"The experience of déjà vu is usually accompanied by a compelling sense of familiarity, and also a sense of "eeriness", "strangeness", or "weirdness". ..."
According to the Journal; (link) (sub req.)
APS has purchased another multi million dollar software package that doesn't work. And they have a million dollar "maintenance" contract with a company that doesn't return phone calls.
Those who are trying to use the system at the educational interface, say, "What used to take me fifteen or twenty minutes ...now can take up to two hours."
Teachers and counselors think the program is a piece of crap.
District officials think the problem comes from the program's use by the great unwashed,
who are dumbfounded by more powerful programs,
and who have inherent difficulty with change.
Will it happen again?
- According to the Council of the Great City Schools audit; the administrator who spent 233.3 teacher salaries on the system, did not have to demonstrate by any objective means, that s/he had the education, experience, or skill set necessary to purchase multi million dollar software packages. The administrator who has not, and will not be identified, was promoted to his or her position according to an evaluation system that is "subjective and unrelated to promotion or step placement."
- Further, the purchase of the software was not supported by any stakeholder participation in the selection process. It was selected to address the needs of administrators. Teachers and counselors, those who would end up using the software, were never asked what they wanted/needed from a software package.
- Finally, the system is not going to change as a result of this most recent calamity. The district cannot produce any record that indicates a change in the evaluation of administrators, since the CotGCS audit.
We will consult my Magic 8-Ball
... it says ... ... ...
duh ! !!
3 comments:
Are we talking about the School Max/ Ionline system (or am I not supposed to mention it by name..ooops)?
From an instructor's point of view, APS set it up for failure from the beggining. They sent the counselors, administrators and Data processors a 150 page manual and told them to "set it up and use it" with no training whatso ever.
Additionally, the manuals distributed by APS had blank codes for specific district-defined definitions that are very important and necessary.
When APS was asked for the codes they kind of throw their hands in the air and say "look in your books".
Someone made a huge personal profit off of buying Schoolmax so quickly, and at such a price. It is a very elementary system...it's almost a DOS (old-style) program.
I had at one point offered to build a program that could perform almost as well, and at a very small fraction of that cost... a program that APS would author and own... but they weren't interested.
Follow the money trail.....
Isn't this the same system the state had bought that has been blamed for everything that has not happened properly in the past year or two?
And where were the accountability police when they turned down your offer? The follow the money person is right on!
And as usual, Ched, you are so right in pointing out how it is all our fault in the minds of the upper management. We are all disgruntled employees. Next question, Why?
In resposnse to the previous blogger's comments... since coming to New Mexico, I admire the teachers that stay on here and are so dedicated, despite the obstacles they face almost every day... obstacles like no money, administrative interference, district/admin bullying, lack of social programs and funding, and the social work that many instructors do. I came from a district (from out of state) that was quite well off, and I know none of this would have ever been permitted there.
I admire the teachers of NM that habg in there... many of them are doing over and beyond what's expected of them to help our kids here... even though they are disgruntled.
Thanks!
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