ParentLink Update: Where are we and where are we going?

Presentation to the Board of School TrusteesMarch 25, 2009

Presentation to Board of School TrusteesMarch 25, 2009

Philip J. Brody, Ph.D.Chief Technology Officer

Messages Delivered

Message Type # DeliveredPhone 7,788,536Emergency calls 191,444E-mail 93,811Progress reports 230,828Transportation 788,356

Phone Messages DeliveredAugust 11-February 28, 2009

3,884,415 2,205,939

184,715 1,513,467

7,788,536 ParentLink Phone Calls

Just the Numbers

•# of parents accessing data via phone▫January: 4,420▫February: 4,480

•99,846 parents logged in at least once•More than 47 schools using pre-

registration module•During peak time, concurrent use has

grown from 1,600 users to 2,200 users

Overview of Implementation (technical perspective)•Stumbled out of the starting block•Most issues resolved by mid-October•Smooth sailing from mid-October through

end of December•Technical issues from January though

mid-February•Technical issues now under control•New features added

Overview of Winter Technical Issues

•ParentLink slow to respond•Specific technical issues

▫Very slow system response time▫Erratic upload of teacher grade books▫Problems with year round elementary

schools▫Various issues related to custom designed

pre-registration module

Status of Technical Issues•ParentLink now very responsive•Working on service level agreement to be

added to contract•Technical issues:

Issue StatusSlow response time Significantly improved;

watching closely

Erratic upload of grade books

Appears to be resolved

Year round elementary Resolved

Pre-registration Critical issues resolved; watching closely; 47 schools using module

Feature Set• Very challenging to satisfy those familiar with two

different systems• Phone messaging very successful• Added several new features in 6 months:

▫Progress reports▫Custom grouping of students▫Course history▫Teacher comments▫Assignments weights▫Monitoring tools▫ Improved teacher view of student information▫Others features scheduled for August

Features in Development•Enhanced password generation•E-mail to parents when updated grades are

posted•Grade book troubleshooting tools for

teachers•Automated delivery SASI data to teachers•Teachers able to edit own e-mail and class

URL addresses•District can add links to other school district

web sites (e.g., Food Services)

Implementation Cycle

Complex systems installed into complex environments need to go through an entire cycle to determine the areas in need of improvements.

Start of school year

Quarter 1

Semester 1

Pre-Registra

tion

End of school year

Characteristics of Successful ParentLink Programs

•Principal provides leadership and ownership of program

•ECS is part of a team

•School use of recommended procedures and tools

Recommendations

•Complete cycle•Watch closely next year•Continue collaboration between

instructional unit and technology division •Implement service level agreement with

ParentLink•Improve and enhance feature set•Provide additional training for school

personnel

Discussion