Opportunities in the economic crisis
Around the world, schools are feeling the effects of decreasing revenues and increasing demands. How will schools react? Dramatically cutting programs and services is one route, but one that will ultimately lead to long-term stasis in improvement efforts. As Tony Bryk contends, schools must pursue “twin goals:”
- Improve Learning Outcomes
- Improve System Efficiency
Both pursuits require a measured approach to resource allocation and funding. Today’s difficult economic conditions for school budgets – many of which are based on real estate tax revenues – may seem like totally negative circumstances. However, the current climate also presents great opportunities to strengthen schools.
To identify these opportunities, CoSN has created “A Guide to Technology Leadership in the Economic Crisis” called “Mastering the Moment.” This guide provides expert analysis of K12 technology budgets, as well as prescriptive tactical and strategic responses. CoSN CEO, Keith Krueger, joins me today to discuss this resource and the current state of K12 budgets.
SCHMEDLEN: Keith, I appreciate the time as we’re all gearing up for NECC. Why did CoSN create “Mastering the Moment?”
KRUEGER: In the face of the most serious economic crisis in generations, K–12 school districts across the nation are paring their budgets and planning for austere revenue cycles.
The panic of the moment could make educational technology an easy target—and a casualty—of the economic crisis. CTOs and district technology leaders are being asked to reduce their budgets. The goal of Mastering the Moment, is to help superintendents and CTOs/district technology leaders master this moment. The economic crisis actually presents not just challenges, but also tremendous opportunities to strengthen technology investments, operations, programs, plans, staffs and results. Also, fiscal crisis give us the opportunity to try out some new things. As they say in Washington, DC, “A crisis is a terrible thing to waste”.
SCHMEDLEN: Can you explain the tactical vs. strategic responses? How have you defined each?
KRUEGER: Tactical are short term “efficiencies” which offer immediate ways to dampen the impact of budget cuts. The toolkit gives a dozen ideas to get you started, ranging from looking at open source to reexamining warranties to leasing options to optimizing printers/copiers. Strategic responses are really all about helping you position technology as strategic to the district’s mission. For example, we explain how to understand and articulate the “value” of technology. CoSN has developed a range of tools to help you determine the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), as well as determine the Value of Investment (VOI).
We also point out some new investments that are worth the cost, even in times of tight budgets. For example, using economic stimulus dollars to “green” your network will save you in the long term with energy costs. Virtualization is not only a good thing to do for the environment, but lowers your energy costs – which could be put to use to decrease other budget shortfalls now and in the future.
SCHMEDLEN: Have you seen any significant increase in technology spending due to the ARRA/Stimulus legislation? If so, in what areas are schools choosing to use this funding?
KRUEGER: The dedicated funding for education technology (Title IID, Enhancing Education Through Technology/EETT) is just starting to flow in July, so it is a bit early to tell. We have been working hard to help school district technology leaders think strategically about where they should invest which will have long-term impact. Certainly school districts should be carefully thinking about how they are spending this stimulus money since it is one-time funds intended to create jobs and stimulate the economy.
SCHMEDLEN: What are the mission-critical technical resources at K12 institutions – human resources, software, hardware or infrastructure?
KRUEGER: Well, I think all of those factors need to work together if you want technology to really be mission critical. The area that the average school district is most under-funding is probably the human resources to make it all work. For example, a recent study showed that in education the average technican services 612 computers vs. 150 in private sector. The survey also found that three-quarters of CTO’s do not have enough staff to implement new technologies and two-thirds do not have enough staff to integrate technology into classrooms or to plan for new technology. Simply buying more stuff without providing the professional development and technical support dooms the investment to fail.
SCHMEDLEN: Who can access Mastering the Moment resources?
KRUEGER: We have a public version available on our website www.cosn.org – just click on the Initiatives tab and look for Mastering the Moment. Of course, the really rich and deep resources are for members. Hopefully if your readers are not yet members, they will check out all the benefits of joining.
SCHMEDLEN: Any comments on cloud computing, the rise of inexpensive netbooks and analytics tools? Does this “perfect storm” scenario for systemic 1:1 across large systems seem imminent to you? (Shout out: Rene Descartes)
KRUEGER: Cloud computing is coming to K-12 and it will be in a big way. That said, right now we are only starting to see the impact. CoSN recently partnered with New Media Consortium to create the first-ever K-12 Horizon’s report on emerging technologies. We identified it as a key trend in the two to three year horizon. As far as low-cost net books and other new devices, we are seeing that as a huge trend in K-12 today. Likewise, data-driven decision making and analytics tools continue to be moving us to a powerful way to individualize instruction.
SCHMEDLEN: Keith, thank you very much for your time. CoSN is a fantastic organization. Speaking of CoSN, where will the 2009 conference be held? Where can people find more information on the event?
KRUEGER: We are back in Washington, DC (Feb. 28-March 2, 2010). Our Call for Presentations is now open at www.cosn.org
SCHMEDLEN: Thank you, Keith, and happy NECC!
KRUEGER: My pleasure – and be sure to come by our CTO Leadership Forum at NECC next Mon., June 29th which will focus on How 2 B a Disruptive Technology Leader! Register at the CoSN website.
