A streamlined system will allow parents to do everything from viewing a student’s grades to paying activity fees online in the Columbia School District.
Deedee Randall, director of curriculum and instruction, spoke with the Columbia School District Board of Trustees at a recent meeting about the PowerSchool system.
Last year, multiple programs made the use of the sites difficult for parents who wanted to conduct business. With the addition of the PowerSchool, that concern has been alleviated.
“Now, a parent can go in and check grades, attendance, and if they see something on the grades that they want to know something about, they can click on the grade and go straight into the Canvass curriculum page without having to go to multiple pages,” Randall said. “Another component of PowerSchool will help with registration. It will streamline several processes for us.”
Randall said users will have many options with the system.
“Parents will be able to log in and update information,” she said. “They are going to be able to register their child for school. They will have to put in a valid email and cell phone number and contact information. It will help us keep things a lot more up to date. When we sent out those school-wide messages, you would not believe how many came back as invalid numbers. It will be much better. It will also allow us to take payments – credit card payments. They can pay for things like musical, band payments, athletics and more. We’ve just had all kinds of times that we have not been able to take credit cards for payments.”
Superintendent Jason Harris said the system would be advantageous for the District.
“I would have to say that we were one of the few districts lagging behind in online registration,” he said. “It will be a little difficult this year because the parents are used to coming in and hand writing everything. Now, all of that that was on paper is now electronic. The great thing is that once they do it, if they don’t move, the next year they will have an email with a code and they will be able to register with a few clicks. No more filling out all of the paperwork. It will be a little tedious this year on the front end, but moving forward it is so simple.”
Harris said the system has other advantages.
“If you’re like myself and have three kids, that would be three things that you have to sit down and fill out,” he said. “Now, you go in and fill it out, you approve it and move on. It’s so simple. There’s no telling how many sheets of paper it will save.”
Randall said many forms needed for activities will also be available online.
“It will all be streamlined online,” she said.
Harris added that plans were being made to service parents who did not have Internet access at home.
“We’ll have computers set up at the school so they can come in and get started,” he said. “Another thing we will have to look at is that we require two proofs of residency each year.”
The plan is to make the site a one-stop shop.
“They can go in and do about anything there,” Randall said. “We’re looking at ways to streamline the entire operation.”
In other action, the Board:
• Heard a report from Mark Henley, construction administrator, on the 2016 bond issue project.
• Approved Change Order No. 2 for school locker removal and aluminum door replacement at Jefferson Middle School.
• Adopted a resolution prepared by Attorney Jim Young approving and ratifying the issuance of General Obligation Bonds and authorizing the sale of bonds.
• Approved the claims docket for payment of accounts through June 30, 2017.
• Gave second approval of the following school board policies: JCE dress code, JGCD and job descriptions for band director, head coach, and assistant coach.
• Approved the revised 2017-18 school year calendar.
• Gave second approval of 2017-2018 Student/Parent Handbooks.
• Approved the Memorandum of Understanding between Jobs for Mississippi Graduates and Columbia School District for the 2017-18 school year.
• Authorized the District to enter into agreements with community colleges and institutes of higher learning for dual-enrollment and dual-credit programs for qualified students at Columbia High School to earn high school and college credit in selected courses during the 2017-2018 school year.
• Accepted the resignation of Victoria Davis, teacher at Columbia High School.
• Approved the employment Deanna Knowles, English teacher, Amy Terrell, English teacher, and Emily Rayborn, Media Specialist, for the 2017 Extended School Year (ESY) Program at Columbia High School on an as needed basis.
• Approved the employment of Chandra Expose as Counselor/School Test Coordinator at Columbia Elementary School for the 2017-18 school year.
• Approved the employment of Amanda Thornhill as a special education teacher at Columbia Elementary School pending the results of a current background check as required by State law.
• Approved the recommendation of employment of classified employees for the 2017-18 school year.
• Approved requests from instructional personnel for their children to attend Columbia schools for the 2017-18 school year.
• Was informed of Pearl River Valley Opportunity (PRVO) Head Start Program, FY2016 financial report, Office of the State Auditor Certificate of Achievement in Reporting, and change of location for board meetings for recognition and tour of schools.
• Discussed confidential student and personnel matters in executive session.
The next regularly scheduled board meeting is set for 5:30 p.m., July 18, in the conference room of the Administration Building on Bryan Avenue.
