CTS

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Business Operations Manager of Bold Charter School

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

K-5 Charter School in District 12 of the Bronx.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire CTS to accomplish?

• Technology Management and Support for Devices/Network
• Tech Infrastructure Buildout for New Facilities
• Tech Consultants on School-Tech Projects

SOLUTION

How did you find CTS?

Referral

Why did you select CTS over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from CTS were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

CTS helped us develop our latest facility, which is a full K-6 school, with the requisite technology infrastructure and IT services. Deliverables included network and network backup, staff and student technology setup, cyber security, phone lines and PA system, etc.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

CTS worked with us to make sure the most essential aspects fo the projects were in place ahead of our key milestones for staff returning to campus, and subsequently, students starting school. While ultimately, these things fell into place and CTS made sure to deliver when necessary, communication and priority planning could have been better aligned. That said, the project was a huge undertaking and one that the team at CTS was committed to delivering on.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Project management was one area for improvement. Guiseppe led our project and admittedly, we found it challenging. We went to check ins and the updates on status were not particularly strong, and there were even cases where he referenced the wrong school or would not respond to any questions on our Zoom calls (camera and audio off). Things felt disorganized and there some points where we had to redo certain things because there were not done properly to begin with. 
One example that comes to mind is the height of Promethean boards for our older students. They were installed at the Kindergarten height even though we specified the height needed for our older students. We ultimately had to repay for them to be adjusted. A similar situation arose when one of our exit doors was set up so that it was Maglock, which was flagged as a violation by FDNY. 
We ultimately had to remove this and have CTS requote replacing the door strike. This corrective work is only being done now. (mid-November). 

I think as a larger piece of feedback, it would be best for CTS to have written logs from check ins or nexts steps. In both cases described above, we went back and forth because Guiseppe was sure he said something about these on calls, and we didn't have anything written on emails to prove that this wasn't what we wanted. (causing us to ultimately doublepay on several things). 
The communication around timelines and delays was also very unclear. One example here was the A/V setup in the Gym and Cafeteria. The delays on this were so significant that we had to rent several thousand dollars in A/V equipment for our orientation in late-August, despite asking about it through the summer and being assured we'd have it on time. 

While the intention is not the discredit the incredible work that CTS as an organization did on this buildout, working with Guiseppe proved to be quite challenging throughout, and project management was not its best.

What was your primary form of communication with CTS?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

CTS as a general matter tends to go out of their way to outline our options when faced with a decision and remain solutions-oriented throughout. I can count on them to figure out a hard problem for us!

Are there any areas for improvement or something CTS could have done differently?

See project management/comunications notes.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director of MESA Charter High School

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

MESA operats charter high schools and workforce development programming in New York City

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire CTS to accomplish?

• Set up our technology infrastructure
• Maintain, enhance, and expand our use of technology in support of our mission

SOLUTION

How did you find CTS?

Referral

Why did you select CTS over others?

• Great culture fit
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from CTS were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

MESA was founded in 2013, and we didn't know anything about technology.  Over the last dozen years, they have been our go-to for everything tech.  They built our infrastructure, provide all our tech support, and provide advice and strategic planning on technical issues.  They're our go-to for everything and we trust them without reservation.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We went from literally nothing to a school that is outfitted for our technical needs.  We are now opening a second school and CTS is leading that project as well.  The founder, Sachin, is incredibly hands on and the team is super-responsive.  They're really a delight to work with.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

We've had CTS run projects for many years, and always been happy with the service, cost, and result. Too many to name.

What was your primary form of communication with CTS?

Virtual Meeting

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

The level of service even as they've scaled.  We started workign with CTS right as they were founded, and it was Sachin and one other employee.  A dozen years later they propbably support half of the charter sector, but the relationship is as valuable as ever and the level of service and dedication remains unchanged.

Are there any areas for improvement or something CTS could have done differently?

On the whole, given the amount of time I've worked with them over the years, I'm extremely happy.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CFO of Equality Charter School

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are a publicly funded K12 charter school.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Charter Technology Solutions to accomplish?

• Turnaround failing IT infrastructure and supports in our Middle and High Schools
• Design and implement IT infrastructure at newly constructed Elementary & High School building
• Act as a strategic and operational partner on long term tech goals

SOLUTION

How did you find Charter Technology Solutions?

Referral

Why did you select Charter Technology Solutions over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Charter Technology Solutions were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

• Security: CTS to provide power requirements and location of power for security monitors, add data that is not there where it may be needed, and heights of cameras 
• Access control: CTS to spec intercom, spec door control type/lock for access control, receiver for intercom, power requirements for these items and locations for power 
• IT: 
  • CTS to design typical classroom layout identifying teaching wall and spec for either projector or smart board, create elevation for power and data for teaching wall in classroom and power requirements 
  • Allow for discussion with Equality to discuss specialty rooms for usage relating to IT and power CTS to spec IT equipment, power locations, and power requirements for IT room 
• AV: CTS to provide power locations, and AV power requirements for specialty areas such as cafeteria and gym, specs for AV equipment as well, heights for items

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Our internet health has gone way up and staff have restored faith in our ability to address tech concerns.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

They've done a terrific job communicating about the projects and timelines, as well as organizing the questions/ answers needed to complete a project.

What was your primary form of communication with Charter Technology Solutions?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

They were able to effectively address concerns I had about our client relationship in a way that productively and professionally shared the burden of the relationship between themselves and us as a client. They also took important feedback from me early on and developed a tool that made it easier for me to gauge the health/ status of all our tickets.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Charter Technology Solutions could have done differently?

At some point after our first quarter or six months, I would love to have an invitation from the principal to a virtual coffee break. Because they effectively addressed my initial concerns, I haven't needed to be in touch with him. I am realizing now that some intentional touchpoint that's not reactive or problem based would be a good opportunity for both of us to connect/ reinforce shared values.