Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — The time could be right for the Hayden School District to upgrade its computer system.

At its meeting tonight, the Hayden School Board is scheduled to discuss the Web-based PowerSchool information system designed by Apple and used for several years by the South Routt School District. The board also will address the district's lack of a consistent fundraising policy, Superintendent Mike Luppes said.

PowerSchool allows students and parents to access information such as grades, transcripts, assignments and teacher comments online. Luppes said the system would be an upgrade from the MacSchool system used by Hayden schools.

Although Luppes said Power--School "is not an inexpensive program," he noted that excess funds in the district's capital reserve could mean there's no time like the present to upgrade a system that soon will need improvements.

"Someplace down the road, there's probably a fairly decent expenditure that's going to happen," Luppes said. "Now might be just the right time to do it."

Troy Zabel, principal at Hay--den High School, said he will discuss PowerSchool with the board before making his thoughts about the system public.

"I think it's a good program, but I think it has pro and cons," Zabel said Tuesday.

Luppes said a decision about PowerSchool will not be made today, but the board may take action on the issue at its meeting next month.

Zabel said he also plans to update the board today about regional approaches to alternative schools and vocational programs. The principal attended a meeting last week -- attended by school administrators from Routt and Moffat counties and more than 15 local businesspeople -- that began discussions about pooling resources at regional high schools to expand vocational programs for students.

"There's a very high demand (for vocational programs) not only with our students but also with community members," Zabel said at that meeting.

Luppes said School Board members also will discuss a draft of a fundraising policy at tonight's meeting. Hayden schools have many fundraisers throughout the school year. They raise money for programs including sports teams, a Future Business Leaders of America trip to this year's national competition in Nashville, Tenn., a middle school Leadership Team trip to Wash--ington, D.C., student council and more.

"It gets pretty crazy, and if there's not some coordination of those fundraising efforts, there's a lot of issues that come up," Luppes said. "We've got two groups selling doughnuts at the same time, and it hurts both of them."

Luppes said he hopes to have the draft policy finalized in March.

The Hayden School District also has begun advertising for a new technology director.

Current director Bryan Al--k--ema has resigned to go into business for himself, Luppes said, and he will leave the position in early March.

"That'll be a tough position to fill -- we hate to see him go," Luppes said.

-- To reach Mike Lawrence, call 871-4203 or e-mail mlawrence@steamboatpilot.com