Day in Review -- Admin Overhead

A lot of little things. Phone calls, emails, visits to meet people, talking with people, dealing with purchases, verifying procedures for the next year, and on on. It is amazing how much time gets taken up by these things. All this while trying to do our geek stuff.

Day in Review - Admin Overhead

Had one of those train your boss moments. My boss took the feedback well. We are always training others or ourselves.

Had a meet and greet day with principals. Tech guys just love visting with people. They seemed like nice enough people, but only 2 days into thejob. Time will help render a final verdict.

Formal construction site visit was fun. new wing of the building. Outside plant fiber is in the proposed location as usual. It is always interesting to listen to the conversation of others when the verbalize the plan and design for things. Architects aren't always crazy and intentionally try to make things difficult. And I do empathize for them on renovations....converstations usually go. Architect: Do you have existing as builts? Customer: uh, no? Architect: Do you know where existing underground utilizes are? Customer: Can't we just do a locate?...Anyhow. on on on. You try to design something when know can really describe in detail was is currently there.

DIR -- Admin Overhead

Not much today. Does that count as a good thing? I think so.

Also, today was the last day for our 220 staff people. Needless to say, a few waited until today to ask for things. My former boss had some words to live by here...

• Never check email after noon on Fridays
• Never check email after noon on days before long holidays (Christmas & Spring Break)

All it will do is piss you off.

Day in Review -- Admin Overhead

Doing interviews is always interesting and fun. Especially when it isn't for a position in my direct group, but on the "other" side of the house. I get to people read and evaluate answers. One of the interviewees was very good. It was great to see someone prepared, energized, and wanting to join our team.

Had a quick budget meeting aboutt closing out the books on one account and how it was previously done. Good advice and direction was given. Also had a refreshing information that we -don't- have to spend all the money in another account as it'll roll forward and nor should we try. Refreshing to hear. I always look at it as I'm spending money from the people I work with. About 1/2 of them live in district, so I'm spending their tax dollars.

Day in Review -- Administrative Overhead

Slow day on this front. More people are gone due to summer vacations. Probably a good thing. More time left for class.

Day in Review -- Administrative Overhead

So I am still in training this week. My groups have managed to keep the train on the track, make general progress on items, and generally be good. Still trying to get the dates set for our two new techs. Summer time with forced week off holidays (july 4) and new budget monies adds a new wrinkle to the procedure.

The large project details is being finalized so we can present to the holder of the moneys and the Finance office. I love having good people.

Day in Review -- Administrative Overhead

Off-site and in training with only periodic breaks and a Monday. Yep, all sort of irons in the fire needing attention. Actually, the irons were good things. One of my leads is running down the paperwork to get our two new techs started. I may be picking up someone elses "left-overs." I know this person works hard and can fill a gap in my group, so I'm quite happy about the situation. 3 new staff members in this day and time. I'll take 'em.

Only thing I hate is not being able to disclose the situation to my group. Secrecy spreads rumors and uncertainity. We have too much work to do.

Day in Review -- Administrative Overhead

Interviews are fun, but tiring. Trying to get to know someone in 30 to 60 minutes is a challenge. Got the callbacks tomorrow.

One of the joys in a disadvantaged district is Title monies. We get some monies and it always has some restrictions. It must be spent at campus A-W but not X-Z. Each purchase must be under 5k. Each must supplement the classroom environment, not be new or replace another tool. Then sometimes the size and scope changes dramatically. Went from a smallish project affecting about 5-10 classrooms to something that can affect 100. Yikes. Maybe we'll be able to help some teachers out and make them happy. Hopefully my girls (buyer & secretary) can get all the calls and paperwork done so we can use the money well. They have a bit of work in front of them, but are excellent at their jobs. Smartboards anyone?

Then it was board meeting night. I got to play geek. Fixed a CD/dvd drive that didn't work. -FLEX- Whatever. It didn't read the disk. Took the drive out of my laptop and swapped (yeah for standards). Now I get to do a service call on mine next week.