Too much on technology in Wheaton schools?

A new information system at Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200 has one board member saying that it only adds to already exorbitant amounts of money being spent on technology.

But teachers and administrators who will use the system on a regular basis say the new Genesis Student Information System is long overdue.

“When we saw the system, one of our colleagues said, ‘I feel like a caveman who just discovered fire,’” said Wheaton North High School Assistant Principal Lorie Campos. “This will save us an inordinate amount of time. It does things we (usually) spend hours trying to get done, it’s now a process of pushing a button.”

But board member Jim Gambaiani said the school board’s responsibility remains to keep costs of new initiatives and, in this case, technology, to a minimum. He said the millions of dollars the board has approved in technology initiatives since early May should give its members pause.

“The testimonies are compelling but at this end we have to look at the price tag,” he said.

A committee of about 60 staff members and parents chose the system to replace what was called an “antiquated” CIMS system the district currently runs.

Gambaiani was alone in his dissension when the board approved the purchase last week. The school district will pay roughly $740,000 in software implementation and training. However, school officials say they negotiated that into a five-year payment plan that helps spread its financial impact on the district’s budget.

Additionally, the district will be on the hook for an annual, per-student subscription to the system. District 200 currently has about 14,000 students.

The cost of phasing CIMS out and Genesis in will result in higher costs for the first year as the district pays for both systems. However, school officials say the upgrades make it necessary to do that.

“We have to move forward on this,” Superintendent Brian Harris said. “Mr. Gambaiani is looking at this through a different lens, and that’s fine, and I respect that. On the other hand, I have to make recommendations I believe are in the best interests of the district.”