Student Information System Advantage for Parents, Teachers

I am pleased to see that in the proposed budget of the Hillsborough Board of Education, it finally includes the much awaited, and much needed, new student information system. This has been put in the budget for the last three years, but has been cut very early on in the process. This time it has remained in the budget, and that is good news for all!

For those who do not know what a student information system is, it is basically the nerve system of the district. It is the computer system that holds all student data for the district; everything from student’s personal information, to scheduling, to grades, and everything in between. The system that is in place now is antiquated, and frankly, not that powerful. The new system has the potential to allow the entire district to have an online gradebook accessible to both parents and students. Currently, some teachers in the district have paid their own money to use an online gradebook, but this causes parents to have multiple logins, multiple sites to go to, and inconsistent access to their children’s classes. The new system will make it uniform, and much easier.

Another component of a new student information system would be easier communication between teachers and parents. Emails and email addresses would be handled through the system. This coupled with the online gradebook makes keeping parents informed much easier. This would also allow the district to go greener when it comes to notifying parents of student progress.

 I haven’t even mentioned all the behind the scenes things that will become much easier for school personnel like scheduling and student tracking. With the efficiency of a new system, it will cut down on the time it takes to keep parents informed, and allow teachers to focus on the education of the students. This student information system is a much-needed addition to the school system, and I am very pleased to see the Board of Education making it a priority.

Daynon Blevins

 Hillsborough Middle School Teacher