Grants and Fundraising - SMART Technologies

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FEATURE ARTICLEPeterson is also on the management team ofProject Red, a national research and advocacyplan that is identifying what works in technologytransformedschools and demonstrating howclassroom technology can help schools save moneywhile enhancing learning for students.“There is so much opportunity to tighten processes,cost avoid and resource redeploy. If you were totell me the size of a district, I can almost guaranteehow many dollars in cost avoidance that you cangenerate,” says Peterson.For example, he suggests that in a district with1,200 students, between $100,000 and $250,000could be generated through cost-avoidancestrategies. Best of all, many of Peterson’s strategiesare straightforward, easy to implement and lowcost. And when strategies do have a substantialimplementation cost, they often provide a return oninvestment in less than a year.Following are some of Peterson’s easy-to-implementstrategies to help schools and districts free up funding:Accept payments online – Many web-basedsystems are designed for schools and districts, andwith online student, parent and other district funds’receipts, no one has to count physical money orleave the office to make bank deposits.Pay vendors electronically – Most financialinstitutions forward payments directly from schooldistricts to vendors’ bank accounts, so districts nolonger need to print checks, stuff envelopes and usepostage to make payments.Use digital copies of informationwhenever possible – To significantly reduceprinting and distribution costs, post handbooks,welcome-back packets, school newsletters and similartypes of information on the school or district websiteand provide printed copies only upon request.“There is so much opportunity totighten processes, cost avoid andresource redeploy. If you wereto tell me the size of a district, Ican almost guarantee how manydollars in cost avoidance that youcan generate.”– Eric Peterson, President and CEO, PetersonPublic Sector ConsultingPost direct-line phone numbers for allstaff – The time that a receptionist or switchboardoperator spends answering and directing calls canbe reduced by approximately 50 percent.Enhance your wireless network – Providea secure and fast wireless network so that staff andstudents can bring their own devices, reducing thenumber of laptops and other portable devices thatthe school needs to provide.Implement a learning managementsystem (LMS) – Teachers can post homework,lesson notes and any other relevant class informationon the LMS daily. The quality of the educationalexperience is improved for students while the cost ofdelivering services is reduced. Students and parentsare also able to access important information withoutcalling the office or teacher.Connect student information systemswith the use of middleware – Petersonadmits that while this may sound difficult, it isactually quite easy to do. Many schools haveseparate information systems for the library,18 | April 2012
FEATURE ARTICLEtransportation services, food services and more,but typically none shares data with the others. Thecost of hiring a middleware provider to connectthe systems can be as little as $5 per student. A5,000-student district can save approximately $15per student by using middleware.Implement scheduling software forfacilities and technology equipment – Acentralized reservation system for every classroom,technology item, sport venue and auditoriumcan save time and prevent miscommunication. Ifyour school or district accepts reservation requestsfrom the community, you can also automate theinvoicing, and the cost of the system will likely payfor itself within 12–24 months.Develop staffing projections based oneducational development plans – Whenyou work on educational development plans withstudents, insert the courses that will be required. Yourschool or district can then create course projectionsthat will help assess future staff and course-offeringrequirements. Districts with enrolments in excessof 2,000 students can easily save a minimum of$80,000 per year with this strategy.In Peterson’s sessions, attendees receive a toolkitwith one-page strategy outlines and interactivespreadsheets that give administrators insight intothe return on investment they can expect from theimplementation of different strategies. If you wouldlike more information about these sessions, contactSMART’s education policy and practice team atadvocacy@smarttech.com.April 2012 | 19
Page 5 and 6: VOICE BOXhave your say....Last Mont
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Page 16 and 17: FEATURE ARTICLE“I loved it and th
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Page 24 and 25: PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT“I have used SMA
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