February+12,+2008

=Database Committee meeting February 12 2008=

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• we should take our time deciding • need to draw up specific questions • costs • is it better to go with a smaller company that might evolve or a bigger company that has many features? • hidden costs: salary fees for those to be trained • Need more time to personally experience them • Are these 2 databases the best available products? We need to go through the process--try some things out, visit other schools, etc. Then, if we come to a decision, we still need to look and see if another system has come into existence in the time being. • Is it possible that these 2 companies can merge so that one company emerges that has all the good features of each in one product? There are products that can link both systems to do that. • NAIS will have an exhibition hall that may have database reps to visit to see if there are other companies out there.

Rod: Blackbaud (what is used now) is a dinosaur. They are continuing to use it because a new database will come into the school. If a product (Senior Systems) is available for the rest of the school, the business office really would want this in place. Marti is familiar with Senior Systems.

NEXT: 1. each of us needs to write down a list of questions and processes specific to each of our needs that we can pose to each rep 2. we should post questions/processes to the wiki 3. deadline: before March break 4. need to get out to other schools to see what is going on 5. bring reps back for another visit (start with Senior Systems) to meet with individuals to see if all our tasks are do-able (end of April) 6. get references (who’s got each product?)