I still do not see how this process will help Bibb. Our students are enrolled
in our GNET’s program with their home schools in the override. ALL or our GNET
teachers will have to be added to ALL our schools because students at the GNETs
program can come from any of our schools. Will they have to be scheduled at
home school? Teacher will have to go to various schools to enter grades for
their students – imagine the number of gradebooks.
From: gsis_admins-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:gsis_admins-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Denise Epperson
Sent: Friday, January 6, 2017 9:36 AM
To: gsis_admins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [gsis_admins] FW: GNETS & SLDS
Hubert tried sending this to the group yesterday but it was rejected and I
tried to forward it through, but it did not work. I requested that he resend
it to me this morning and here is his response to the email Samantha send out.
Thank you,
Denise Epperson
Administrative Technology
Griffin-Spalding County Schools
770-229-3710 x 10315
770-229-3708
From: Hubert Bennett
[mailto:HBennett@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:HBennett@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]
Sent: Thursday, January 05, 2017 5:52 PM
To: Samantha Mimbs
<samantha.mimbs@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:samantha.mimbs@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>>;
gsis_admins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto: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]
Sent: Wednesday, December 14, 2016 12:49 PM
To: Hubert Bennett <HBennett@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:HBennett@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>>
Cc: gsis_admins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:gsis_admins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>; Robert Swiggum
<RSwiggum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto: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 removed by sender. photo]
Phone: 478-994-2031<tel:478-994-2031>
Email: samantha.mimbs@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:samantha.mimbs@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Website: http://www.monroe.k12.ga.us<http://www.monroe.k12.ga.us/>
Address: 25 Brooklyn Ave Forsyth, GA 31029
[Image removed by sender.]<https://twitter.com/mimbss>
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