1/29/2007Harker picks an SIS Getting IT Right Central applications for successful schools

1/29/2007Harker picks an SIS 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

1/29/2007Harker picks an SIS 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

1/29/2007Harker picks an SIS 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.

1/29/2007Harker picks an SIS New Assumptions  There are Communication Options Schools Interoperability Framework (SIF) WebObjects Unitary solutions Integration consultants Do it yourself integration

1/29/2007Harker picks an SIS 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

1/29/2007Harker picks an SIS 3 Bubbles Public Face (CMS) Learning Management System (LMS) Student Information System (SIS)

1/29/2007Harker picks an SIS Public Face - CMS  Constituencies Educational Community outside Marketing / Admissions General Public Parents Development Alumni

1/29/2007Harker picks an SIS CMS  Keepers / Content Managers Communications Admissions Alumni Development Parent organization(s) Athletics / Activities Directors

1/29/2007Harker picks an SIS CMS  Options Homemade FinalSite, Whipple Hill, SilverPoint Unitary solutions

1/29/2007Harker picks an SIS Learning Management System (LMS)  Constituencies Teachers Students Academic Administrators Parents

1/29/2007Harker picks an SIS LMS  Keepers / Content Managers Teachers Librarians Instructional Specialists

1/29/2007Harker picks an SIS LMS  Options Moodle BlackBoard Desire2Learn Angel eClassroom

1/29/2007Harker picks an SIS Student Information Systems - SIS  Constituencies Registrars Senior Administrators Academic Deans Division Heads / Principals Teachers Students Parents

1/29/2007Harker picks an SIS SIS  Keepers / Content Managers Registrars Teachers Academic Deans Senior Administrators

1/29/2007Harker picks an SIS 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

1/29/2007Harker picks an SIS 3 Bubbles Public Face (CMS) Learning Management System (LMS) Student Information System (SIS)

1/29/2007Harker picks an SIS The Intersections Matter  SIS – Demographic and record keeping key  Public Face – market perception, parent communication, calendar, admissions  LMS – Assignments, activities, & resources

1/29/2007Harker picks an SIS Intersections  What about calendar? Academic Non-academic Administrative  Demographic updates How and by whom  Communications

1/29/2007Harker picks an SIS System Selection Process  Process is worthwhile Determine who will decide Determine your criteria Include All stakeholders  Screen  Present  Decide

1/29/2007Harker picks an SIS Persuade the Head  Why do you want/need to change Efficiency?  Admin  Teacher  Student  Family Additional features? Things that aren’t working? Integration?

1/29/2007Harker picks an SIS Who are the Deciders?  Limit the group  Cover major constituencies  Head must be a part  Stakeholders need to be heard

1/29/2007Harker picks an SIS Criteria  What are the features Must haves Like to haves Didn’t know you could do that Check with stakeholders

1/29/2007Harker picks an SIS 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

1/29/2007Harker picks an SIS Coarse Screen  Identify major criteria  Hit friends & listservs: ISED-L BAISnet Former contacts & personal experience

1/29/2007Harker picks an SIS 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

1/29/2007Harker picks an SIS Spreadsheet Criteria

1/29/2007Harker picks an SIS Final Four  More detailed screening  “Ballpark pricing”  The Excellent Question 10 years on SIS 5 years on LMS 5 years on CMS

1/29/2007Harker picks an SIS 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

1/29/2007Harker picks an SIS 3 Hour Meetings  Teacher experience  IT requirements, security, customization, integration  Admin, counselor, etc. experience  Written feedback collected by Ass’t Head

1/29/2007Harker picks an SIS Review of Options  What if we didn’t change?  What if we only changed some?  Could we meet criteria?

1/29/2007Harker picks an SIS Consensus Meeting  Head  Assistant Head  Academic Dean  Dir. of Inst. Tech  Dir. of Information Tech  Lead Scheduler  Business Manager

1/29/2007Harker picks an SIS Now where are we?  Final negotiations  Implementation Timeline  Kickoff integration plan

1/29/2007Harker picks an SIS 3 Bubbles Public Face (CMS) Learning Management System (LMS) Student Information System (SIS) Business Development Alumni Admissions