Changes coming to Google Groups

Starting June 26, Google Apps users will see the totally new and redesigned version of Google Groups that offers a new and improved user interface, collaborative inbox, take and assign functionality, full multi-domain support, advanced search operators, new ways of viewing group content, and much more.
You can take a tour of the new Google Groups at http://support.google.com/groups/bin/topic.py?hl=en&topic=2459437&parent=9216&ctx=topic

Year-end procedures

All computers must be serviced over the summer to receive security updates, updated program, get cleaned, etc. For desktops, this isn't really an issue- just leave them where they are.
If your main computer is a laptop and you are not a year-round employee, you must turn in your laptop on your last day of work to the IT office. We know that some people get really emotionally attached to their laptop (I can relate), but we need you to part with it for a while so we can keep everything operating well. You can pick it up about a week after you drop it off if you really want it back over the summer.

We need iPads for summer school! Please turn in iPads to your library (if that's where you checked it out from) or to the district IT office (if it is assigned to you primarily).
If you are a year-round employee whose main computer is a laptop, please schedule a time with the IT department when your computer can be updated (i.e., you can be without it for a couple days).
Summer equipment checkout

Equipment that is housed at a school cannot be checked out during the summer. The only items available for checkout are from the IT department in the District Services Office. This is to avoid the problems we've had in the past with some schools not getting their equipment back in a timely manner in the fall. DON'T bring a school computer to the district tech office and expect to check it out.

If you want to check out any piece of district equipment during the summer you must check it out from the IT department.
Summer AV procedures and cleanup
If your room is being used for summer school (which is pretty much all of PVE and half of NKE), please don't pack up your SmartBoard items and AV stuff; the summer school teachers have requested projectors and SmartBoards. Please label everything, though. Summer cleaning involves moving everything in your room into the hallway (along with everything from the other classrooms) and sometimes things get switched around. Labeling helps fix this.

Those of you at all other buildings, please:

• label all movable items
• remove all batteries from remote controls. (i.e. Projectors, TV, boom boxes.) This keeps the batteries from draining over the summer, or worse, corroding inside the unit. You may want to label the batteries or tape them to the thing they came out of so you know where they go when you come back.
• Unplug all power cords from all A/V equipment in your room, including TVs.

Everyone:

• Delete old and unused files from the Video (V:), Home (H:), and "share" folders (that you own, of course). If you don't specifically need it as part of curriculum next year, it's just using up valuable and limited space on the network.
• Remove sticky notes, tape, pencil holders, decorations, awards, gum, mysterious life forms, etc., from your computer and monitor. If you plan to replace them next year, just store them somewhere. Or go crazy and throw them out, giving you a fresh start in the new year.

Campus Portal now shows all grades on a single page

The Campus Portal has a new "Grades" tab which allows the student or parent/guardian to view all the student's current grades on a single screen. To view, log in to the Portal, select a student (if you have more than one) and click on the Grades tab. It is highlighted in red in the illustration below.

Please note that the "C" in some standards refers to "Consistently." The three possible scores for are Consistently, Sometimes, and Rarely.

Logins working again

With many thanks to Chris, the OSD login page is now working. We still need to solve the root issue, but the workaround is now functioning. Sorry again for the inconvenience.

Some servers offline due to security certificate "revoked"

Around 5:15 we started seeing error messages when trying to process LDAP logins to our servers. The error says the Security Certificate is "revoked." We are investigating the problem right now and trying to find a solution. The cause is unknown, but may be an issue with the security certificate issuer, which would be a really big problem.

More updates here as we find them.

Skyward Windows Not Visible with Google Chrome 18

Skyward Critical Issue

Skyward Windows Not Visible with Google Chrome 18

Who is affected by this mailing?
Districts that use the Google Chrome browser with the Skyward Web Product and have updated to Google Chrome version 18. 

What is the issue?Users that are running Google Chrome 18, which was released last week, may experience issues where new windows in the Skyward Web Product are not displaying correctly.  The new Skyward windows are opening at a size that cannot be viewed.  The new window displays in the taskbar, but is not immediately viewable. How do I correct the problem?
Skyward is creating a work around to the Google Chrome issue that will be included in Addendum9 of the February 2012 Release, which is scheduled to be posted on Wednesday, April 4th.

Please note that the Skyward work around may not correct the issue in all areas. 

Until Addendum9 is posted, users can manually work around the issue by right clicking the window in the taskbar and choosing Maximize to display the window.  Another option would be to use a different Web browser such as Internet Explorer or FireFox.

Thank you,
Skyward Support Staff

Internet Traffic Jam

We occasionally get complaints about slow Internet speeds. As more services move to the web, Internet usage increases. Here is a graph showing the growth of the district's Internet connection speed over the past eight years.

Our current connection speed is 130Mbps.
Although we have upgraded our bandwidth significantly over the past few years, it isn't possible to provide the same amount of capacity that people are accustomed to from a home broadband connection.

Here's a comparison:

Home Internet speed: 10 Mbps
# of computers: 3
# of other Internet-capable devices: 2 (phones)
Internet capacity per device: 2 Mbps

District Internet speed: 130 Mbps
# of computers: 1600
# of other Internet-capable devices: 600
Internet capacity per device: 0.059 Mbps

An additional problem is that our network security server has trouble handling this amount of bandwidth. The IT department has been researching and evaluating other technological solutions to this, such as replacing our network bandwidth manager, requiring all users to log on before accessing the Internet, and installing a caching proxy server. However, there is something we can all do in the meantime- remember that Internet capacity is a shared resource, and use it judiciously. This means:

1. Minimize personal use
2. Limit activities which consume lots of Internet capacity, like streaming music and videos, and large downloads.
3. Try to use Discovery Streaming for streaming video content, since we have a local server delivering that content, so it doesn't use our Internet connection.
4. If you need to download a huge file, do it during non-peak times (such as after 3:30).
5. If a download is slow, resist the urge to hit "reload" since that just make the problem worse.

By following these steps, we can make Internet access more available to everyone. Otherwise, our Internet access could become an example of the Tragedy of the Commons.

We will continue to keep you informed as we make changes to the network and our management systems. Thanks in advance for your help!