As the harsh economy wrings precious dollars out of school budgets,
education leaders face tough choices regarding what to keep—or cut. Before you
sacrifice valuable learning resources in your own schools, however, consider
the following advice.
We polled several education executives to find out how schools
might cut costs without cutting vital services, and we’ve assembled their ideas
in this list of 10 often-overlooked ways to save money.
1. Send records
electronically.
Technology solutions firm ConnectEDU is building a national
network to move student records electronically between 2,000 high schools and
275 colleges during the college admissions process...
2. Implement online
learning programs.
With school districts facing significant budget pressures, it
can be hard to meet the needs and interests of all students by investing in
staff and specialists for individual or small-group instruction…
3. Consider virtual field
trips.
Virtual field trips typically involve students using video conferencing
software or using a simple web browser to visit an online destination, such as
the web site of a national park or museum, that offers virtual tours through
the facility and up-close, three-dimensional views of geological formations,
art work, and so on…
4. Pilot ‘cloud
computing.’
“Cloud computing” refers to the use of software running on
remote servers and accessible via the internet. Provided you have enough
bandwidth to employ this approach, cloud computing can free you from the cost
of storing, updating, and distributing software programs for your students and staff…
5. Take advantage of
software virtualization.
To help save on IT infrastructure costs, Indiana University is using
Microsoft’s server virtualization technology….
6. Use open-source
technologies and open content.
Tired of investing in expensive textbooks and proprietary software
programs, Florida education officials are looking to an open online-learning
platform to teach students basic reading skills.
7. Make data systems
interoperable.
Since the Schools Interoperability Framework (SIF) first was
announced nearly a decade ago, school leaders have heard the promises: SIF will
make school software programs interoperable, regardless of their manufacturer;
it will eliminate the need for multiple data entry; and it will streamline school
administrative functions.
8. Sell used or unused equipment.
Jenny
House, CEO of RedRock Reports, which offers funding strategies, says schools
should sell obsolete equipment and unused supplies through InterSchola, which
sells surplus educational items on eBay.
InterSchola is working with educational institutions throughout California
and New York, with more states on the way. Clients include school districts,
county offices of education, community college districts, charter schools,
private schools, and other educational organizations. http://www.interschola.com
9. Redesign bus routes.
Carol Miller, transportation supervisor for Michigan’s Eaton Rapids
Public School District, uses bus routing software from VersaTrans to save her
district money by calculating the most efficient routes possible…
10. Implement shorter
weeks.
Schools and
universities are taking cues from the business world and implementing four-day
weeks in
an
effort to reduce energy costs... |
