Fall 2018 Implementation Update

I just wanted to give you all a little update about our process in implementing our new Student Information System (SIS). Here are some of the things we’ve done since you last heard from me:

• All contracts were negotiated and signed and POs were drawn up
• Last week, the Infinite Campus Sales Team wanted to meet with me, our head of IT (Jesse), Preeti and our Schedulers. We met for about 90 minutes online and they asked for some basic information about bell schedules and attendance protocols and the primary purpose of the meeting was to introduce us to our Implementation Project Manager, Katie Groth, as well as the team of four others from Infinite Campus who will be supporting our transition.
• We created an Implementation Team made of the following people, because they fit the types of roles Infinite Campus indicated would be most helpful:
• Me, Jesse Lara, Jennifer Gargano, Preeti Sharan, Kristin Giammona, Evan Barth, Lori Villarreal, Marianne Rager, Troy Thiele
• The SIS Success Team is still an integral part to our entire process, and will continue to be used as a resource as specific implementation questions arise.
• This Implementation Team will be meeting with all of Infinite Campus’ Team in early November, after which I will provide an additional update about more specific details.

(This blogpost was also sent to AllHarker on 10/19/18)

2018-2019 SIS Implementation Year Begins

Welcome to the 2018-2019 school year and THE LAST YEAR we will be using PCR as our Student Information System (SIS).

As our SIS Success Team holds meetings, makes decisions and we move forward, we will be posting regular updates to this blog. Here's a brief overview of where we are and where we're going this year:

• We made a final decision that Infinite Campus will be our new SIS
• We've reviewed and signed the contracts, and submitted the "shopping carts" for budgetary approval and P.O. creation

We will be offering face-to-face, blended and online training opportunities. As soon as we get access to generic training materials, we will pass those along so those of you who are antsy and interested can get a small taste of Infinite Campus. Otherwise, we will be creating and distributing a Harker-specific training plan that will include everyone who touches PCR now, offering multiple chances to learn.

• ITSS, LID, Schedulers, Attendance and Admissions will be the first to learn parts of Infinite Campus.
• They will be shortly followed by Athletics and BEST.
• Teachers, Summer and Library will then be trained.

Rest assured, opportunities will be offered as soon as they become available and your feedback is always welcome and valued.

Thank you all again and again for your ongoing support.

First SIS Success Team Meeting

Our first SIS Success Team meeting was held on Tuesday, April 10 and proved to be a productive time. The slides that guided our two hours together are below. 

While we did not make a final decision during the meeting itself about which vendors we would invite for demonstrations, this was because we wanted to ensure that everyone had time to digest the information and give feedback. As such, a form was sent out, and if half of the respondents chose a vendor to invite, they were extended an invitation.

The three vendors we have invited are:

Veracross

Infinite Campus

Powerschool

All three vendors have slides dedicated in the slidedeck above if you're interested in learning more. Or, of course, you're free to Google or YouTube search any of them.

We also adjusted our overarching criteria that we will use to review the vendors. We added the need for Security to our criteria and consolidated "Administrator, Teacher, Parent Usability" and "Student Usability" into "Usability - Front end and Back end", thereby removing some confusion.

Additional information will be provided when the demonstration dates are confirmed. As always, please reach out if you have any questions in the meantime.

SIS Success Team!

Here comes the exciting work...having a team of your colleagues work together to determine where we go from here! 

The SIS Success Team is made up of the following individuals - they are ONE resource to lean upon when wondering where we are in the process or where we're going. Of course, you can always rely upon this blog or your LID Team to also keep you updated.

We had such a great level of interest in participation on the SIS Success Team that I created additional roles for those who could assist at other points throughout the roll-out process (hand-holders and code breakers). :) If you would like to join in one of those groups, reach out and let me know!

Vendor Review Meetings

We've begun the process of meeting again with user groups to now give overviews of the various vendors contacted. Meetings will continue through the next month. Please reach out if you'd like to have input or if you have any questions by emailing Liz Brumbaugh.

This is the slidedeck (ancillary materials are embedded within the slides - please keep the slides with Harker staff and faculty):




As noted in the slides, we're also rounding out our SIS Success Team. These representatives are here to provide additional perspective, advisement and will be collectively determining next steps, as they have been involved and participated in this process since our first meetings. This team will be choosing the 2-3 vendors to call back for a longer demo to which everyone will be invited.


The SIS Success Team names are in the slides, but here they are additionally:

• Admin Assts 
• Nicole Hall 
• Admissions 
• TBD 
• Advancement 
• Amy Streeper 
• Athletics 
• Brighid Wood 
• Attendance 
• Sue Prutton/Lori Villareal 
• BEST 
• Kim Cali 
• Deans 
• Amy Hauck 
• Finance 
• Aarthi Ragupathy/Hoang Ngo 
• ITSS 
• Brian Oldziewski 
• Preeti Sharan 
• Library 
• Lauri Vaughn
• LID 
• Liz Brumbaugh 
• Office of Comm 
• Nick Gassman 
• Schedulers 
• Troy Thiele 
• Vonda Reid 
• Marianne Rager 
• Summer Programs 
• Lola Muldrew 
• Teachers - LS 
• Imelda Cantu 
• TBD 
• Teachers - MS 
• Pat Burrows 
• TBD 
• Teachers - PS 
• TBD 
• Teachers - US 
• TBD 
• TBD


Please reach out if you'd like to have input or if you have any questions by emailing Liz Brumbaugh.

January Update - SIS Success Team Information

This month, in addition to holding introductory meetings with potential Student Information Systems, I am also scheduling time to meet with the user groups again to report back on these introductory meetings.

When we meet again, I will be asking for interest in participation in the SIS Success Team. What is the SIS Success Team, you ask? 

This will be an amazing group of people who selflessly give of their time for the good of the whole. 

Please think now about if you might be the right fit for the SIS Success Team. 

The person should:

• Be available for monthly meetings
• Be genuinely interested in schoolwide systems
• Be a regular user of the SIS
• Have attended at least one user group meeting (either in the Fall or in the early Spring)
• Have a sense of humor

It is expected that this person will:

• Regularly attend monthly meetings, scheduled as conveniently as possible
• Report back to other users of a similar role
• Provide perspective, use cases and feedback through the choosing of, and implementation of a (potentially) new SIS
• Collaboratively make a final decision about our next SIS

Reach out to Liz Brumbaugh if you are interested in helping this worthy cause!