Many of the schools we work with begin with paper. Paper is everywhere. Existing systems lack native integration, and the manual downloading and uploading of files between systems is a common workaround to transfer information. The solution that is often presented is to change the SIS, and they are right.
If you are running SAS2000, iwise, Maze, and Denbigh, their time is truely up and your staff are suffering when they are using these system. However, focusing solely on the SIS update misses the broader picture in a modern independent school's context. The SIS plays a crucial role, but it's just one piece of the puzzle. Limiting changes to the SIS alone will similarly limit the organization's progress.
When evaluating SIS projects, I start by thinking about the needs of all of stakeholders, including Finance, HR/Payroll, Teachers, Support Staff, Parents, Students, Co-curricular and Peripatetic Staff, Boarding, Prospective Parents, and Former Students.
Once these needs are considered then I map the future systems and how they will be used.
Parents' needs and expectations might include:
A mobile app for accessing child-related details, school newsletters, notifications for schedule changes, attendance submissions, excursion permissions, and bill payments.
A parent portal for tailored news, archived newsletters, award or infraction details, medical and address updates, financial transactions, and school calendar access.
Co-curricular software for choosing activities and receiving updates.
Secure and seamless login across all platforms.
Clipboard, Schoolbox, Digistorms Eduapp and a SIS is known to be a great out of the box solution!
I've included a visual representation of what this might look like with your SIS integrating with Clipboard for Co-curricular and related communications, Digistorm's Eduapp for the school app, Schoolbox for parent portal. Combine this with Single Sign On through StudentNet or @parent id passport through K12 Solutions and you have a great solution.
The exact combination will vary but the above one will cover most of a schools communication needs depending on the capabilities of the SIS in an independent school.
There is a lot that independent schools will need or want and much of it may not be in the SIS. When you think about changing your SIS, make sure that you are considering all of the goals that you are really wanting to achieve. If you don't know how to get there, bring in some extra help at least in the planning phases so that ultimately your school community can realize the maximum benefit from the huge changes that will be occuring.
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