[gsis_admins] FW: GNETS & SLDS

From: Denise Epperson <denise.epperson@xxxxxxxx>
To: gsis_admins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Fri, 6 Jan 2017 14:19:44 -0500

I’ve been thinking and stewing by some of these responses.  We just receive
save the dates for our next SLDS meeting.  By that time, we will probably
have the GNETS programs setup.  I believe the people on the SLDS board will
have some discussion on this subject based on how it was handled.  However,
if anyone has any comments or questions that they would like for us to
address at the meeting, someone can take notes and email them out to
everyone.

Thank you,

Denise Epperson

Administrative Technology
Griffin-Spalding County Schools

770-229-3710 x 10315

770-229-3708

*From:* Hubert Bennett [mailto:HBennett@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
*Sent:* Thursday, January 05, 2017 5:52 PM
*To:* Samantha Mimbs <samantha.mimbs@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>;
gsis_admins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
*Subject:* FW: GNETS & SLDS

Good evening GSIS…. thank you for the email spelling out the Board's
concerns. I apologize for the delay in responding, but I wanted to make
sure the below answer were satisfactory to all DOE Stakeholders. I will try
to answer the concerns below- in red

Reply from:

Hubert Bennett, PhD

Ga DOE

(404) 576-2415 (cell)

*From:* Samantha Mimbs [mailto:samantha.mimbs@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<samantha.mimbs@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]
*Sent:* Wednesday, December 14, 2016 12:49 PM
*To:* Hubert Bennett <HBennett@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
*Cc:* gsis_admins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx; Robert Swiggum <RSwiggum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
*Subject:* GNETS & SLDS

Good day!

The GSIS Board has met today.  There was discussion of a webinar that was
held in November and as late as yesterday regarding SLDS access to GNETS
staff serving students from outside districts. *The GNETS process is not an
"off-the-cuff" decision. We have been working with the Governor's office
for many months now. This process is being implemented to help offset some
of the issues that have been brought forward in the Federal Lawsuit against
Georgia on the behalf of the GNET Program. Granting access to GNET
facilities is not an optional process but it is imperative that we move
forward with a standard process to provide this access.*

It is the boards understanding that districts with GNETS students being
served outside of their home district are going to be required to create
staff records with the GNETS staff social security numbers.  The board has
several concerns regarding the delivery of information and the impact this
requirement may have on future state reporting cycles. *Data collections
(which is in the Technology Services division) has been involved with the
discussions. They are aware that this is not an optional process, so they
are aware that edit checks will need to be in place to accommodate this
reporting of non-employee SSNs. Data Collection work is ongoing to vet any
new edit checks that are required to accommodate these new data records.*

It seems that several members of the board were unaware of the scheduled
webinars.  The concern extends to those districts that were also unaware of
the webinars and the information shared during those webinars.  Further
concern is shared due to SLDS Governance Board members not being aware of
the changes. What body of people have been involved in rolling out this new
process?  This lack of communication has generated a great deal of
confusion concerning this new requirement and how the districts should
proceed.  *The State's Representative has been in communication with all 24
GNETS facilities for several months, providing monthly updates. It is
unfortunate that everyone could not be included in communications at the
same time. We appreciate the GSIS Boards concern, but please understand we
have been diligent in working through the pilot process. FYI - we piloted
this process with the Cedarwood GNETS for almost two months prior to moving
forward. A "rollout" strategy was then created that would bring
districts/GNETS online using a "wave" approach. Due to the anticipated
capacity as we rolled access out, we wanted to make sure that the entire
state was not trying to implement this at the same time. The systems that
have not received email announcements/notices are obviously later in the
process. We began the "wave rollout" on Nov 18th with the first wave. The
second wave began yesterday Dec 13th. The third wave is tentatively
scheduled for Jan 13th. FYI- Work continues with SpEd Dept to arrive at the
appropriate solution in regards to providing GOIEP access to some GNET
facilities. *

An email shared with the board contained documentation regarding settings
in Infinite Campus and Powerschool.  Who generated these documents?  It is
the understanding of the board that the vendors were not used as a resource
when generating these documents. *You are correct, the vendors were not
directly involved with the creation of the documentation, but they were
consulted in regards to the overall process. The simplified document was
created by the pilot system and then we (Jesse Peavy and I) edited to
create the two separate documents (one for Infinite Campus and the other
for PowerSchool).*

Have the new required settings been tested to ensure they provide the
expected end result without a negative impact on other state reporting
cycles? *Please see the answer about the pilot process.*

I appreciate, in advance, any information you can share with the board to
assist us and the districts with ensuring we are in compliance with
reporting and confidentiality requirements. *There have been many
conversations around these very concerns. As we move forward, we realize
there may need to be some slight modifications along the way. Such
modifications would be to make this more seamless and standardized. We have
the end process clearly defined to which is a simple process where GNET
personnel can see ALL of their students with one entry point into the data,
similar to the 110,000 teachers within the Public School System.*

*Best Regards,*

*Samantha Mimbs*   Data Coordinator, Monroe County Schools

[image: Image removed by sender. photo]

Phone: 478-994-2031 <478-994-2031>

Email: samantha.mimbs@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <samantha.mimbs@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Website: http://www.monroe.k12.ga.us ;<http://www.monroe.k12.ga.us/>

Address: 25 Brooklyn Ave Forsyth, GA 31029

[image: Image removed by sender.] <https://twitter.com/mimbss>

*IMPORTANT: The contents of this email and any attachments are
confidential. They are intended for the named recipient(s) only. If you
have received this email by mistake, please notify the sender immediately
and do not disclose the contents to anyone or make copies thereof.*

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[gsis_admins] FW: GNETS & SLDS

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