Manistee ISD

Manistee, Michigan

Level Data “Connects” County-Wide Directory Services

Collaboration on technology initiatives is the standard with the Manistee area technology directors. One significant outcome of that collaboration is the implementation of a county-wide Microsoft Active Directory and Exchange email system.

Once the initial architecture was in place, they began looking for ways to improve the management of all student network and email accounts. They also wanted a solution that could address mobility of students between districts. The Tech Directors felt they were spending too much time on account creation and communication between districts, putting a lot of burden on a stretched technology staff.

The Technology Director’s called on Level Data to assist in the management of this county-wide directory. Together they developed an integrated solution that not only manages the computer network accounts, but handles the movement of students between districts, buildings, and the alternative academy. The solution has saved the districts countless hours and has resulted in accurate and timely access for the students.

Through PowerSchool, their SIS application, secretaries assign student account names and passwords, allowing the responsibility and control of these student services to reside with the people closest to the student needs. This process results in network and email accounts to be automatically created in Active Directory. If a student exits the district or transfers to another MISD district, the Level Data DirectoryLINX manages the account seamlessly. No more phone calls or emails to technology staffers to create, disable, or remove accounts as time permits. Even password resets are handled by the secretary thru the SIS.

Each day the districts receive a DirectoryLINX Daily digest that outlines the student account activity for each district. This digest shows students that are newly enrolled, newly exited, re-enrolled in the district, or transferred to another MISD district.

According to Roy Anciso, MISD Technology Director, “This is the coolest thing I’ve seen! It has allowed us to focus on additional collaborative ideas and extends the value of our Active Directory configuration. I am also able to leverage the work of Level Data’s DirectoryLINX to create scripts specific to the ISD needs. Seeing is believing. The Level Data solution has opened our minds a bit more. We are now looking at additional ways to extend our use of Level Data with other applications.”