By Marie Scigliano and Paula Hundley W


Consider this: Making smart tech funding decisions 4. The free lunch never is, especially with tech products


hether you’re a principal, a program coordinator or a technology director, in today’s economy you are dealing with reduced resources and a demand for


technology products that take a huge bite out of your budget. Deciding what hardware or software to buy is a major decision and probably one of your most difficult. As you know, costs are ongoing, products have short lives, and support costs seem un- ending until the product is declared dead or surplus. Some superintendents see technology as a “black hole,” a


never-ending drain on the budget that constantly grows and is difficult to manage. So how do you – as a decision maker – keep technology costs under control, meet program needs, and do what is best practice? Here are some key considerations as you make technology funding decisions.


1. The total price


Do … understand the full cost involved beyond the single purchase, including software, set-up, maintenance, support, upgrades. Don’t ... buy because it sounds good and meets your budget surplus. Consider … learning more about total cost of ownership (see COSN; www.cosn.org/Default.aspx?TabId=5118). Talk with other schools that have already bought in.


2. Portability


Do …purchase laptops, notebooks, tablets and other portable devices for flexibility and sharing resources.


Don’t ... fill a room with desktops that will be there for 5+ years but don’t provide for flexibility/innovation.


Consider … innovation labs filled with STEM projects so physi- cal space is utilized in a project-based model (see www.cde. ca.gov/pd/ca/sc/stemintrod.asp).


3. One-size-fits-all


Do … buy for volume discounts when appropriate and you know you have the right product. Don’t ... buy one for each classroom. While that does provide equity, it does not encourage use and may not be appropriate for all. Consider … planning a project for grade levels, interdisciplin- ary teams, or cross-grade spans matched to curriculum and instructional need.


20 Leadership


Do … check with other schools that are using the product, but make sure they are not evangelists for the vendor. Look for tan- gible results – summative and formal evaluations of effective- ness. Don’t ... accept the vendor’s word or recommendation from a parent or neighbor. All technology products require support, staff time and energy. Ask yourself, “Is this worth my time or my staff’s time? Will it make a difference?” Consider … the challenges. While beta testing sounds like a good idea, make sure that you have staff and time to test things out because that’s what you will be doing. Established products have been tested and tried by users.


5. All-in-one software solution


Do … evaluate software that was developed for your student population and area. Don’t ... buy large global solutions because programs that do too much usually don’t do much well. Consider … looking to technology leaders in your area and determining who uses what and why.


6. Spend it or lose it


Do …have a problem to solve or an area of need before consid- ering purchases. Don’t ... spend because you have money in a budget that will be gobbled up at the end of the budget cycle. Consider … carryover and other budget practices that are strat- egies to keep funds while making good decisions.


7. Piggy-backing on other contracts


Do … find out what large districts pay for the same product and see if your purchase qualifies for piggy-back pricing. Large district volume pricing can benefit the smaller purchaser. Don’t ... assume that you are getting the best price. It is best practice to obtain at least three quotes and compare features of the proposal. Consider … resellers in your area or national companies to find the best pricing. Your hardware vendor may be able to bundle some other products for you. n


Marie Scigliano (mariescigliano@gmail.com) is founder and consultant, School Savvy. Paula Hundley (paula.hundley@ gmail.com) is founder and consultant, K12 DigitalWorks.


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