Colfax switching to Skyward student info system for $31,000
By LeAnn R. Ralph
COLFAX — Switching to a new student information software system is anything but easy.
And Bill Yingst, superintendent of schools in Colfax, ought to know, if anyone does, after going through the process twice since he has become superintendent.
But members of the Colfax Board of Education decided at the April 25 meeting — based on a recommendation from Yingst — that they had little choice about switching to a software system called Skyward at a cost of $31,000 after learning that CESA No. 10 will no longer be supporting the current information system.
Switching to a new computer software system that contains student information and information related to the hot lunch program, special education and financial services is “a major upheaval for the school,” Yingst said, noting that all of the student information must be entered into the system and then double-checked to make sure it is all correct.
Over the past several years, it has been in the news that the state of Wisconsin was going to contract with a vendor called “Infinite Campus” out of Blaine, Minnesota, rather than a Wisconsin-based company called Skyward, Yingst noted.
Skyward filed a lawsuit, and the state Department of Public Instruction has since backed off from Infinite Campus, he said.
Yingst said that he, other school administrators and office staff have talked to representatives from both vendors.
Yingst said he has talked with representatives of other school districts, too, that use Skyward.
By contracting with Skyward, the school district will no longer have to go through CESA No. 10 as a “middleman” for the information software, he said.
Changing to Skyward will be a “huge shift” that will cost $31,124, but in the long term, the change to Skyward will provide continuity for the school district, Yingst said.
Skyward has been in business for 30 years, he said, noting that the company has a “Colfax connection” too because members of the Ackerlund and Luer families work for the company.
Colfax could stay with CESA No. 10, but there is no way of knowing how long CESA would support the next vendor, meaning Colfax could end up switching information systems again in a few years, Yingst said.
Office staff also sat in on the presentations because the information software system affects the secretarial staff, the administrative staff and the finance staff, he said.
“It’s not fun, but this is the time to do it,” Yingst said, noting that both the Eau Claire and Menomonie school districts use Skyward.
One example of how the new vendor will make positive changes for the school district is special education, he said.
Certain forms have to be submitted to the state, and currently, Colfax personnel are making their own forms, Yingst said.
Not having to make forms will speed up the process and make it easier to submit reports, said Polly Rudi, director of special education.
“Skyward truly understands Wisconsin,” said John Dachel, high school principal.
After the initial cost of $31,124 for switching over to Skyward, the contract includes annual fees of $6,554 for 2017, $7,054 for 2018 and $7,554 for 2019, Yingst said.
The office staff must start training now in order to complete the roll-over into the new system this summer, Yingst noted.
The Colfax Board of Education unanimously approved switching to Skyward.
Todd Kragness serves as president of the school board. Other members of the Board of Education are Andrew De Moe, Ken Bjork, Kyle Knutson, Ken Neuburg, Christie Hill and Jodi Kiekhafer.
Other business
In other business, the Colfax Board of Education:
• Approved doubling the fee to $1,000 and $2,000 for school staff to break contracts. The increase was based on the advice of the school district’s legal counsel. If teachers break a contract now between June 15 and July 31, the fee is $500, and after August 1, the fee is $1,000. If staff members break their contracts close to the start of the school year, it can be difficult for the district to find replacements, Yingst said, adding that if the fees are higher, he is hoping the school district will receive more notice. Recent changes in state law have narrowed the window for hiring teachers, he said.
• Approved leaving the fees the same for summer swimming lessons for 2016 at $20 for one student and $30 for a family.
• Accepted open enrollment applications for the 2016-2017 school year. Colfax currently has 68 students open enrolled out and 69 open enrolled in. Colfax does not require students to reapply every year, and Yingst reported that the school district currently had six additional applications to enroll into the district and 21 to leave the district. Just because students submit applications for open enrollment does not mean they will enroll either in or out of the district, Yingst said. The final number for open enrollment will not be determined until September, he said.
• Approved a 10-cent increase for school lunches. The cost will be $2.65 for students in grades six through 12 and $2.50 for students from kindergarten to fifth grade. The DPI caps the possible increase at 10 cents per school year, Yingst said. The current weighted average price is $2.48 which will increase to $2.58.
• Approved the calendar for the 2016-2017 school year. The first day of school will be September 1 and the last day of school for students will be May 31, 2017. Graduation will be May 19, 2017. The holiday break will be December 23 through January 2. Colfax has only had one spring break in the last 23 years, Yingst said. Last year, the Board of Education increased the school day by ten minutes, which decreases the number of school days by four, he said.