MARLBORO – The Marlboro K-8 School District will be getting a new student information system after the Board of Education approved the purchase of PowerSchool at a recent meeting.
PowerSchool from Pearson School Systems, of Chandler, Ariz., will cost the district $175,547, according to the resolution that was passed by the board.
Superintendent of Schools DavidAbbott explained that a new system was sought after it was discovered that the current student information systemwould no longer be supported. The new system will be Webbased, becoming stronger and easier to use, he said.
Abbott said that in the future the information will be updated in real time, giving parents the ability to access their child’s grades and attendance information.
The new system will provide seamless integration of student demographics, online attendance, grade book, report cards, federal, state and district report generator, scheduling and eventually online access for parents, according to information provided by Pearson School Systems.
PowerSchool combines Web-based, cross-platformtechnology and seamless application integration, enabling parents, teachers and administrators to participate and collaborate in increasing student achievement.
The conversion of information on the systems from what is now referred to as SASI to PowerSchool is expected to be easier since both are Pearson products.
Abbott said committeemembers who researched the new systems have crafted a timeline for installation. Part of that timeline allows for all incoming kindergarten and first-grade pupil data to be entered directly into the new system, while the elementary staff will begin using the system in September. The middle schools are expected to begin recording grades in the new systemby the secondmarking period of the 2008-09 school year.

