FWCS to Switch to PowerSchool for Student Management

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Record Number: 10087
Displayed from: Jun 25, 2013 , until: Sep 30, 2013

The Fort Wayne Community Schools Board of School Trustees approved purchasing the PowerSchool Student Management System at its meeting Monday.

FWCS has used Pinnacle since 2011 to store and manage student information, including schedules and discipline records. The system allows parents to view student grades online as well as monitor upcoming and missing assignments and communicate directly with teachers. Global Scholar, Pinnacle's parent company, has given the District notice that it will no longer support the system as of December 2015. Prior to that date, Global Scholar will offer no updates for the system beyond necessary patch fixes.

It is disappointing that we could not reach an agreement with Global Scholar to continue using Pinnacle, FWCS Technology Director Jack Byrd said. But, it is essential that FWCS has a supported student management system. We believe PowerSchool will provide us the system we need to manage our student data, as well as provide tools to keep parents informed and engaged in ensuring the success of their children.

FWCS will work with PowerSchool during the 2013-14 school year to transition data from Pinnacle to the new system. During the upcoming school year, teachers, students and parents will continue to use Pinnacle as they have for the last two school years. The transition is expected to be complete by the 2014-15 school year when the use of Pinnacle will cease.

The initial cost of PowerSchool is $423,175 with annual maintenance fees of $137,925.

With nearly 30,000 students, Fort Wayne Community Schools is one of the largest school districts in Indiana. FWCS proudly allows families to choose any of its 50 schools through its successful school-choice program creating diversity in each school, including some with more than 75 languages spoken. FWCS offers seven magnet schools focusing on areas such as science and math, communication, fine arts or Montessori at the elementary and middle school level. In high school, students can choose from the prestigious International Baccalaureate program, Project Lead the Way or New Tech Academy as well as other rigorous academic and specialty training programs.