45-School Kansas District Swaps Out SIS for Web-Based System

Shawnee Mission School District in Kansas is dropping its current student information system and moving to a Web-based platform.

The 45-school district reported that its legacy SIS had grown a bit too long in the tooth and was unable to keep up with growing administrative needs.

Deployment of the new system, the Skyward Student Management Suite, began over the summer and is expected to be "fully operational for the 2014-2015 school year."

"Over the past few years, it became clear that our aging SIS was outdated," said Leigh Anne Neal, associate superintendent of communications for Shawnee Mission SD, in a prepared statement. "Purchased in the 1990s, it simply wasn't keeping pace with our district's demands. In a district our size, we needed a system that can ensure data accuracy and serve our diverse needs on a daily basis. Before the selection process began, an 18-member SIS review committee created a 'wish list' of what they wanted to see in a new system. After reviewing proposals, watching presentations and evaluating the information, Skyward offered a solution that was a good fit for what the district was looking for in a system."

Deployment and staff training will continue to take place throughout the upcoming school year, according to information released by Skyward.

Shawnee Mission SD serves about 27,000 students in Johnson County, Kansas, near Kansas City, MO. It comprises 33 elementary schools, five middle schools, five high schools, a technical center, and an alternative high school.

About the Author

David Nagel is the former editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal, STEAM Universe, and Spaces4Learning. A 30-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art, marketing, media, and business publications.

He can be reached at [email protected]. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrnagel/ .


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