EWSD E-FinancePLUS Project Site

Education Finance and Human Resource management needs are changing - both in EWSD and statewide. With growing fiscal constraints and staffing needs in schools, the Legislature and Vermont Agency of Education (AOE) took action to implement a single statewide financial accounting solution with the goal of producing better outcomes, leveraging resources, and increasing capacity. The main intent is to make the “business” of education more efficient and effective, ensuring our valuable assets remain focused on what matters most: our students.

The state has chosen to approach this in two ways. First, we will be implementing a statewide Uniform Chart of Accounts (UCOA). A new uniform accounting structure means that for the first time, every school district in Vermont will conform to a standard process for coding and reporting financial transactions.

Second, the state has procured PowerSchool eFinancePLUS, a web-based School Finance/Human Resource/Enterprise Resource Planning platform designed to unify and enhance school district business operations, as well as support implementation of UCOA. Having most of the state of one system offers a tremendous opportunity to build collaboration across districts, reduce duplication and workload associated with mandated state data collection reporting, and streamline education finance functions.

How does this project impact me?

The implementation of a Uniform Chart of Accounts (UCOA) resulted in the restructuring of our existing fiscal operations to align with the new system. As we entered the new fiscal year on July 1, 2020, the longer, more specific accounting codes are still unfamiliar. However, the reason the state has chosen a standardized coding system is to make reporting of school financial information more efficient across the state while retatining local flexibility.

EWSD went live on July 1, 2020, with eFinancePLUS, along with other school districts in the state. This integrated platform has replaced our old siloed financial systems (Sungard/BusinessPLUS and Tyler InfiniteVisions) with a single solution.

Staff with human resource, accounting, and finance roles will participate in ongoing training and support in the new UCOA account coding system and eFinancePLUS.

How will I be trained on the new system?

Employees with human resource, accounting, and finance roles receives ample support and training with the new UCOA coding system and eFinancePLUS. This transition allowed our teams to regularly collaborate and learn best practice through ongoing training. In this way, our systems will continue to evolve and improve.

What does the new system do?

The transition to the new uniform coding system and financial management platform will provide the following advantages for EWSD:

• Integrated accounting, payroll, human resource functionality with eFinancePLUS

• Modern, web-based interface

• Seamless workflow solution for paperless requisitioning, purchase order creation, and HR onboarding

• Dynamic account monitoring for regulatory compliance with the Affordable Care Act (ACA)

• Cognos Reporting with standardized and customizable report-writing capability

• Powerful integration with our Frontline employee timeclock and absence management system

How will the new system be implemented?

EWSD began the early phases of project management in 2019, but has transitioned to a full-time emphasis on the project in January 2020. The organization is well prepared for implementation to go live in July. Teams have been regularly meeting for conversation and work on data migration. Much of our data has already been converted and we are making good progress on the setup of the new eFinancePLUS system. This work will continue with testing and monitoring at every phase to ensure fidelity of the data and training for staff.

In order to receive support and technical assistance with transitioning to the new system, EWSD has been added to the Round 6 Implementation Group along with these districts:

• Champlain Valley SD

• Colchester SD

• Mount Mansfield Unified Union

• Harwood Unified Union SD

These Round 5 Districts are went live on July 1, 2020

Which districts are already on the new system?

Several other large school systems have already gone live with eFinancePLUS and the Uniform Chart of Accounts. The following districts have achieved full implementation:

• Burlington Public Schools

• Addison Central SD

• Maple Run USD

• Mill River SD

• Montpelier-Roxbury SD

• Rivendell Interstate SD

• Rutland Northeast SU

• St. Johnsbury SD

• Springfield SD

• Slate Valley USD

• Southwest Vermont SU

• Windsor Southeast SU

• Windham Central SU

• Windham Northeast SU