Advert dilema

[Russ_Worcester]

As part of my deputy head role of looking after IT issues, I am forming a job description for a new role at the school. We have SIMS .net, with Learning Gateway and MOSS just installed. We have an IT Systems Manager (hardware based) who is happy to provide a working MOSS and LG, and who is also prepared to extend his work, with training, into developing and supporting the MOSS software to be our intranet (which will have SIMS .net feeding it via LG).

The new role is replacing a part-time SQL expert, and we don't have a SIMS .net manager (though a few of us can enter data and design reports).

So, we need SIMS .net management (rather than just administrative) skills, and (I am assured) SQL skills . What I can't decide is how we advertise. We could ask for a SIMS .net expert who preferably has SQL skills, or a SQL expert who preferably has SIMS .net skills. It is likely, I imagine, that we would be lucky to get the skills in the same person, but which skill is easier to learn, or which advert is likely to net the ideal applicants, I don't know.

Can anyone advise?

We are a co-educational independent day school, 11-18, in Worcester.

Thanks!

[teejay]

It's a role I do alongside my current role, but will be moving almost full time into this role soon.

An SQL expert would be easier to find than a SIMS.net expert, but really you do want someone with SIMS.net management experience as this is more of a specialist skill and it takes quite a while to learn SIMS.net effectively so that you have a good understanding of it from a whole school management perspective.

[jcollings]

I manage SIMS here - doing a lot of reporting, assessment, attendance, implementing new modules, Census etc and I also am IT Manager so do all the techie side of SIMS and networking.

 

Now although I have been on the SQL course and done a bit in the past I can't recall (other than migrating from SQL 2000 to 2005 when Capita demanded it) of any time that I have used SQL knowledge in my use of SIMS.

 

My feeling (others may disagree) is that the knowing SIMS is the important bit - in theory you should need to do very little/nothing with the SQL backend.

[laserblazer]

I would agree with jcollings. I know little about SQL but the only time it has become an issue was during the migration to 2005. I seem to remember a few problems but Capita supported us with them.

[russdev]

i read this as sql part is for

 

Learning Gateway and MOSS

 

Russ

[featured_spectre]

our receptionists and librarian take care of sims.net now, as I told the headteacher that I have too much on my plate as is and doing all the reports for staff is not a part of my job description. The librarian and 3 of the admin workers do that now and they had no problem after the half day training that Capita provides.

[Sylv3r]

I would think finding someone with good SQL skills would be the most essential - they are a lot of SIMS courses available and I am sure the applicant will pick up SIMS knowledge pretty quickly.

[russdev]

Also depends on what you want sims manager to do for example is this person leading strategic use of sims across the school then in that case you would want to focus on sims.net.

 

Russ