RESO A

[Lisa Nielsen]

Here is where we will share RESO A information, questions, and answers.

[Kristina Nieves]

RESO A Quick FAQs:

1.)How do I apply for RESO A funding?
RESOLUTION A is a Capital funding allocation, not a grant, therefore there is no application process. The funding is provided from your local City Council or Borough President's offices to needy schools in their respective communities.

2.)How do I know if my school is a recipient of RESO A funding?
The RESO A allocation list will be distributed in the Principal's Weekly for the week of 10/12 along with the communique for RESO A. You may check your school ID off of this list to confirm if you are a recipient. If you have received an award letter over the summer from a City Council or Borough President's office and did not locate your school on the list, you can fax or scan this letter to the RESO A Program office for follow-up.

3.)Why doesn't the funding show up in my school's account?
The RESO A funding is Capital funding which is managed externally to the school's budget and also has special purchasing requirements. Due to the Capital eligibility restrictions on purchases, each school allocation is required to have a completed proposal including the equipment quotes, documented scope of work for implementation, and cover letter denoting all equipment and vendor contracts used for purchase.

4.) Who is managing my RESO A allocation?

Capital funding under the RESOLUTION A Program is broken into two managing groups:

DOE managed (via the Office of Capital Budget Office of the CFO)
SCA managed (via the School Construction Authority)

DOE managed allocations generally fall into technology for existing schools with very minor to no additional cabling. This includes desktops, printers, networking peripherals, presentation stations, interactive white boards, etc.
These allocations are managed by Program Manager, Graham Gordon ([e-mail]) and Project Manager, Kristina Nieves ([e-mail]).

SCA managed allocations generally include new schools, air conditioning, auditorium upgrades, playgrounds, gymnasiums, Science labs (A+ carts), and technology implementation requiring major construction/cabling. These allocations are managed by Operations Manager, Bryan McGinn ([e-mail]), and Project Manager, Diana Mendez ([e-mail]).

5.)What are the requirements for the implementation of the RESO A technology funding?
The RESO A office issues yearly an Implementation Procedures document detailing the requirements and process for spending the allocation. This information is distributed via the Principal's Weekly communique for RESO A. This year, this information will be distributed in the Principal's Weekly for the week of 10/12.

6.)How do I get started spending my school's RESO A technology funding?
Along with the Implementation Procedures document and allocation list, the RESO A option form will be distributed in the Principal's Weekly for the week of 10/12. If you are the recipient of a RESO A allocation, submit the option form complete with your selected option A - F (to be used as a guideline and may be changed during the survey), contact information, and allocation amount. You will then be assigned by our office to a project integrator who will arrange a site survey to further discuss your option choice and develop a preliminary equipment list and proposal.

7.)When can I expect to receive equipment from my school's technology allocation?
It depends. Generally the sooner you submit your option form the sooner we can get started on your allocation. Since RESO A funds do not expire and we do not purchase equipment off of the FAMIS portal, there are no deadlines applicable to the program for the ordering of hardware. We do request that if you wish to have your equipment installed before June 30th, 2010, we must have a completed option form from you by January 15th 2010.

The main milestones are:
START--> submit option form (1 day) --> assign Integrator (1 day) --> schedule integration site survey (3-7 days or school availability dependent) --> gather quotes/develop scope of work (7-14 days) --> submit proposal to school for review (1 day +, school response dependent) --> submit signed proposal to RESO A office for capital eligibility QA review (1-3 days) --> SCA processes purchase orders (15-30 days) --> equipment is ordered by RESO A office (1 day) --> equipment is delivered to PCS/Integrator warehouse (18-25 days) --> schedule integration date (3 days +, school availability dependent) --> FINISH

The above time line excludes additional time required for any minor cabling/electrification requests, any asbestos clearance required for wall-mounted interactive white boards, any allocation related holds on Capital funding, any SCA work required to be completed before the technology allocation is defined, any pending equipment user agreements for leased spaces, and any unforeseen hardware/image issues with the OEM vendors and/or DIIT.

8.)Where can I e-mail my questions to for the program?
All technology related questions can be directed to the RESO A inbox: [e-mail]
All non-technology related questions can be directed to Bryan McGinn: [e-mail]

[Lisa Nielsen]

From Principal's Weekly:

Resolution “A” Allocations for FY 2010
Borough Presidents and City Council members have allocated capital funds for individual projects at specific schools. To view funding awarded to your school and instructions on accessing capital funds for technology-related projects, visit the Principals’ Portal available on the intranet to principals at http://intranet.nycboe.net/DOEPortal/Principals/MySchool/Financial/....

[Lisa Nielsen]

Below are the links for the documents related to the RESO program and can be found on the Principal's Portal.

Principal's Portal: http://intranet.nycboe.net/DOEPortal/Principals/MySchool/Financial/...
City Council Allocation List: http://procon.nycenet.edu/projectconnect/files/ResoAFY2010CityCounc...
Borough President's Allocation List: http://procon.nycenet.edu/projectconnect/files/ResoAFY2010CityCounc...
Implementation Procedures: http://procon.nycenet.edu/projectconnect/files/ResoAFY2010Implement...
Online Option Form: http://portal.nycboe.net/sites/FinanceAdmin/CFO/Lists/RESO%20A/NewF...

Resolution "A" Allocations for FY 2010
Borough Presidents and City Council members have allocated capital funds for individual projects at specific schools within their respective boroughs and council districts. The total capital allocation for FY 2010 is at $101 million. You can review the City Council and Borough President funding awarded to your school online. You can find specific instructions on how to access the capital funds for technology-related projects. You can access the Resolution “A” Option Selection Form online as well.
Additionally, the DOE is offering assistance to help you make the most effective use of your Reso A technology awards. Contact your borough education technology director for more information.
If you have any questions about construction-related projects, contact Bryan Mcginn at [phone]. If you have any questions about technology-related projects, contact Graham Gordon at [phone] or [e-mail].

[Alan Rudt]

I have printed out the Reso A FAQ posted by Kristina and I intend to share it with schools I visit in Manhattan, the most important school being PS 166 where my 2 kids attend. It's a great school but they have almost no technology in the building. (Very embarrasing for me as I sell and support Promethean ActivClassroom, I guess I've been slacking...)

[Lisa Nielsen]

Looks like you have some work to Alan :)
You may also want to share the "Funding Opportunities" information found on the bottom right side of this learning network.

Alan Rudt said:

I have printed out the Reso A FAQ posted by Kristina and I intend to share it with schools I visit in Manhattan, the most important school being PS 166 where my 2 kids attend. It's a great school but they have almost no technology in the building. (Very embarrasing for me as I sell and support Promethean ActivClassroom, I guess I've been slacking...)

[Angela O'Dowd]

I would like to know how decisions are made about who gets Reso A grants and if indeed people feel the process is a fair one? Our school was getting funds every other year but the list just came out and we weren't included probably because our councilman became a senator. It's not fair that kids have to rely on political decisions to get funds for technology.

[Leslie Schecht]

Angela-
there is nothing fair about the process. your school needs to be in constant contact with your representatives. Persistence pays off. I have received hundreds for my schools, and prior to my coming on board they didnt receive any.

[Leslie Schecht]

Lisa
where did you get this fact sheet?
L

[Lisa Nielsen]

Hi Leslie,

The NYC DOE has a RESO A project manager. She works with Gordon Graham. Folks are starving for this information and as far as I can tell there is no documentation about RESO A. We have folks present, but they never seem to have documentation to share. At least in my research, so I requested they compile what they share and post it here so my network could have some concrete info. If you have any other information, please do share.

Leslie Schecht said:

Lisa
where did you get this fact sheet?
L

[Lisa Nielsen]

Here is a sample RESO A grant letter.

[Jo Ann Aaronson]

We have all seen a trend toward schools buying more mobile devices and laptop carts, while eliminating computer lab space. Incredibly, this year the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), a city agency which makes decisions about how capital funding can be used, has ruled that that laptops do not qualify for Reso A Funding. This means that schools selected to receive Reso A 2010 funds that want to get computers will only be able to order desktops.

Dell, Apple and Intel are working to reverse this ruling. Mobile computing is the most efficient means we have today of sharing limited computing and space resources in schools. We welcome your insight and any information about how this decision might affect technology usage in schools that we can share with OMB.

[Lisa Nielsen]

I was told this was because the devices are not kept secure and they've had entire carts walk which is unfortunate, especially considering there are now low-cost laptops. I challenge schools then to not consider labs, but instead something similar to what we have at HRTC where there are computers in desks. You could outfit a lot of rooms with computers in a way similar to what we do at HRTC. This can be done in many ways. I'd recommend having teachers apply and making their rooms 21st century classrooms. A school can also do something similar to what the iSchool does. They have all sorts of computers all around. Laptops, desktops, etc. They are ubiquitous and it doesn't matter what devices a student has because their work is in the cloud.

Considering the difficulties schools have with wireless, perhaps having desktops and hardwire isn't such a bad idea.

Jo Ann Aaronson said:

We have all seen a trend toward schools buying more mobile devices and laptop carts, while eliminating computer lab space. Incredibly, this year the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), a city agency which makes decisions about how capital funding can be used, has ruled that that laptops do not qualify for Reso A Funding. This means that schools selected to receive Reso A 2010 funds that want to get computers will only be able to order desktops.
Dell, Apple and Intel are working to reverse this ruling. Mobile computing is the most efficient means we have today of sharing limited computing and space resources in schools. We welcome your insight and any information about how this decision might affect technology usage in schools that we can share with OMB.