Factors That Impact Technology Staffing

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Factors That Impact Technology Staffing
2007 MASA/MASE Spring Conference

• Presented By Lee Whitcraft
• School Technology Solutions, LLC

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Factors That Impact Technology Staffing

• Facilities
• Staff/student computers
• Quantity/type
• Age
• of manufacturers
• Operating systems
• Servers
• Quantity
• Age
• of manufacturers
• Operating systems

• Age of network
• Quantity and type applications
• Security
• Operational processes/documentation
• Staff development
• Technology purchasing
• Other technologies

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Factors That Impact Technology Staffing

• Facilities
• of facilities
• Geographic area - distance between facilities
• Age of the facilities access for cabling and
  wireless coverage
• Electrical Stability

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Factors That Impact Technology Staffing

• Staff/student computers
• Quantity/type Desktop, laptop, tablet, PDA
• Age 5 or more years old
• Number of manufacturers
• Eg. Apple, HP, Gateway, Dell, .
• Number of operating systems/versions
• Eg. OS 9.nn, OS 10.nn, Windows 2003, Windows XP ,
  Linux

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Factors That Impact Technology Staffing

• Servers
• Quantity
• Age - 3 or more years old
• Number of manufacturers
• Eg. Apple, HP, Gateway, Dell, .
• Number of operating systems
• Eg. OS 9.nn, OS 10.nn, Windows 2003, Windows XP ,
  Linux

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Factors That Impact Technology Staffing

• Age of network
• Quality of the installation
• Building network electronics over 4 years old
• Inter-building electronics
• Access to Internet

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Factors That Impact Technology Staffing

• Quantity and type applications
• Mission Critical
• Server level databases

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Factors That Impact Technology Staffing

• Security
• Wireless
• Portable memory devices
• Portable wireless devices

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Factors That Impact Technology Staffing

• Operational processes/documentation
• Key processes undocumented
• No disaster recovery or IT security plan
• No process for deleting staff or students server
  access rights when they leave

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Factors That Impact Technology Staffing

• Staff development
• Little or no training of technology staff
• No access to peers in other districts

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Factors That Impact Technology Staffing

• Technology purchasing
• Purchases not reviewed by Technology Coordinator
  or Technology Committee
• Donations that do not meet minimum standards
• Total cost of ownership not documented

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Factors That Impact Technology Staffing

• Other technologies
• Copiers/printers
• Projectors
• Monitors
• Security systems
• Adaptive/assistive
• Interactive T/V
• Video Distribution
• .

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Mitigating Technology Support Factors

• Institute technology replacement cycles
• Staff and student computers 5 years
• Servers 3 years
• Network Electronics 4 years
• Limit number of manufacturers
• Remote management
• Remote desktop support
• Software imaging across the network

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Mitigating Technology Support Factors

• Server Management
• Centralization (servers in one location)
• Consolidation (Larger servers replace smaller
  ones)
• Active server monitoring(7X24)
• Mirror mission critical databases

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Mitigating Technology Support Factors

• Quantity and type of applications
• Consider outsourcing with service level
  agreements
• Eliminate custom development, even web
  development

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Mitigating Technology Support Factors

• Security
• Document procedures controls to
• Secured access to wireless
• Implement policies to restrict support of
  portable memory devices

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Mitigating Technology Support Factors

• Operational processes/documentation
• Technology Coordinator should
• Document all key operational processes
• Maintain and test a disaster recovery plan

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Mitigating Technology Support Factors

• Technology support staff development
• Develop training plan (Technology Coordinator)
• At least 16 hours of relevant training
• Opportunity to network with peers

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Mitigating Technology Support Factors

• Technology Purchasing
• All purchases reviewed by technology committee
• Purchases follow standards
• All recommendations reviewed for total cost

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Mitigating Technology Support Factors

• Other Equipment
• Printers
• Replace personal inkjet printers with shared
  high speed multi-purpose networked
  printer/copiers
• Phone Systems
• Outsource as an option when replacing
• Outsource moves and changes

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Summary

• Keys to reducing technology support
• Implement recommended replacement cycles
• Negotiate warrantees to replacement cycle
• Limit number computer manufacturers
• Implement remote computer support
• Implement automated software imaging
• Implement server centralization/consolidation
• Increase technology staff training
• Outsource applications

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Questions?

• Contact Information
• Lee Whitcraft
• School Technology Solutions, LLC
• www.schooltechbiz.com
• [phone]