Data+Flow+&+Consistency

Rationale: The information in the various FWCDS databases represents information about the entire FWCDS community and it is vital that it be accurate, available and controllable. Centralizing this information will offer cost savings, as well as allowing consistent data to flow to all departments and divisions.

Recommendations – Action Items – 1. The lower school division will use an electronic database program to prepare its master schedule, teacher schedules, student schedules and all reports (interims, grading, etc.) 2. The lower school, middle school and high school divisions will utilize a common student information system (SIS.) 3. An automated process will be adopted to manage the student process from inquiry to re-enrollment.
 * Reduce the overall number of student databases utilized at FWCDS
 * Streamline and automate the flow of data into these databases

COMMENTS ON ACTION ITEMS:

1. Partially complete: the LS has a SIS to do all this, they have not fully implemented it. 2. Complete: All divisions use the common WH SIS 3. Partial: Inquiry/Applications are auto, accounts are centralized, re-enrollment is still a seperate process.

Jim Aldridge:
 * The US database seems to be doing fine.
 * Access to news/image database items for more community members would facilitate keeping information fresh. For example, if I wanted to author a news item on using wikis in my class, I have no idea how to do it other than by contacting other people; too cumbersome and time-consuming, therefore it doesn't get done.

Mandy Lofquist:
 * Because of the nature of the lower school schedule with classroom teachers and six specials, I'm not sure if there is a way to be able to use an SIS to create a master schedule that wouldn't be more trouble than it's worth. But I do think we need to have the process of creating the schedules in written form.

Stephen Dickey:
 * The FWCD SIS works very well. The information is typically up to date and fairly easy to access.

Chris Hulce: __ Jeff Rozanski:
 * The student information system has come a long way in the last couple of years; with any system of his type the information must be up-to-date and timely. This system allows for that up the minute input and retrieval. Understanding that database doesn’t work “perfectly” for the Lower School an effort needs to be made to integrate the LS into the system completely. Parents, teacher, administrators all need to come to accept the idea of one integrated system. The program needs to give a little to fit the system, the system is robust enough to meet many needs. But to abandon it because “this isn’t the way we’ve always done it” seems short sighted.
 * The electronic database, use of information via faculty portals has been a tremendous upgrade over what was here 3 years ago when I arrived.

Laura Terry: 
 * I like being able to update my phone number, address and other info online. It makes it easy for families to keep their personal info current.