LYNNFIELD — Superintendent Thomas Geary’s quest to find a new managed technology service provider (MTSP) for the Lynnfield Public Schools ultimately landed on NorthEast Technology, Inc. The school district has agreed on a one-year contract with the company.
This follows a third-party audit of the district’s technology department. The recommended changes that resulted from the audit were discussed with NorthEast Technology so they understand what needs to be done.
“We identified technology as an area where we really have to work, especially in terms of our infrastructure,” Geary said at a budget summit with the finance committee last month. “We’re going to need to do some catch up work in that regard to get us back where we need to be. Our infrastructure is aging in some areas beyond aging.”
The process began in September, when data and input from the technology department and other districts were formulated into a request for proposals to be distributed to technology companies across the state.
The district received five bids, which were then whittled down to the finalist, NorthEast Technology. The company is prepared to place two staff members on-site, while a third one will be on reserve for special projects.
“The role was not clear in the past, and we’ve really laid out expectations for both sides,” Geary said at the school committee meeting. “We feel really good about it. They rose to the top in the application process.”
He stated that the previous provider didn’t fill the needs of what Lynnfield Public Schools needed. With this more formal selection process and clear communication about what is expected in the one-year contract, the district looks to be in a better position for improving the technology department.
Geary also appointed Rochelle Cooper, a veteran Lynnfield teacher who serves as the technology integration specialist for K-6, as the head of the technology department.
“She’s the type of person that we should be identifying for a lot of our leadership positions,” Geary said. “She’s been amazing in this role, and she has the skillset and understanding of the district to help move us forward.
Other staff changes and restructuring in the department that were made that have already been reported as positive adjustments.
Geary will be presenting the technology operating and capital investment needs during the budget recommendation meeting this month, taking into consideration the recommendations of the audit and discussions with NorthEast Technology.
In addition, Cooper will be holding a technology presentation for the school committee and the community to be updated on the status of the department and where they will be going from here.
