The infamous Synergy has officially been retired from Hillsborough County Public Schools after less than a year of academic use. Synergy was commonly known as an information system used for enrollment, scheduling, attendance, transcripts, final grade reporting, and other student data. This is Hillsborough County School District’s first year using this new platform.
Despite the system being originally bought by the district in 2019 and the district spending a staggering 8.4 million dollars on the platform. The sudden retirement sparked controversy over whether the system was necessary or simply a costly mistake.
Synergy’s adoption was met with elevated expectations as the district spent a hefty amount of money and time to ensure the system’s success. As an information system, it was promised to teachers and staff that it would simplify student data management, improve communication between staff and parents, and give students more access to their academic records. The district perceived it as a huge technological advancement as the system that Hillsborough County used before was around for approximately 30 years. However, the system faced significant setbacks from the start.
One of the most reported issues was the system’s constant malfunctions. Many teachers and administrators reported persistent glitches that made their ability to use the system impossible.
These disruptions affect teachers time management and affect teachers’ time management but also take more time away from teachers to instruct their students on necessary academic material. Though this program was not only despised by Teachers and Administrators, it was also found frustrating to Students.
Although it was common knowledge that Synergy had many technological difficulties, these problems were additionally amplified by the lack of proper training. Due to this system being new, it led to many teachers and administrators having to maneuver through the new system, learning how to work every feature, in what felt like too many, with little to no help.
“It was hard to learn and now that I finally learned it, they are getting rid of it. And so, it is frustrating that they are switching systems, but at the same time, I understand because it was a mess of a system.” This is stated by Ms. Russello, A Wharton High School teacher, when asked the question “Have you faced issues with Synergy.”
The Hillsborough County District has yet to announce a system to replace Synergy, leaving many to feel a sense of uncertainty. Many students are hoping to see a major improvement, especially since the instability of this system sparked many conversations regarding education.
“Students need a sense of reliance on a crucial aspect such as education (report cards, grades, etc.), so when a system is picked, please assure it will be beneficial and last for a while, so our student body is not constantly having issues locating it.” This was a response from Keira Dailey, A Wharton High School Student when asked the question, “What advice would you give to the board if/when they pick a new system?”
This shows that many want the same goal. That goal is a simplistic, yet elevated system to make educational tasks easier.
The Synergy experience highlights the complexity of adopting a new system. Although the previous system needed an upgrade due to the lack of modernization, selecting a proper system projected to have longevity is essential. Ensuring that a system meets students, teachers, and administrator’s needs- in addition, to that users are properly trained- will be crucial in supporting the district’s goals. Prioritizing all the issues that need to be addressed will be a major step forward in bettering education in Hillsborough County Public Schools.
