Re: (FWD) Re: Fw: RE: [seul-edu] Comprehensive StudentManagement

["Michael S. Williams" <michael@haywood.k12.nc.us>]

Ray Olszewski wrote:

> At 04:06 PM 9/2/00 -0400, Michael Williams wrote:
> ...
> >I am not a programmer, I can't make sense of any of the code I have and do use.
> >I use and advocate the use of open source software when ever and where ever it
> >is appropriate, because it gives me the opportunity to hire someone who can
> >make sense of the code and modify it for our needs and follow through with
> >support and documentation.
>
> Could I encourage you to expand on this? Earlier in this thread (or perhaps
> its anscestor), I expressed the concern that schools were being deluded into
> thinking they could get the benefits of Linux without paying to support Open
> Source. I wasn't specific about *how* schools might pay to support Open
> Source, but this is a nice illustration ... since you say you're not a
> programmer, it could be a nice model for how supporters of Open Source
> software can make their support more tangible than mere advocacy.

Up until this week it has just been one of the seeds I have been trying to plant
with the faculty and staff, in presentations and interviews.( should be comming out
in eSchoolnews shortly). This week it took root with my media specialists
(librarians). We are in the process of upgrading/converting to a new library
automation software pkg. They took it upon themselves to locate an open source pkg.
We are reviewing it and making a list of additions that they would like to see. I
will detail the steps it takes to carry this through as it unfolds.

>
>
> What kind of Open Source programs have you paid to have modified? Did you
> pay an Open Source developer (such as the creator of the package) to do the
> mods, or did you get somebody local? Did you make the resulting modified
> programs (and documentation) available to the Open Source community? How?

We are talking to the developers at http://www.koha.org. My first instinct is to
support the creators. It has been suggested that we contract locally but I don't
know how that will pan out yet. Yes the mods will be made available to the
community.  They have also discussed creating the doc's locally and releasing to
the community. The funding has been allocated, but we are breaking new ground in
our district and using this as a "teachable moment" for the Administration.  We
have never contracted with a programmer before, so we have to research how we want
to contract, hourly or by the mod. What are the contract laws in New Zealand ? That
type of "stuff".

>
>
> And has anyone else actually tried this approach to supporting Open Source
> in a school setting? It certainly is one of the support models the Open
> Source advocates recommend (or close to it, anyway). Examples of it actually
> being done would do a lot to strengthen this argument, which is typically
> offered with little in the way of real examples.
>
> >I do not think that it has to be "free" as in beer,
> >but "free" as in freedom of choice, freedom of speech, freedom from the greed
> >that seems to guide the technology industry ( I am not implying that all people
> >in the IT field are greedy) and I'm not just talking monetarily, I'm talking
> >knowledge and information. Solutions are more than code.
>
> I sympathize with your view, and I am impressed by your willingness, and
> your school's (Haywood County Schools, I assume from the headers in your
> message), to put your (and its) money behind it. Describing the details as
> well can really give advocates some great ammunition.

I will share and document as we step through the process of bringing  about.

>
>
> It would also be instructive to know more about how you decide where Open
> Source solutions are "appropriate", since that sort of information from a
> site that actually supports Open Source programming activity (beyond just
> using it) would help developers understand where their best opportunities are.

We are concentrating on servers and administrative software.  Classroom
Administration, Library Automation, Student Mngmnt, Class Schedulers, Cafeteria
Mngmnt, Groupware , Helpdesk , Service Mngmnt  and Accounting apps, basically
boring stuff from what I gather.  This is our current focus.

BTW, are there any good open source X window clients for Windwos 9x?  That would
eleminate the need for everything to be HTML based wouldn't it? Just as a stepping
stone?

>
>
> --
> ------------------------------------"Never tell me the odds!"---
> Ray Olszewski                                        -- Han Solo
> Palo Alto, CA                                    ray@comarre.com
> ----------------------------------------------------------------

Michael Williams