Howard County school officials have spent $803,000 implementing the Chancery Student Management System, which tracks student data reports, such as attendance and grades. Parents and data entry clerks have complained about the software?s accuracy and slowness, but school officials say transcripts sent out last fall to colleges and universities produced no errors.
Recently, school officials decided to continue ironing out kinks in the software while allowing schools to use another software to keep track of local student reports. But they noted that the SMS would remain the official student record.
They also said they?re working with Chancery officials to improve the software.
Should the school system purchase new software?
Frank Aquino: “HCPSS must investigate and understand what went wrong to avoid future problems and ensure available legal remedies are explored. The current course of action is prudent for now.”
Marcelino Bedolla: “We should never be the first to buy a new software program ? . Before new programs are introduced ? communications should be held with other school systems ? testing the software.”
Larry Cohen: “? [A plan should be in place] this school year to iron out the kinks in the program. If [it] does not perform successfully bythe beginning of next year, then ? the system [should be changed].”
Allen Dyer: “SMS has high school registrars ? who should be classified as full-time [not] part-time employees ? ready to commit suicide. Chancery should pay HCPSS ? for testing [its] prototype.”
Sandra French: “Stop sending tax dollars out of Maryland. Keep the technological skills and software knowledge in Howard County by hiring ? personnel to create ? software to meet our teachers? needs and keep it running accurately.”
Ellen Flynn Giles: “Design, testing and implementation of a restart [are] unlikely in a short time frame at an acceptable cost. Time and expense required to complete transition to SMS must be carefully monitored.”
Patricia Gordon: “Replacing the Chancery system ? will cost [more than the] system cost. We are attempting to avoid that huge price tag by working with Chancery to improve the current system.”
Joshua Kaufman: “If the school system is unable to address the flaws in the system next year, [it] should purchase new software.”
Roger Lerner: “Information available publicly is insufficient to support a definitive conclusion. Selection and implementation of SMS was flawed. [The] Technology Advisory Task Force, drawn from the community, should evaluate and make recommendations.”
Don Marston Jr.: “New computer systems often take time to adapt to a particular use. Patience, constant feedback and interaction with the service provider help in these situations.”
Dr. Janet Siddiqui: “In large-scale software implementations, there initially can be problems. Work together to address the issues and in the future, have a stage-wise implementation.”
Peter Sola: “? If the administration works with the vendor, [problems] can be solved. If ? something [is] faulty or we are not receiving what we paid for, ? we need to look into bidding and awarding contracts.”
Di Zou: “This system [should be] fixed because it is ? partly implemented and teachers are ? familiar with it. However, [I would consider new software] if it [would] cost less to purchase and implement new software ? than ? to repair the old software.”
Paul Aliprando did not respond.
AT A GLANCE
Today is the 10th story in a series that features the opinions of Howard County School Board candidates on school issues chosen by The Examiner. On Thursday, the candidates will discuss the issues facing students and their families who have limited English speaking skills.
