Parents will gain access to their children’s learning like never before this school year.
Sept. 6 marked the beginning of Rocky View Schools’ (RVS) inclusion on Pearson PowerSchool, a streamlined information sharing system.
The online tool will allow parents to view homework assignments, up-to-the-minute grading, check attendance records and review teacher comments.
The system applies to K-12 students and will cost RVS $855,000 with annual upkeep costs of $78,750. It is part of Alberta Education’s initiative to create a Provincial Approach to Student Information (PASI).
Despite the cost, the school division believes the technology to be top-notch.
“The new system is truly amazing,” said Kevin Wttewaall, learning director for technology at RVS. “It will be quite a smooth transition for us. It’s a big job, and it’s not always going to be flawless moving from one student information system to another… but I think it’s going smooth.”
However, parents and students will not be given usernames and passwords until school staff is sufficiently trained on the new software. It takes “a couple of hours” for a staff member to become proficient with the system, according to Wttewaall, adding anyone who regularly uses web-based applications will have no problem using the system.
The division expects some schools to catch on faster than others, so parents and students will begin using PowerSchool at different times.
Wttewaall belives Bow Valley High School in Cochrane will be one of the first adapters of the technology and expects Ralph McCall in Airdrie to launch fairly soon, as well.
“Despite that, some schools will not be ready until mid-fall. Once in, parents will find the new system well worth the wait,” said Wttewaall.
People will be able to access the system through any device, from an iPad to a computer.
When the launch was announced at the trustees’ April 21 board meeting, some were irritated to discover the school division had to cover the cost of the system by themselves.
“I find it interesting that the government makes us pay for it, but we can’t afford it,” said Board Chair Bruce Pettigrew. “Does anyone else see a huge disconnect there between what the government mandates us to do and the other side, where they don’t give us the money to do it?”
The school board was forced to move money from its transportation reserve to cover the new technology and its associated costs.
“The government has put us into a horrible position,” said Ward 4 Trustee Helen Clease.
When Ward 2 Trustee Bev LaPeare asked Superintendent of Schools Greg Bass if any grants were in the works from the Province for PASI, she was told no.
“None that I’m aware of and none that I would expect,” said Bass.
“That’s really disheartening,” said LaPeare. “My understanding is that the budget next year won’t look any shinier this year’s, so I think we need to get on with it and get our staff trained.”
The new system must be operational in all division schools by September 2012, according to Alberta Education.
Currently, Calgary Catholic and Edmonton Catholic use the online system.
