If it walks like a duck, and it quacks like a duck, it just might be a duck.
On Tuesday of this week, school board members sat down from some training on the new "BoardDocs", web-based, electronic school board meeting and documentation system.
The decision to use BoardDocs was an idea hatched by former school board member Jim Carrel after seeing a demonstration at an annual school board conference. The school board voted to purchase the software, licensing, lap top computers---at significant cost to the district--in December 2007. The plan was to launch the system this past September. Obviously, that has not transpired.
At least one district resident attended the training session and offered the following commentary:
Individual board members are unable to type in their version of how a motion they wish to make should be worded and have it shown to all including the public. So as a discussion was carried on, various wording due to suggested changes could be lined through and new words added. to develop an understandable, acceptable and usable motion. Board members have to ignore their laptops and verbally tell one person who controls that part of the program, or send that person a note and wait for that person to type in the words, and let the one who authored the motion see if it is correct. [SP-EYE: THAT represents progress?]
The impressive terms tossed about describing in general a non detailed idea of having an electronic Board setup a year ago, was blindly approved back in December. Without the required detailed planning such activity demands, if there were solid projected budget figures set by the board, they will be exceeded big time. [ SP-EYE: Does anyone wonder how much this project has cost to-date??? ]
One huge problem: the BoardsDocs people do not convert the existing polices to the format for their program, this massive job must be done by district staff. At this late date, having already spent a ton of taxpayers money and time, there is no time line set up to complete the conversion needed to implement this so called electronic board meeting capability.
On Tuesday of this week, school board members sat down from some training on the new "BoardDocs", web-based, electronic school board meeting and documentation system.
The decision to use BoardDocs was an idea hatched by former school board member Jim Carrel after seeing a demonstration at an annual school board conference. The school board voted to purchase the software, licensing, lap top computers---at significant cost to the district--in December 2007. The plan was to launch the system this past September. Obviously, that has not transpired.
At least one district resident attended the training session and offered the following commentary:
Individual board members are unable to type in their version of how a motion they wish to make should be worded and have it shown to all including the public. So as a discussion was carried on, various wording due to suggested changes could be lined through and new words added. to develop an understandable, acceptable and usable motion. Board members have to ignore their laptops and verbally tell one person who controls that part of the program, or send that person a note and wait for that person to type in the words, and let the one who authored the motion see if it is correct. [SP-EYE: THAT represents progress?]
The impressive terms tossed about describing in general a non detailed idea of having an electronic Board setup a year ago, was blindly approved back in December. Without the required detailed planning such activity demands, if there were solid projected budget figures set by the board, they will be exceeded big time. [ SP-EYE: Does anyone wonder how much this project has cost to-date??? ]
One huge problem: the BoardsDocs people do not convert the existing polices to the format for their program, this massive job must be done by district staff. At this late date, having already spent a ton of taxpayers money and time, there is no time line set up to complete the conversion needed to implement this so called electronic board meeting capability.
[ SP-EYE: We can see the writing on the wall...they'll want to hire more staff!!! ]
The talk back in January was training in July, up and running in September. [ SP-EYE: Talk is cheap. ]
Board members were told at this meeting they had an 800 number so any problem would be responded to 24/7 and by people who spoke English! BUT when [board member]Jill [Camber-Davidson] could not enter her password and the Board Docs rep used her cell phone, she could not contact any one to solve that problem during the "training" session!! [ SP-EYE: Oh...that sure bodes well! ]
SP-EYE: Can you say "boondoggle, boys and girls? Sure. I knew you could!
"I was amazed at the lack of flexibility coupled with the need to funnel information, ideas or changes wanted through one control person."
-Sun Prairie school district resident.
The talk back in January was training in July, up and running in September. [ SP-EYE: Talk is cheap. ]
Board members were told at this meeting they had an 800 number so any problem would be responded to 24/7 and by people who spoke English! BUT when [board member]Jill [Camber-Davidson] could not enter her password and the Board Docs rep used her cell phone, she could not contact any one to solve that problem during the "training" session!! [ SP-EYE: Oh...that sure bodes well! ]
SP-EYE: Can you say "boondoggle, boys and girls? Sure. I knew you could!
"I was amazed at the lack of flexibility coupled with the need to funnel information, ideas or changes wanted through one control person."
-Sun Prairie school district resident.
BoardDocs can certainly be a viable board meeting management system, but it requires a district and board that are very heavily tech-savvy. Compare our district website to other area districts,...or to district of similar size and judge for yourself whther we can make BoardDocs work or whether it will be another Board boondoggle. This was Jim Carrel's baby, who was very technically skilled, but he is also very gone.
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