents answer sheets used by all the districts outside NYC.
Regents are administered in January, June and August. Laurel Skellett designs the 30+ answer sheets every year. Our pre-print program produces answer sheets including student and teacher data from blank paper.
Districts scan the answer sheets at their buildings and ASAP produces a final score. This guarantees all students and teachers receive an accurate score. In prior years, the teacher hand scoring error rate was as high as 25%.
ASAP produces 21 different reports plus a data file for Student System importing and the Data Warehouse.
Scott Bischoping asked the questions – if Regents exams become online, then will this system will no longer be in use? Camille responded that is correct. SED has contacted the Regional Information Centers asking if there is a RIC interested in working on an online Regents pilot. A few RICs, not EduTech, have volunteered. More than likely it will be during the 2015-16 Regents administration. The subject has not been selected.
Bruce Amey noted that because EduTech charges the other RICs for the ASAP system, EduTech districts are not charged for the system.
System Assurance Analysis (SAA) System -
Camille presented a demonstration of the System Assurance Analysis (SAA) System, the SAA database.
In 1998, EduTech was processing $5-6 million in technology purchases every year. The process was a very manual, paper system with redundant databases and no management measurement statistics.
EduTech embarked on an optimization project, first conducting a thorough workflow analysis and reengineering project, process then developing an automated system.
Version 1.0 of the SAA database was launched in 1999, version 1.1 with a complete purchase order, receiving module was launched in 2001. Later in 2001 EduTech also launched its automated Billing system 1.0.
In 2009, EduTech launched Version 2.0 of the SAA DB system, a web based system fully integrated with the EduTech Billing System, the WFL BOCES Wincap system and EduTech’s email system.
The automation allowed EduTech to expand the district technology purchase process from $5 million in purchases annually to $15 million annually with minimum incremental staffing. The system will also allow EduTech to process ongoing volume as we enter the Smart Schools project period.
As part of the workflow analysis process EduTech also instituted Pre-install and Post-install meeting for large projects as a focus on customer, district service.
Questions were asked by Scott, does EduTech use the WFL BOCES Energy department ? Yes for many projects in the GVEP and WFL regions. Do they have access to the system? No but we certainly can provide them access.
Question by Terry MacNabb do district technology coordinators receive emails generated by the system as the SAA advances from step to step ? They do not but there is a “district view” of the system that coordinators can have access to; they should contact their EduTech project coordinator for access.
EduTech 2015-2016 Budget
Camille began the budget presentation noting that at today’s meeting we are asking the committee for a recommendation to proceed with the budget as presented, at the November meeting and again today.
Process
·
November 18 – Budget, Pricing – Review, Input by EduTech Steering Committee
·
November, December – CSO Information sharing GV and W-FL
·
December 16 – Review, Input by EduTech Steering Committee
- recommendation to proceed
·
December 2014, January 2015 – Review by W-FL BOCES Board
·
January 2015 Final Request for Services sent to districts
Proposed Expenditure Budget
·
$15,318,742
·
+ $366,254
·
+2.45%
EduTech 2015-2016 Services Pricing
·
+1.91% change on all EduTech services
·
+0.0% change on all EduTech installation charges (remaining unchanged for 20 years)
· For districts that subscribe to shared services – Data Coordinator, Technology Coordinator, Technical Support Services - +3.75% increase for EduTech shared services
·
GVEP Administrative fee, percentage of annual EduTech purchases, all services in 2013-14 will remain at 1% for 2015-2016 for GVEP districts
Bruce Amey offered a motion to proceed with the budget as presented. The motion was seconded by Chris Dailey. All committee members in attendance agreed. (Committee members Harvey, Hayden agreed as well via email).
Smart School Bond Act -
If districts reference the Smart Schools Commission Final Report at
http://programs.governor.ny.gov/sites/default/files/SmartSchoolsReport.pdf
starting on page 39, it explains at a high level the planning process that will be required of districts.
Confirmed is the fact that the money does not expire.
It appears that any technology item eligible for a standard Capital project will be eligible for Smart Schools - hardware, design and installation services associated with the hardware but not ongoing support nor professional development. This area needs to be further itemized and defined.
And, guidance will probably not be available in January.
Meetings remaining this year:
April 17, 2015, 8:30 -10:00 AM RIT Inn and Conference Center
Back to top