*All change*

[GrumbleDook]

Well, it has finally happened. I was going to save this until tomorrow after the Northants IT Managers' Meeting but thought I would chat about it now, especially as I had a chat with a few of you about it at the conference.

 

After working on and off on some LA projects I have been released by my school to do it full time for a year. Most of my school stuff is being split between different people (Head of ICT, Business Manager, Network Manager and a few other staff) for that year. In return I will be able to work full time on EMBC and VLE projects amongst other things. It does mean I have to slow down on other things so I will likely be taking a bit of a back seat on the site over the next few months. I have talked with the other admins about this and they all understand. It might actually mean I am back to doing only one job instead of three ... I might even allow me to have a life again!

 

I will be cutting ties on some particular discussions due to possible conflicts (or at least until HR have worked out if and how much comment I can make personally or professionally) ... the biggest of these if BSF.

 

I will still be around to get involved with the next conference and BETT (as if DB and the others would let me escape these!) and will still do East Midlands stuff on the site too.

 

The last 3 years (well ... 2 years, 10 1/2 months for me ... I was a late arrival in the first wave!) have been brilliant ... keep it all up.

[kingswood]

Congratulations Tony- I think this is a great move for you!

 

All the best in your new post mate...

 

Paul

[Grommit]

So you have sold out to the BSF by the sounds of it and as you say you will be "cutting back on the BSF discussions" thus turning into one of them who feed the ICT staff small drips and drabs of information and not being open and up front with the Truth and information..

 

Congratulations on the great move...

Edited June 5, 2008 by Grommit

[Domino]

Most of my school stuff is being split between different people (Head of ICT, Business Manager, Network Manager and a few other staff) for that year.

 

.....so, you're surplus to requirements?

 

 

well done mate!

[beeswax]

It's a little early in life to be slowing down isn't it?

[cookie_monster]

Excellent news Tony (well sort of, we'll miss your input) it will be nice to have someone within the LEA who understands the situation in schools especially on issues such as BSF.

 

Good luck.

[kmount]

It won't be slowing down when he gets there and needs to pick up the game!

 

I think its a good move, county needs the help.

[Lee_K_81]

So you have sold out to the BSF by the sounds of it and as you say you will be "cutting back on the BSF discussions" thus turning into one of them who feed the ICT staff small drips and drabs of information and not being open and up front with the Truth and information..

 

Thats a bit harsh. Tony has never been Pro-BSF, just not totally anti-BSF. BSF on the whole wont be a bad thing for schools, it's just the IT part of it that we all have issues with. Tony has to look at the bigger picture as part of his role on senior leadership. Anyway, not trying to turn this into a BSF debate, there's far too many of those on here.

 

Congratulations Tony.

[russdev]

So you have sold out to the BSF by the sounds of it and as you say you will be "cutting back on the BSF discussions" thus turning into one of them who feed the ICT staff small drips and drabs of information and not being open and up front with the Truth and information..

 

Congratulations on the great move...

 

lol

 

Well if Tony stayed part of discusion you would arugue he had conflict of interest. So he is up front and says look I am working for lea on bsf stuff and so will have to take a back seat and still is wrong in your books.

 

But then do I expect any different....

 

What is our lost is Northants gain...

 

As said Tony before congrats...

 

Russ

[GrumbleDook]

So you have sold out to the BSF by the sounds of it and as you say you will be "cutting back on the BSF discussions" thus turning into one of them who feed the ICT staff small drips and drabs of information and not being open and up front with the Truth and information..

 

Congratulations on the great move...

 

Almost an amusing attempt at trolling there ... almost got a response from me. I suppose it is my own fault though ... selling out for more money, power and chocolate treats. Perhaps even a chance to make sure good practice is shared between schools that may not be regulars on EG.

 

No .. you are right ... I will not sell out to the LA. I will send a letter in now and take the other jobs I have been offered instead. Something about consultancy for BSF bidding firms. Let's *really* screw schools!

[torledo]

i can't speak for anyone else, but i personally would kill for an oppotunity to be involved in projects at a learning grid/lea....in fact i'm a bit confused as to why you've not taken up a permanent position rather than the 12 month hiatus from school duties. It sounds a bit have your cake and eat it to me....sorry to be so blunt. I personally think people should commit themselves one way or the other, give the school the opportunity to replace you or to choose not to indefintely.

[GrumbleDook]

Thanks for the response guys ... when I started to do chunks of this I never realised how much there was to do ... it all started off with agreeing to look at the procurement of the EMBC contract as a schools rep with some technical knowledge.

 

Still ... it is made a lot easier by having a cracking bunch of NMs and Techs in Northants that are all willing to muck in and heckle at meetings where appropriate ;-)

[Butuz]

Congrats Tony! It sounds like a very good move to me, both for you and for your LA and LA Schools. I wish my LA had people like you involved at high levels!

 

Here - have a cool smilie on me!

 

So you have sold out to the BSF by the sounds of it and as you say you will be "cutting back on the BSF discussions" thus turning into one of them who feed the ICT staff small drips and drabs of information and not being open and up front with the Truth and information..

 

Congratulations on the great move...

 

I think maybe it's about time you left educational ICT Grommit - frankly your dissilousionment with the whole system and the way things are going is sad to see. Either embrace change and make the most of it (a'la Tony) or spend the rest of your life struggling to swim in a sea of bitterness and dissapointment - with no arm bands....

 

Butuz

[Friez]

Almost an amusing attempt at trolling there ...

 

Something about consultancy for BSF bidding firms. Let's *really* screw schools!

 

LOL for Irony?

 

I don't know about Grommit, but THAT line from you *IS* trolling. If theres anything on here that can cause a really nasty reaction among the people on here it's about BSF and how its going to screw everyone over.

[Diello]

Congrats Tony Hope it all works out well for you.

 

Let's cut the BSF debate shall we people? There's plenty of threads for that. Enough of the thread hijacking already. You can't expect someone to put their career on hold just because one facet of it is being eradicated.

[GrumbleDook]

LOL for Irony?

 

I don't know about Grommit, but THAT line from you *IS* trolling. If theres anything on here that can cause a really nasty reaction among the people on here it's about BSF and how its going to screw everyone over.

 

lol

 

Moi!?

 

Trolling? I wouldn't know where to start ... I am just a young, naive lad trying to make his way in the world and occasionally making a comment that is taken out of context. Honest ;-) I still reckon that every forum / usenet user should have a read of the Anti-Trolling FAQ ... We used to have a pet troll over on uk.education.schools-it ... he was quite tame and extremely knowledgable and we all knew when he was trying to push buttons.

[Zoom7000]

I agree, this ain't about BSF, so let's not get into a debate. This is about Tony, new direction for him and congratulations!

 

With people like Tony having input at the higher levels in Northants, I'm sure it'll be a great LA to work in.

 

Just don't totally desert us! But once again, well done!

[torledo]

Congrats Tony! It sounds like a very good move to me, both for you and for your LA and LA Schools. I wish my LA had people like you involved at high levels!

 

Here - have a cool smilie on me!

 

 

 

I think maybe it's about time you left educational ICT Grommit - frankly your dissilousionment with the whole system and the way things are going is sad to see. Either embrace change and make the most of it (a'la Tony) or spend the rest of your life struggling to swim in a sea of bitterness and dissapointment - with no arm bands....

 

Butuz

 

you're not wrong, tony really is making the most of it, presumably he's being 'released' for 12 months to undertake this better paid work, so how does that work then ? he get's disillusioned with working for the other side and returns to his similarly well paid SMT role at the school after 12 months ?

 

This really isn't a troll job, and i don't begrudge people making money and 'moving on' but it doesn't sound like moving on if you are being released for 12 months rather than taking on a permanent position with no opportunity of return to the school except through application for a new post ?

 

As i said, i don't begrudge the money or status, it's the fact too many people in LA/education want to hold on rather than make a clean break.

 

i'll not rain on your parade any longer tony, i've said what i think, and fwiw your a very bright individual who's impressed enough and shown to be competenet enough to do these dual roles, so good luck to you.

[GrumbleDook]

@Torledo

Actually ... it is fair comment.

 

Yes, there is a wage increase, but it means that coming back to the school I would be more in line with the other members of senior managlement. It is rare for schools to have associate staff on SMT but we have 2. We are not on the same scale as those who are teachers and this puts us a step closer ... so we could say that it is actually trying to make the salaries fair.

 

Yes, it is for 12 months, but for those who know Northants at all, we are still in the middle of restructuring the departments,etc. The review started about 3 years ago working from ground up ... lots of council staff at risk. Finally someone saw sense as realised that they should start buggering about with the people on the ground, but sort it out at the top and get the vision, etc right first. Don't dump people to save money but start at the top to make sure the whole structure is right.

 

That is still going on so there is not a permanent post there (nor would I want one in these troubled times). They want me to set the job up ... I am happy to do this and understand that if I don't go in there and do it then it will not happen for some time. As someone in a school that scares the hell out of me and I don't have it in me to walk away from the stuff I have done so far.

 

I am not sure yet how successful the IT Managers' meetings are going to be long term as I am still struggling for stuff to get out to people. I am hoping that sharing good practice is going to be the best thing and helping communication.

 

Will I come back to the school? I want to ... there is lots of stuff here that I still want to do. I am realistic that I may come back for a short time and then move on, but that will be my choice. If I decide to come back to the school early then the pay rise goes and I will have to pick up projects here there and everywhere. After My head and my LA boss had their meeting (without me there) I did equate it to having my soul sold.

 

I am beginning to realise what I am getting into ... will learn to deal with it. I also have contact with a number of other members who have strong 'unofficial' ties into their LAs to get advice from. For me the important bit is keeping the strong relationships with schools going.

[bossman]

Tony:

congrats and don't listen to those who, in your position would like to be ( with envy).

Good luck and have a happy life.

 

regards

Bossman

[elsiegee40]

Good Luck to you Grumbledook! It sounds like an inteesting move you're making. Enjoy!

[Grommit]

 

I think maybe it's about time you left educational ICT Grommit - frankly your dissilousionment with the whole system and the way things are going is sad to see. Either embrace change and make the most of it (a'la Tony) or spend the rest of your life struggling to swim in a sea of bitterness and dissapointment - with no arm bands....

 

Butuz

 

Dear Butuz....

 

I happen to respect Grumbledook and take on board his ideas and view points.... I have mine.... Just because I decide to poke him with a sharp stick doesn't mean I respect his opinions any less...

 

Yes I am dissilousioned with the whole BSF ICT policy ... I find it soul distroying.... the BSF will never understand on how we feel about our Networks and our sense of community within our schools...

 

Me I'm outta here in a few years and buying a pub in a warm place to sit at the end of the bar and chat the breeze with patrons :-)

 

Again... Congratulations Tony you smug bastard :-)

Edited June 6, 2008 by Grommit

[Netman]

All the best with it Tony...

 

Taking a wider view it's nice to know there may be scope in the future for NM's to move into LA posts - lack of career progression is a major problem in educational ICT IMO. The more of us who have actually worked with ICT in schools who can get into postions where decisions are made the better. That way we might actually have some influence over issues like staffing, pay and BSF.

[GrumbleDook]

Again... Congratulations Tony you smug bastard :-)

 

I'll have you know I used to carry around my birth certificate so when some gobby oik of a recruit would call me a bar steward I had proof that it wasn't all natural. I have to work hard to be this much of a bar steward!

[joe90bass]

All the best with it Tony...

 

Taking a wider view it's nice to know there may be scope in the future for NM's to move into LA posts - lack of career progression is a major problem in educational ICT IMO. The more of us who have actually worked with ICT in schools who can get into postions where decisions are made the better. That way we might actually have some influence over issues like staffing, pay and BSF.

 

That's a very good point! I, like a lot of others here, have a good moan about our LA and ICT policies, if us on the ground can get into the LA and have an input or even influence, on the way things are done then that has to be a good thing! Especially for you guys going through BSF

 

Congrats Tony