School Board Considers New Student Info. System
By Stephanie Mariel Petrellese

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Robert Feirsen may be able to cross off another item on his goal list soon as the district is poised to select a new student information system. At Monday evening's work session, members of the Garden City Board of Education and central administration listened to a presentation from Mindex Technologies, Inc., a Rochester-based company that produces SchoolTool.

The cost of the SchoolTool application and its implementation (including training) will be approximately $80,000, an amount already approved in the 2006-07 school budget. The district's current system, known as SASI, is becoming outdated. For the past year, a committee led by Dr. Rita Melikian, the district's director of educational technology, has been investigating different products.

SchoolTool is a Web-based product that can be accessed from any computer via the Internet and automates all of a school's daily activities. For example, administrators can view and report on the latest student data; teachers can have immediate access to the latest class lists, take attendance online, create and manage grade books and create discipline referrals; parents can access student grades online, communicate with teachers, and see their children's progress and attendance in real-time; and students can track grades, access assignments online and make course selections for future years. All data will be stored in one location and be encrypted. Access to certain information will be restricted depending on whether you are a student, parent or administrator.

The program was designed specifically to meet New York State requirements. State standards are fully integrated into grading. Administrators can track and report on the use of standards in lesson plans, and teachers can generate report cards that detail a student's individual progress in specific areas.

Dr. Feirsen said he was concerned about the company's ability to address problems that may arise, especially at busy times during the school year. Jack Hibbit, one of two representatives from Mindex who gave the presentation, assured Dr. Feirsen that the company has a support staff trained and ready to handle any issue. The support staff is increased at busier times of the year and can offer assistance via telephone and e-mail, and if necessary, can travel to the district.

The district's infrastructure will need to be upgraded to handle the more data-intensive system. Dr. Melikian estimated that an upgraded wide area network, which is needed for all internet and intranet based applications, will cost $50,000 to $60,000.

The limited aerial facilities to install fiber lines and the constraints imposed by the Village have restricted the options available to increase bandwidth. Nassau BOCES is currently preparing a formal bid to obtain options and associated costs for increased bandwidth. The bid opens on Feb. 9 with a projected completion date of Aug. 18.