District Administration - November 2009 - (Page 65)

Advertisement For Lincoln Public Schools, Easing The Hassle of Finding Subs The Nebraska district’s use of SubFinder, by CRS Advanced Technology, saves time and money efore Lincoln Public Schools acquired SubFinder® SubFinder system gives priority to certified teachers with absence management and substitute placement soft- endorsements in the appropriate field of study. SubFinder also provides districts with hundreds of personware from CRS Advanced Technology eight years ago, the district employed three people each morn- nel management reports and tracks worker’s compensation and ing and two each evening to make phone calls to find substi- unemployment claims. With SubFinder, Umholtz can track the tutes to fill the next day’s schedule. The low-tech system was number of employees who have missed work due to illness or search for substitute teachers who responsible for covering absences speak Spanish. Five times each mornfor 5,300 employees—teachers, ing SubFinder sends absence reports teacher’s aides, secretaries, cafvia e-mail to all Lincoln schools. eteria workers, even interpreters “I don’t have to do anything to and computer technicians—and send them out. I just have to make working with more than 1,000 sure the program is up,” Umholtz substitutes. It was a tedious task says. “They can be sent to as many that took hours, and often not as five people per school. They have every absence or open job could that information at their fingertips be filled. throughout the morning.” Nebraska’s second-largest Umholtz says the biggest benschool district, with more than efit from SubFinder is the increased 34,000 students in 64 schools, “SubFinder has streamlined rate at which Lincoln fills its teacher needed a better way. In stepped Lincoln’s entire absence absences. Prior to using SubFinder, it CRS. The company has provided was estimated that the district filled absence management and other management process. Employees about 90 percent of its absences. personnel programs to K12 disWith SubFinder, that figure has tricts nationwide for two decades. can record absences 24 hours a day increased to 96 percent. Filling the But Lincoln Public Schools by phone or the Internet.” absences saves money, Umholtz became the first school system in says, because it costs more to have the country to make districtwide use of SubFinder’s Internet component, enabling employees full-time teachers cover for absent colleagues. Meanwhile, Umholtz is free to perform her other duties, and substitutes to access the program via the web. Eight years later, Lincoln employs just two people to oper- such as placing more than 3,000 student teachers in Lincoln’s ate the SubFinder system, and SubFinder Operations Tech- schools each year and coordinating the district’s tuition credit nician Darbi Umholtz handles a bevy of other duties. “I’m program. Still, she confides that overseeing the SubFinder syschecking in on the system every half-hour or so and I’m help- tem remains the favorite part of her job. “There’s problem-solving every day helping people figure ing secretaries throughout the morning,” Umholtz says, “but things out,” she says. “I work with a variety of people. I work I’m able to work on other things as well.” Umholtz says SubFinder has streamlined Lincoln’s entire with principals. I work with nutrition specialists. The people absence management process. Employees can record absences at CRS are really great to work with too. We’ve worked with 24 hours a day by phone or the Internet. Using a process them pretty closely for eight years.” known as qualitative substitute analysis, SubFinder immediately begins searching for the most qualified substitutes, as For more information please visit www.crsadvancedtechnology.com. determined by the district, and calls them to fill vacancies. From 5:30 a.m. to noon and from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. each day, SubFinder sends out automated telephone messages to potential subs, listing the available opening, school, and starting time. The job is also posted online. Umholtz says Lincoln’s www.DistrictAdministration.com November /December 2009 65 http://www.crsadvancedtechnology.com http://www.crsadvancedtechnology.com http://www.DistrictAdministration.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of District Administration - November 2009

District Administration - November 2009
Contents
Advertiser Index
From the Editor
Letters
News Update
Facilities & Construction
Stimulus Monitor
Administrator Profile
District Profile
Conversations
Mobile Learning Guide
The New Writing Pedagogy
Staying Ahead in Education
Tightening the Purchasing Process
Minding Your E-mail
New Books
How Well Does This Web Site Work?
Problem Solution
New Products
Professional Opinion
Crisis Response

District Administration - November 2009