School software improves activity fund accounting and increases student and teacher involvement for Northern California high school

Background:

Sutter Union High School’s primary mission is to academically and vocationally educate the youth of its community while promoting high social and moral standards in preparing students to meet the challenges of their future. In 2008, the School decided to overhaul its manual, paper-based processes related to activity fund accounting, student fee receipting, and student store sales, and upgrade to automated school software. Since making the upgrade, Sutter has seen significant improvements in efficiency, auditing and student and teacher involvement.

Keys to Success from Jen Dollins, ASB Secretary, Sutter Union High School

When did Sutter Union High School begin using Active Network’s school software?

We began using Active three years ago in the 2008-2009 school year.

Why were you looking for a technology solution for your school?

We knew we need to implement school software because our ASB accounts were all handwritten manually on forms. It was a nightmare.

Why did you choose Active?

When we were looking around for a software provider, I took a survey of local high schools and they predominately were using Active’s Blue Bear software solutions. We knew that we could trust Active and that the technology worked.

What features of Active’s school software do you use on a regular basis?

I use Tracks and SchoolBooks software every single day for all of our accounting and school activities.

What functionality within Tracks, the school administration software, is the most helpful?

We use Tracks for our daily receipting for fundraisers, student body sales, and essentially everything that comes through the windows in our Student Body office. Teachers aren’t handling any of the cash, checks or collections anymore, we do it all with Tracks’ school administration software. It saves a lot of time and we are much more efficient with our fund collections.

What functionality within SchoolBooks, the school accounting software, is the most helpful?

The reports I give to teachers are really helpful. It takes me two seconds to print out reports on how much money teachers have spent in their budget, copies of their receipts, and records of their deposits. I can provide them with details on everything they need, it’s quick and easy.

Do you use Active’s online school store, the WebStore?

We are just beginning to use the WebStore, so it’s somewhat new to us. So far, the parents and teachers love it.

What is the main benefit of the WebStore?

The main benefit is that parents don’t have to send their kids to school with cash or checks. Now they can use their credit cards to pay for whatever they need through the online school store. It’s really convenient for parents and kids don’t have to carry money around anymore.

What kind of results have you seen since implementing Active’s school software?

The most noticeable improvement is that we have a lot better audits. That’s a big relief. The reports are also so much easier to print out—it’s taking me minutes instead of spending a whole day looking for copies of information. And the teachers and advisors are more attentive to their accounts now because it’s easier for them to see the details.

What has the feedback been like from the parents and teachers about the new systems?

The feedback has been amazing. Students are paying for things on time, parents can get payment receipts, and teachers can see copies of their accounts anytime they want. Everyone’s happy.

What is the main benefit of Active’s school software?

Everything! Better audits, better teacher involvement, better student involvement, and better processes for the administration. It’s a lot of things combined into one big benefit for our school.

What are you excited about that’s coming up from Active?

We’re really looking forward to doing more with the WebStore. We’re getting more student participation and we’re excited to expand it more.