Crunch time for the tech department

In every district I know, the week before school starts and the first couple weeks after the kids get back are crunch time for tech departments. Teacher computers needing to be set up, labs needing re-imaging, telephone numbers needing changing, system user accounts and permission needing creation, new wireless access points needing installation, and a raft of other "fires" needing to be extinguished keep many on the tech crew working long hours. 

Why, educators ask, does this happen when you've had the whole summer to get these things done?

It's a great question and I wish I knew the complete answer. But here are some thoughts:

• We are often not aware of a problem or a need until personnel return from summer vacation.
• Cleaning and maintenance is often scheduled to be done as close to school start as possible and we can't reassemble teacher workstations until that's done.
• Teachers change rooms and desk locations at the last minute.
• Employees are hired at the last minute and new families join the school at the last minute.
• By law, equipment may not be purchased until a new fiscal year begins July 1 (at least in MN).
• Summer construction projects run up to the wire.
• Outsourced tech projects get delayed. Equipment purchasing and delivery gets delayed.
• Summer school and other programs keep labs and libraries in use for much of the summer.
• Professional development, when the discovery of systems not working well is made, often starts just before school starts.
• Techs, like other employees, like to take vacations during the summer.

I am fully aware that a reason to one person may sound a lot like an excuse to an other person. I am also fully convinced that good technology planning and practices can reduce the severity of the school crunch. 

But if anyone has found a way to eliminate the technology stress, I'd love to know how you've done it.

Oh, while I don't put in much physical overtime during back-to-school weeks (my staff doesn't let me touch computers or go near a screwdriver - I mostly attend meetings and do administrivia), I do put in a lot of mental overtime. Every night for the last three weeks, my eyes open and brain starts at 3AM. Just so you know.

 

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Comments

[Nathan Mielke]

It's stress, but we know it's coming and you adapt appropriately. I've had so many people come up and ask "you must be going nuts..." My response was 1) we're all busy and 2) I know what's coming...no sense getting all worked up about it.

[Darren Draper]

Great post, Doug! I feel your pain and appear to have the same issue sleeping.

I may even share this with my wife to help her understand why I like to spend September weekends curled up on the couch in the fetal position. :)

[Chad Maxa]

I completely agree Doug. For all the reasons you've so clearly articulated, we are always forced to change the oil while we're driving down the freeway. While this may not be a popular comment, I'm going to say it anyway: Our work in education should not stop in the summer when teachers leave. We really need that time to work with teachers on professional learning, planning, curriculum development, etc. I believe this is the most significant contributing factor to the crunch we all feel each and every school year.

[Doug Johnson]

Hi Nathan,

Good point - everyone coming back to school experiences stress. You didn't give me the solution for keeping this from happening each year, however!

Doug

Hi Darren,

Coming from a guy a heck of a lot smarter than I am, this makes me anxious. I was hoping for a lot of good techniques for minimizing the crunch!

Have a great school year,

Doug

Hi Chad,

Oh, I agree that our work should/cannot take a break in the summer. In some ways the tech dept is busier during the summer than during the regular school year.

I can't help think that year-round school would be of such benefit to kids and teachers in so many ways. Maybe we can get robots to help on the farm instead of the kids?

Doug