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LAUSD board getting full MiSiS report in a closed meeting
After weeks of review, investigation and analysis, the LA Unified school board tomorrow will start getting answers to questions about what went wrong with MiSiS and a long-term plan for fixing it. A report prepared by independent consultant, Arnold Viramontes, is expected to be thoroughly discussed during the closed board meeting with Superintendent Ramon Cortines....
By Vanessa Romo | November 5, 2014
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Cortines finalizes reshuffling of MiSiS leadership team
* UPDATED As promised, LA Unified Superintendent Ramon Cortines has completed the reorganization of the district’s MiSiS leadership team, promoting a few employees and setting up a new chain of command with himself and Chief Deputy Superintendent Michelle King at the top. In the new hierarchy of the Information Technology Division (ITD), Cortines has named...
By Vanessa Romo | November 4, 2014
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The MiSiS cash register is starting to put up some numbers
* UPDATED The MiSiS cash register is starting to ring. Ever since the bungled launch of the student data system, the district has been throwing heaps of money at software problems to get the system functioning properly to meet district, state and federal mandated deadlines. “More than anybody, I want to know how much money...
By Vanessa Romo | November 4, 2014
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Chandler, LAUSD’s head of IT, resigns in face of MiSiS crisis
Ron Chandler, LA Unified’s Chief Information Officer and the public face of the district’s two biggest technology programs, iPads and the new student-tracking system, resigned today in a shuffling of the district’s Information Technology Department. The move is the latest and most decisive change during Ramon Cortines‘s first two weeks as superintendent, and it comes as...
By Vanessa Romo | October 31, 2014
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Cortines names new overseer for fixing MiSiS problems
The flurry of organizational changes within LA Unified to deal with the MiSiS crisis took yet another turn late today as Superintendent Ramon Cortines told the district’s Independent Monitor that he is creating a Program Manager position, responsible for managing and overseeing a team working to fix the student data tracking system Cortines also said...
By Vanessa Romo | October 29, 2014
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LAUSD dismisses outside consultant on MiSiS program
* UPDATED Superintendent Ramon Cortines has cancelled the contract for one of LA Unified’s top project managers on MiSiS as part of a larger effort to play a more active role in solving the software issues with the new student-data system. Bria Jones, an IT consultant who secured a lucrative $280,800 a year deal with...
By Vanessa Romo | October 29, 2014
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LA Unified seniors get reprieve on financial aid applications
LA Unified high school seniors counting on grant money to attend state colleges and universities got a reprieve today as the district announced a month-long extension for when student grade information needs to be verified for financial aid. Merit-based Cal Grants require that the school district verify a student’s grade point average (GPA), and the...
By Vanessa Romo | October 27, 2014
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LAUSD trying to fix transcript errors before college deadlines
Amid reports that LA Unified staff experts were working through the weekend to determine the cause of errors in some student transcripts, Superintendent Ramon Cortines issued a letter to parents today, ensuring them that issues will be addressed. According to the Los Angeles Daily News, the experts were attempting to determine if the problems were...
By Craig Clough | October 27, 2014
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Cortines promises fixes for LAUSD’s flawed computer program
In his first open address to the LA Unified school board since he was rehired as superintendent last week, Ramon Cortines promised accountability, transparency and constant communication. “I know the buck stops here,” he told the seven members during a brief address that included an update on the district’s flawed student data software program, MiSiS....
By Vanessa Romo | October 21, 2014
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LIVESTREAM coverage of today’s school board meeting
Today, available by LIVESTREAM, the seven members of LA Unified school board will meet for the first time since the high-profile resignation of Superintendent John Deasy and the selection of Ray Cortines as interim replacement. At 10:00 a.m., the board is set to hear an update on the troubled computer system, MiSiS, which, has caused management...
By LA School Report | October 21, 2014