Retiring IT manager to be greatly missed
Charlie Peterson has recently taken early retirement as Director of Technology Services in Township High School District 211. I am certain that not many people know it, but Charlie and his staff have saved District 211 a great deal of money over the years as he and his staff have tirelessly worked to write their own programs. These programs directly met the needs of the district personnel rather than going outside of the district to purchase programs for tens of thousands of dollars which would then have to be modified to be an exact fit to the needs of the district.
Charlie Peterson came to his position at a time when computers were just starting to be used for keeping discipline, attendance and academic records, Charlie took the time to visit the school personnel who actually entered the data so that he could better understand exactly what their needs were. He spoke to assistant principals, attendance clerks, secretaries, counselors and registrars so that he could better understand their exact needs.
People who have backgrounds in data processing don't always know the day to day needs of school personnel. Some don't care. They believe that those in the schools must simply adjust to the programs which are purchased no matter how cumbersome or inefficient the programs might be. Charlie was the exception to that rule. He was concerned about the efficiency and accuracy of the programs that he and his staff developed.
Now that Charlie is retired, my hope is that Township High School District 211 will be as concerned about getting the best bang for the buck as Charlie always was and that they will continue to take into account the people who must enter the data so that they can continue to do so as accurately and efficiently as possible.
I hope that the Board of Education of Township High School District 211 is carefully monitoring the changes in the technology department to be certain that monies are spent as judiciously as was done in the Charlie Peterson era.
Frank P. Sesko
Inverness