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Addressing Information Technology Support at
Beacon Charter High School for the ArtsMichael Skeldon
November 6, 2010
ASBO Budget Analysis
One school district reduces need for complexbudget document
General Requirements No table of contents, cover letter, page numbers
Information in table form, with clearly defined sections
Introductory Section – Narrative/Executive Summary missing
Organizational Section – No link to mission
Financial Section – one prior year of comparative data
Information Section – three years’ prior data and forecasts absent
The Problem Can Beacon Charter School afford to maintain
its itinerant IT support in the current climate of high stakes testing and performance management contracts for charter schools? Startup small school culture vs. established
infrastructure
Adding administrators vs. adding front line personnel
IT Growth @ Beacon
Review of the Literature
Early thoughts (Strudler, 1995-96) included the idea that school IT personnel would work themselves out of a job once school staff were trained
Brooks-Young (2006): look at Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of any IT purchase: Compatibility with existing infrastructure
The need to increase specs to meet current needs
Manufacturer reliability
Sufficiency of warranty
Performance record of equipment
Affordability of purchase
Review of the Literature, cont.
Cuban (in Strudler, 2010): Increases in IT spending do not necessarily show increases in student performance possibly due to lack of connectivity between the technology and instruction
Principals must be “digital leaders” Young, technology-savvy teachers need
support AND advice (Ferriter, 2009)
Schools where principals support tech initiatives had high gains in student achievement (Means, 2010)
Review of the Literature, cont.
Duvall and Wise (2004): Principal should be available to be instructional leader of the school. Schools could replace school secretary with Operations Officer
Attendance Clerk
Student Specialist
Student Techs integral to IT support (Demski, 2010)
Research Question How can Beacon Charter High School for the
Arts improve the quality and consistency of IT support as it grows more reliant on technology for: delivery of instruction;
assessment; and
sharing of data with parents and other stakeholders?
Budget Analysis & Recommendations
2009-2010 2010-2011$0
$4,000
$8,000
$12,000
$16,000
$20,000
$19,274
$12,800
Budgeted IT Expenses
Consultation Monique Collins, Beacon’s Certified Business
Manager, previously held same position with International Charter School and International Institute Beacon’s #1 Priority: IT Support
Current model at Beacon ignores “lost costs” of administrative personnel handling IT
International Model: Share an IT person between two organizations
Person is always available in person and remotely
IT Support
$12,800
$2,770,507
Reflected in Beacon's 2010-2011 Budget
IT supportRemainder of budget
Budget vs. Reality
IT Support Academic Dean Salary
$0
$10,000
$20,000
$30,000
$40,000
$50,000
$60,000
$70,000
$12,800
$69,763
IT-related Human Capital Expenses
Budget Analysis
$828,290
$360,840
$463,540
2010-2011 Projected Salaries
InstructionalAdministrativeOther
Conclusions & Recommendations
Sharing a dedicated IT professional similar to “International Model”
Two or more schools would share expense
Assuming Beacon has greater needs, Beacon could bear 60% of costs: $65,000 salary + $16,250 (25%) benefits =
$81,250
Beacon’s cost: $48,750
A consolidation in arts programs would save a minimum of $70,000 (including salary and benefits)