Introduction. Gathering information that will give you the information you need to create a budget that will be flexible and prioritized.
Timeline:
Ideal: Fall/Winter two years prior (Fall 2016 for Fall 2018)
Real: Fall/Winter the prior year (Fall 2017for Fall 2018)
Components:
Stakeholders (Departments, Staff, Teachers, Technology Committee, Community Members...)
Do you know the difference between the Key Stakeholders, the people who need to be consulted, and the people who will make the decision?
Do you know what needs to be continued, made better, and abandoned? How?
A Plan (This is your guide that determines future expenditures and rationale)
Without: Reactive planning, decreased or stagnant budget, old equipment that you can't get rid of, no value-adds.
With: Proactive planning, dynamic budget, sustainability plan, innovation.
Your Past & Current Year's Budget. This will tell you your needs and requirements as well as how much you will have for replacement, maintenance, and trends (Headphones).
Sustainability. Can you make the case to keep the tech you have?
The Current State of Your Technology - How's that inventory? What do you include in it?
Replacement Schedule.
Needs-based vs. Year-based.
Resource: Sample Equipment Replacement Schedules.
FORCAST2-1.XLS: Forecasting by technology including multiple amortization scenarios.
COMPUTER ACQ_REPL SCHED.xls. Forecasting by device including longitudinal scenario.
Changes: Foreseen or Otherwise.
New initiatives: Online Testing, 1:1, etc.
The server that died...
Internet Bandwidth
Hot closets, Cold Springs, etc.
REMC SPOT: http://vendorcenter.remcbids.org/publicdocument/download/id/485
REMC BID: http://www.remcbids.org/customer/listdocuments/id/4
Notes:
You need to know the "times." What do student counts look like for the coming year? Is there a pending teacher/staff contract that may limit funds?
What is the state of the economy?
Have you prioritized your needs? You may will not get them all.
Question: Do you know everything you are paying for? Do you need a Tech Audit?