Struggling System, Part Two
From SPS Communications:
Student Information System now live, Waiting List Moves will begin August 31
We
want all families, including those with students on wait lists, to know
what to expect as we implement a new, improved student
information system. The system is live as of August 26. However, we must
carefully check current capacity at schools before we begin moving
waiting lists. We expect to begin moving waiting lists no later than
August 31.
Waiting Lists: We expect to begin moving
waiting lists no later than August 31. If your child is on a waiting list for a school,
please be sure to check your email and/or voice mail over Labor Day weekend.
(August 31, September 1 and 2). We expect to make waiting list moves
throughout that period, and will
move waiting lists where space is available. Please remember, however,
that we typically are not able to offer seats to all waitlisted
students. We understand how important it is to families, students and
staff to have this information. We apologize deeply
for the delay.
Transportation:
Transportation letters will be sent to you at the end of August, as
usual.
your child is on a waiting list and you are offered a space at your
choice school, transportation information will be updated as soon as
possible.
We apologize for the delay in implementing this new system
We
apologize to families, staff and students for the delay in implementing
our new student information system, and for any resulting
inconvenience. We understand that it can be very frustrating that we are
not able to move waitlists until approximately August 31. Our teams
have been working virtually around the clock and will continue to do so
until we have a fully functioning system. We
thank you for your patience.
At your school: we ask for your patience. Staff
at your schools have been trained in the
new system, and are still receiving additional training. As with any
change, it will take time for everyone to be proficient in using the new
system, so service at your school may be slower than usual. We ask you
to be patient --- school staff want to provide
you the best service possible!
Who can help me with questions?
For help with enrollment, please contact:
Email: Service
Center
Phone: (206) 252-0760
Fax: (206) 252-0761
Hours of Operation:
8:30am–4:00pm M-F
Phone: (206) 252-0760
Fax: (206) 252-0761
Hours of Operation:
8:30am–4:00pm M-F
For questions on access to the Source, please contact your school after September 4.
Additional background information - Why are you making a system change at this time?
SPS’s old
student information system was failing repeatedly, and was no longer
supported by the software company that developed the system. Therefore
we made the decision to make the change to PowerSchool, one of the top
five student information systems in the nation. In
spring 2013 we implemented
some parts of the new system, including a replacement for The Source,
the information system that is available to parents and guardians to
check on student attendance, grades, and test scores.
Comments
Last year wait list offers were made by e-mail and you only had 48 hrs. to respond before losing the offer. Perhaps, the response time will be extended for wait list offers that go out before/during the holiday weekend. I know of more than one family that will be camping or taking a family trip to areas secluded from computer/cell phone connections.
Thank you to the enrollment staff that will be giving up their holiday weekend to move the wait lists along.
-StepJ
Plus, there's been no communication to district families about this "plan", or about the "new system." It's only families who happen to check back on the SPS site repeatedly who might see this message if they click to see more on a homepage message. The current message says:
Waiting Lists:
We expect to begin moving waiting lists no later than Aug. 31. If your child is on a waiting list for a school, please be sure to check your email and/or voice mail over Labor Day weekend. (Aug. 31, Sept. 1-2). We expect to make waiting-list moves throughout that period, and will move waiting lists where space is available.
It's nice of StepJ to applaud the enrollment staff for giving up their holiday weekend, and she's right that it's probably not their fault. That's quite beside the point, though. Where is Banda and where is the board? Where is the other highly paid district leadership like McElvoy and the other cronies? WTH is going on with this @$*%+#@ district!?
-Done
student information system software