Ethernotes

Tech Plans

• New timeline: April 30 deadline for 3 yr tech submission.
• Must have in MEGS for Randy to review by 17-Apr-09.
• Beneficial for MAISD districts to be on the 3 yr timeline. Ultimately up to district. Can be amended at any time.

Premiere Internet Toolbar for IE

• Jim Kaupilla
• Newest version of full suite on CD-R. There may be training this spring.

Google Talk

• MAISD standard. Use it for Tim & Brent contacts.

Student Management

• Randy Lindquist
• The committee has selected 3 vendors for full day presentations
  

  • Power School
  • Infinite Campus
  • Excelsior

• No date has been set but it will be in March to beginning of April.
• The presentations will be broken down into various functions. Anyone can attend.
• Ravenna should send someone to each relevant session if we want to give input.
• Click here for SMS timeline and other details

MUNIS & Excel versions

• Rhonda Smith
• Direct deposits can be emailed instead of printing copies & stuffing envelopes.
  • Remind users to pick up any print outs they make. Don’t leave at the printer.
•  Some emails have been bouncing back.
• Need Excel 2003 or greater to download from MUNIS. Ann will have to upgrade.
• Compatibility with Open Office was raised. Rhonda will look into. She feels the response will be, “if it works, it works. Too bad for you if not.”
• PO printing
  • If POs don’t print it is likely to be a special character like the Register mark. Check the characters that are trying to be printed.
• The next phase is restructured.
  • MAISD will lead training in August. Rhonda will be the lead trainer.
  • 7 districts in next phase. Ravenna is not in the next phase.
  • Dividing the MAISD staff as point persons.
  • Point people are assigned specific districts. Each MAISD staff will be a point person for 3 districts.
• Business Managers will be given more details on 27-Feb-09.
• Jackson ISD is becoming a customer.
• MUNIS v7.2 will install the Saturday of spring break, if the test upgrade goes well.

Anti-virus

• Districts leaning toward AVG.
• Centralized control
• Must run on “old,” 6-10 years.

CIPA Filter Info

•  Randy sent vendor information out via email at the vendor’s request.
• Nothing Ravenna needs to consider

Sinking Funds for Technology

• Is true they are looking at it.
• Trying to change language to reflect bond language.

Technology Legal Seminar

• March 26, 2009 webinar 9-11:30 am
• email retention
• Lawyers & David Palme, Portland Public Schools

MOODLE

• The MAISD will still host the sites but provides no end user support.
• MAISD will be migrating districts to their own server.
• Ravenna’s MOODLE site is hosted by MAISD.
• The biggest issue is student email addresses. Getting them in and out is overwhelming the MAISD.

Reimaging computers

• Diane Zoellmer
• Add delicious buttons to toolbar.

Blogs – Update to 2.6.7

• Diane Zoellmer
• A teacher has a very active blog. It is a highly regarded blog.
  • Someone didn’t have their comment approved.
  • This person complained to the Superintendent.
• Teachers who use MAISD blog sign off to follow district policy.
• What is Ravenna’s policy on blogs?
• One district suggested blogger’s turn off comments. Duh. Defeats the purpose of having a blog.
• The update is overwhelming. The teacher’s will have an initial panic.
• If there are six (6) people wanting blog training, Diane will visit Ravenna.
• 23 Things
  • Diane’s 23 Things blog is here
  • Diane will be offering another session over the summer. Look for registration in May
  • Diane did this in a blog rather than MOODLE because of the complexity of MOODLE.

MAISD Tech Inventory

• We reviewed the different changes to this Google Docs spreadsheet.

Shared Services

• We brainstormed what we currently do and what we want to do.
• This is in a Google Doc that will be available to Tech-Cs and superintendents
• Virtualization is reducing the need for physical servers.

Filed under: TECHC Notes