Date: April 20th, 2011 To: Michael Green From: Steve Rippl Subject: Tech Dept. Executive Summary
Well the guys got through their long list over Spring Break and things went very smoothly overall (which isn't always the case when introducing changes!). Our updated anti-virus client got pushed out with minimal disruption and it seems as though staff have not really had a problem with our new arrangement of a smaller home folder and an archive folder.
We recently added some functionality on our website for KWRL to post bus videos for Principals from our coop districts to view on-line. Previously Donna had to burn DVDs and mail them to the other district causing quite a delay in any action. Now we have things set up so that she can copy a file to a network share and we have automated scripts that convert the video and post it to our site (only viewable with a password), thus greatly speeding up the whole process. This is in addition to an on-line transport request form we had done earlier, and in the future they may need an updated database for their bus maintenance schedule, they currently use a number of spreadsheets that have got a bit unwieldy. Eventually it will probably make sense to break them out into their own small site (I know you already have a domain name for them), probably around our updating of Woodland's website back-end software.
It's almost MSP testing time, we've just installed the latest round of updates from the State and the kids have been running through the tutorials in order to become familiar with it. We're now planning with the buildings on exactly how many computers they need where and then we'll be all set. Again, all the older laptops donated from USNR last year will prove very helpful in creating our temporary extra labs for testing.
During the non-student day next Monday we'll be doing some staff training with the High School. Candice Shepherd, Aaron Blackwelder and myself will be extolling the virtues of Google Apps and Thinkfinity and having the staff actually get in there and try these tools out for themselves. Aaron is particularly keen on Google Apps as he has been using it with his students quite a bit and sees it as a great tool for them. I believe Jeff Flanagan in the Intermediate School has also been using Google Apps with students in his Technology class.
After a meeting with Asha and Deb Kernen more updates for Sips are planned, primarily to get it ready for use in the Middle School. One feature that is already partially implemented and just needs generalization is the creation of sortable lists of student data, so one could take a list of 6th grade students and sort on various metrics we have in the system to see who, for example, would benefit from the Middle School LAP Math class. We'll also be tracking math assessment scores in the Middle school starting next year.