Lake Forest School District 67

RFP Website Solution Provider: Questions and Answers

Click here to download the RFP: Website Solution Provider

Event calendar: End users of the calendaring system should be able to subscribe to various sub-components of the system. Please let us know what would be the sub-components that we need to consider? And what would be the subscription levels of the sub-components?

Here is an example: Assuming there is a master athletics calendar with the practice and game schedule of every sport the scuscriber could subscribe to one or many sports and have that data only on their personal devise. If that data were to change the data would change on the subscribers devise as well.

Discussion Groups and Blogs: Please let us know whether we need to integrate social discussions on site http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/social-discussions.

No the desire is to have conversations between students and teachers and students and students. The less public these conversations the better.

Teacher websites: Connect to the Lake Forest Schools SIS systems. Please provide more details about the SIS system for our review.

Both Lake Forest High School District 115 and Lake Forest Elementary District 67 use Pearson’s PowerSchool as their SIS. Each district has its own server and the two servers do not communicate with one another.

Single Sign-on: We would need the details of the other applications used by the school; their technology etc to define the timeline for SSO implementation.

The applications are listed in the RFP
• PowerSchool student management system (D67 & D115)
• mySchoolBucks online lunch payment system (D67 & D115)
• RevTrak e-commerce system (D67 & D115)
• MyLearning Plan professional development management system (D67 & D115)
• Aesop substitute placement and absence management system (D67 & D115)
• SchoolDude.com facilities management; IT and maintenance work order system (D67 & D115)
• Alio employee portal system (D67 & D115)
• Destiny library automation software (D67 & D115)
• Google Apps for Education collaborative suite (D67 & D115)
• Edmodo educational social networking system (D67 & D115)

Newsletter - Please let us know the templates for Newsletters that need to be considered?

The district currently use 6 different templates; one for our district and one each for our 5 schools. Through separate email distribution lists, we can target information to a specific grade-level using any of these templates. The district uses a third-party company for this service.

Newsletter - Also, the ability to disseminate instant information broadcasts and alerts to groups of constituents via multiple channels website, email and text messaging – This is not very clear. Please provide more details

The district currently uses different third-party companies to disseminate information broadcasts to our constituents. One service broadcasts via email, and another service broadcasts via text, phone, and email. The later service is primarily for "alert" types message. The first service is for our weekly and periodic newsletters. We would like to be able to eliminate theses services and use our website provider services to broadcast news and alerts to all our constituents through email, text, and phone if possible.

24X7 Support: We would like to know more details about your requirements on the 24X7X365 Customer Support. Is it that support will be required for the website visitors? Or support is required for your staff? Kindly elaborate.

The desired support is for staff not visitors.

Regarding teacher pages/websites, when you say in the RFP it should connect to the school’s SIS system, what do you mean by “connect”? How much flexibility do you wish to provide teachers?

At a minimum the connection would be as a Single-Sign On. It would be nice if the teachers schedule could be ported over.

You mention the requirement to Connect to the Lake Forest Schools SIS Systems. Is this Power School?

Yes

What do you mean by connect? Is this in reference for a single-sign on?

Yes

In past projects we have also ported over information from SIS systems like teachers, classes, assignments, etc. Is this of interest?

Yes

You mention the requirement to provide file sharing between students and teachers. Can you expand on this a bit?

The capability of teachers to upload files that students can access ands download and in turn the ability for students to upload files for teachers, i.e. turn in work.

What are the file types and approximate sizes?

It will include word processing documents, videos, photographs, etc. – file sizes will vary.

Single-Sign-On - Do you have any documentation on available APIs or potential integration for these systems, including Powerschool, mySchoolBucks, RevTrak, My Learning Plan, Aesop, School Dude.com, Alio, Destiny, and Edmodo?

No we do not have any documentation for the APIs.

Intranet - Can you expand a bit on the internet needs. What types of content would be included? Would everyone have the same view? Or, would different users have different views? (i.e. English department views different content than Special Education).

Staff would be able to see and access staff applications like ASEOP, My Learning Plan, teacher grade book from PowerSchool, etc. Views could be based on the user’s role.

Regarding the single sign-on, would this apply to parents only, or parents and staff?

Parents are the priority, but we would welcome this option for both parents and staff. Your proposal could include these as separate options.

Are the Districts interested in a packaged template or custom design?

We would be interested in pricing for both a Template solution and/or Custom design options.

Will the district be using erate to help on the reimbursement?

No

To accomplish the go live date of July 1st, I would suggest a contract start date of March 1st. This will allow you to start anytime in March instead of waiting until April 1st .

We anticipate final Board of Education endorsement of the recommended proposal on March 19. If you can not meet the go live date of July 1st, you are welcome to submit a proposal with an alternate timeline.

Are you wanting onsite training during the conversion?

Yes – but you could propose an alternate option/pricing.