Re: [LM_NET] TAR: Renaissance Place

[Lisa Hunt <lisa3moon@YAHOO.COM>]

Ren Place - 2 years later:
   
  My district is now going to move to Ren Place.  We have, as a district, been 
Renaissance customers for more than 10 years.  All schools use AR, STAR and STAR 
Early Literacy.  Some schools use the Math and Writing products.
   
  Right now each school is independent and keeps a school server for their own 
tests, and student data.  We have had lots of trouble with corruption.  Three years 
ago our district began moving from the Mac platform in elementary to total Dell 
throughout the district.  Finally, in the Summer of '06 our district will become 
one platform - Dell.
   
  Anyway, we first investigated Ren Place in Feb. 03, and planned even more during 
the winter of 04.  However, at the same time the district was moving into a new 
student info system that included gradebooks, lesson plans, attendance and 
enrollment all in one.  We began that software in Aug 04.
   
  Ren Place has been put on hold because we had too many other things to deal with, 
and our method of using AR was basically OK.  Now, we are ready to move to Ren 
Place.  The whole thing has been driven by professionals, teachers and technology 
within the district.  Never at any time has parent input been the most important.
   
  I look forward to the move.  It will benefit my school, our students, and the 
performance of this software.  I like it because it is a web-based product.  We 
will NOT purchase the inclusive test package at 8.99 per student.  We will still 
purchase out custom tests, downloaded from the Renaissance website.  The benefit 
will come from this web-based product being securely managed with off-site servers 
and backups.  I will enjoy the peace of mind.  Even thought the district decision 
is that the librarians at each school will do the majority of management of the 
product.
   
  That's our story about Ren Place.  It will be cost effective.  We have carefully 
waited, measures and planned the implementation.  We will not pay $8.99 per 
student, but continue to enjoy the individual test banks owned by each school.  
Additionally, students will NOT be able to take test from home!

Robin Chandler <rchandler@IMMAC.ORG> wrote:
  We have a parent trying to force Renaissance Place into our school.

I am not against change by any means, but...

I called Renaissance and spoke with a sales person to try to figure out cost 
effectiveness, how it would operate, and all. After speaking with my principal we 
decided that we are fine right now with the annual tech support fee and paying for 
custom lists of quizzes. There are more important items to spend our technology 
funds on rather than pay annually and per student for what we already have. To open 
up AR quizzes to everyone, it would be $8.99 per student per year. If we were just 
beginning, this wouldn't be so bad, but we have invested money in over 4,000 tests 
at this point. We also have several people quite willing to input "homemade" tests 
into the program as well.

We only have AR that is used by the faculty, not all the other products as well.

I don't think this parent has researched this question, but is rather stubborn 
about her idea. She is even going so far to have a parent meeting to push this 
tomorrow.

I am going to show up at this unauthorized meeting (along with the principal) to 
present the "other side of the coin", so to speak. I want to be really armed with 
facts besides what I already have.

Do any of you have any suggestions as to why NOT to go to Renaissance Place besides 
the money issue?

We are planning on moving to a new school in three years, so I think that would be 
the time for us to make this move--when all computers will probably be new and 
operating on the newest operating system at the time.

Thanks ahead for your input.

Robin Chandler
rchandler@immac.org
Media Specialist
Immaculata School
Hendersonville, NC 28791

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      Lisa Hunt
  School Library Media Specialist
  National Board Certified
  Moore, OK




                
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