Focus

September 2008

Vol. 7 Issue 1

MacMaster heads tech division

Brian MacMaster has taken the job of Chief Technology Officer at a time when Technology Services is facing big changes. But he said the variety of technical experiences he's acquired over the years will help him oversee the challenges ahead. 

MacMaster, 47, started with TUSD on April 21. He has worked for a half-dozen companies since his college years, including his own consulting service for networking and trade shows. He said his previous bosses taught him management skills that help him deal with the business side of  technology.

"We're not a revenue generating organization, but we have to be financially responsible with our funding," he said. "We have to be cautious with our money and how we invest our funds."

The four main projects he will focus on are:

• Computer leasing: In a perfect world, MacMaster said, TUSD would "refresh" its  computers every three years. He recommended a lease program that would be spread over three to five years, costing an average of $200 per year for a computer instead of a $1,000 upfront cost. With the lease, TUSD would get new technology every five years, and on site service agreement with the vendor for next day response, MacMaster said.
  TUSD equipment ranges from 5 years old to 20 years old with the average computer 5 to 8 years old. MacMaster said the average computer can't handle today's technology. To take advantage of the availability and capabilities of business and educational applications, hardware technology needs to keep up, he pointed out. The district has over 16,000 desktop systems among its administrative offices and students. MacMaster is working with Finance Director Bonnie Betts, Procurement Director Leon George and Educational Support Services Chief Business Officer Beatriz Rendon to put together a leasing plan.
• Increasing the bandwidth: This large scale project involves upgrading current services from 1.5- 45mg to 100mg - 1gig bandwidth, which will allow TUSD to take advantage of current and future technology. The Governing Board has approved a project which will be paid for with E-rate funding.
• Upgrading PeopleSoft: The core financial and human resources software would be upgraded from a 7.5 version to 9, a project expected to cost $3-$5 million. The analysis and project plan began in July with project completion expected in two years. MacMaster said this upgrade would improve efficiency.
• Mojave upgrade: The student records system is continuously implementing enhancements, as well as integration for third-party software programs.

Besides these projects, MacMaster is also looking into implementing Voice Over Internet Protocol(VOIP), which allows for use of shared data infrastructure for the telephone and computer. This would reduce the cost of administrative telephone services while enhancing the features of telecommunication, he said. To finish this project, telephones would have to be replaced and upgraded and current telephone switches installed. MacMaster said the VOIP implementation would be gradual, adding that  he's been involved with projects of this nature at previous jobs.

MacMaster oversees a department of more than 150 site technicians, telecommunications specialists, LAN specialists, system administrators, network and security, application developers and application programmers. The main office for Technical Services is at the Summers Financial Center at 1010 E. 10th St., which houses 63 staff members; the rest are at schools as site technicians.

MacMaster said he respects his staff as professionals. "I'm a people person," he said. "I treat people the way I wanted to be treated. I've been in their shoes. I've walked their walk".