NOACSC Newsletter

Welcome to the start of a new school year!

It's been a good summer at NOACSC. Our staff has been busy! Here are just a few of the things we've been working on:

• Student services converting two school districts to PowerSchool SIS
• Fiscal services implementing Employee Self-Service, a replacement application for Kiosk
• Network services installing network switches and access points for various E-rate projects
• EMIS services serving as coordinator on an interim basis for several school districts

We have added a few new faces to our team! Recently hired NOACSC staff include:

• Angie Shuey, EMIS Services - Angie adds experience and expertise to EMIS, having most recently served as EMIS Coordinator at Elida Schools.
• Mindy Troyer, Fiscal Services - Mindy joins our fiscal team after working for the Union Bank in Columbus Grove for the past 15+ years.
• Erika George, Fiscal Services - Erika comes to NOACSC after working at Delphos City Schools for the past four years. Erika will start at NOACSC on August 12.
• Yash Bolla, Tech Services—Yash has an extensive technology background, most recently working for the United Way in Findlay. He will provide technology services to Findlay Digital Academy.

We have added some outstanding talent to our fantastic team!

The rest of this newsletter will help you understand the services offered by NOACSC. Please share this newsletter with anyone on your staff who may benefit.

As always, please contact anyone on our staff with any questions.

Have a blessed school year!

- Ben Thaxton

Thank you to the 205 respondents to our 2024 user survey! Here are some highlights:

• 3.8 out of 4 rating for primary and secondary areas of service
• 3.8 out of 4 rating for response times to tickets
• 3.7 out of 4 for communication regarding our service offerings
• 3.8 out of 4 rating for communication regarding training offerings

NOACSC received a 3.8 out of 4 overall rating for our services! 😮In fact, 88% of responses were a perfect 4!

We strive to provide our schools with the best possible support. Thank you for your continued support of your ITC!

Whether it's online, at your school, or in our office, our team of experts is here to help. To schedule a training or to receive assistance, call us at (419) 228-7417, contact a member of our team directly, or by submitting a request to the following email addresses:

• Student Services - student.support@noacsc.org or phone attendant option 4
• EMIS Services - emis.support@noacsc.org or phone attendant option 5
• Fiscal Services - fiscal.support@noacsc.org or phone attendant option 3
• Network Services - network.support@noacsc.org or phone attendant option 2
• Library Services - support@infohio.org or phone attendant option 6

For a complete staff listing, visit https://www.noacsc.org/staff/

As one of Ohio’s Information Technology Centers (ITCs) in the Ohio Education Computer Network (OECN), NOACSC aims to provide, implement, and support technology services to assist our members in delivering high-quality administrative and instructional applications. We offer a range of cost-effective, high-quality services and applications in a shared-services model with unparalleled support.

These applications and services have seen an increased demand in our membership recently:

• PowerSchools SIS - Two schools switched to PowerSchool for the 2024-25 school year and two more are switching in 2025-26, bringing our total PowerSchool districts to 6.
• SameGoal Plus - Plus allows parents to sign IEPs remotely.
• EMIS Cross Check - 33 school districts are now able to quickly check for state student data accuracy using this application.
• Virtual Server Hosting - Many districts have stopped purchasing expensive server hardware and are now using our virtual server hosting instead, which includes backup.
• Tech Guard - Training your staff to be safe online is critical to a strong cybersecurity plan. Tech Guard uses short videos and phishing campaigns to educate your staff so that they can keep your school's data safe.
• E-Rate Services - Upgrading your network? Our technology staff can install and configure your switches and access points.
• Extended Fiscal Services - When districts need temporary or long-term payroll or accounts payable service due to changes in staffing or leave, our team can help.
• Extended EMIS Services - When districts need temporary or long-term EMIS services due to changes in staffing, leave, or restructuring, our team can help.

Below is a complete listing of all of our services and applications. If your district is interested in adding any of these services, please contact Ben Thaxton, Executive Director.

Student Information Systems and Online Gradebook

• Frontline - Student Information and ProgressBook
• PowerSchool - PowerSchool SIS and PowerTeacher Pro Gradebook

Special Education

• Frontline SPS
• SameGoal - Standard, Plus and Pro

Learning Management Systems

• Moodle - Hosted open source LMS
• Schoology - K-12 system from PowerSchool

Additional Products

• Frontline Data Map - Data analytics solution
• PowerSchool MTSS - K-12 multi-tiered system of supports application
• Harmony - NOACSC data extraction application for Frontline SIS

Data Verification

• EMIS CrossCheck – Dig deeper into EMIS data

Other EMIS Services

• EMIS Extended Services – Above and beyond typical support. Short- and long-term EMIS coordination services for districts.

Accounting and Payroll

• USAS/USPS – State accounting and payroll software

Human Resource Management

• Employee Self-Service (ESS) – Manage staff absences and approval workflow digitally
• Other Fiscal Services
• Fiscal Extended Services – Above and beyond typical support. Short- and long-term accounting and payroll services for districts.

Managed Phone Services

• 3CX VOIP – Internet-base phone system and mobile app

Hosting and Backup

• Virtual server hosting
• Application hosting
• Remote backup
• Block disk space
• Email archiving

Cybersecurity

• Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
• Tech Guard - Security and awareness training application
• Abnormal - Detects email attacks and automatically remediates malicious messages in seconds

Content Filtering

• Lightspeed Filter – CIPA-compliant web filtering
• Lightspeed Classroom Management – Manage digital learning environments
• Lightspeed Alert – Prevent student suicide, cyberbullying, and school violence
• Lightspeed Digital Insights – Ensure the security and value of edtech investments

E-Rate

• Category 1 – Internet service provider
• Category 2 – Networking equipment, installation, managed internal broadband services

Other Networking / Technology Services

• Installation and maintenance of networking hardware
• Technology services – Onsite technical support
• Technology Extended Services – Above and beyond typical support. Short- and long-term networking and technology services for districts.

INFOhio

Library Client

• Symphony Web - Web-based version of the WorkFlows library admin client

Forms

• FinalForms - Online forms management

Attendance

• Attendance K12 - Monitor attendance and maintain compliance with HB410

Document management

• Content Verse - Document archiving solution
• DropBox Sign - Cloud-based document managing signing solution

The NOACSC Board of Directors are scheduled to meet on the following dates during the 2024-25 school year:

• Tuesday, August 13, 2024
• Tuesday, November 19, 2024
• Tuesday, February 18, 2025
• Tuesday, May 13, 2025

All meetings are held in the Board Room at NOACSC beginning at 9:30 a.m. For a list of the Board of Directors, visit https://www.noacsc.org/board-of-directors/