Charter School Events

Do you have specific questions about a Solutions service?

Email or call us! Melissa Hentges, Director of Innovative School Solutions, 302-656-4737 or mhentges@innovativeschools.org

Thank you!
Innovative Schools would like to thank the Longwood Foundation for your support of the Innovative School Solutions Division. Over the next two years, the Longwood Foundation has provided critical funding that will allow Innovative Schools to build out its Solutions services to increase access to these services for Delaware’s charter schools community.

Back Office Support


Budgeting and Financial Reporting l PHRST and FSF   

Licensing and Certification l Information Technology

 

What is the value in outsourcing back office support functions?

Innovative Schools can provide trained professional support for resource intensive administrative functions including Budgeting and Financial Reporting, PHRST and FSF, Licensing and  Certification, and Information Technology support.  When compared with the cost of hiring up to 3 full-time employees for these functions, outsourcing these roles to an external provider can provide several thousand dollars in savings each year that can be redirected to the classroom. Outsourcing can also help schools:

  • Maximize resources
  • Extend organizational capacity and expertise
  • Bolster internal controls

Schools can contract with Innovative Schools’ Back-Office Support services in a number of ways:

  • Year-long support – Innovative Schools personnel work as an extension of school staff
  • Short-term support – Innovative Schools provides personnel on an as-needed basis to staff up for special projects, cover for staff on sick leave or maternity leave, etc.
  • Consultation – Innovative Schools personnel provide coaching for existing school staff to build internal capacity

Budgeting and Financial Reporting

Year-long contracts typically involve 300 hours of support in the following areas:

  • Budget Planning
  • Review of State Funding
  • Review of Local Funding
    • Technical Support for Local Tax Revenue Billings
  • Monthly Reconciliation of Accounts
  • Preparation and Dissemination of monthly Board and Web Reports
    • Attendance at Board meetings to discuss financial reports as requested
  • Assistance in preparation of Consolidated Grant Application
  • Bi-annual Food Service Reporting
  • Preparation of Annual GAAP Package
  • Assistance with Audit Requirements

PHRST and FSF

Year-long contracts typically involve 300 hours of support in the following areas:

  • Data entry
  • Processing of vouchers and all accounting functions
  • Monitoring of FSF accounts
    • Determine adequate funds for intended purpose
    • Ensure transactions pass budget check
    • Monitor purchase order balances; increase or decrease as necessary
    • Ensure payments made within time requirements
  • Enter new employees in HR Module of PHRST
    • Ensure accurate education levels and years of experience
    • Ensure correct job code
    • Ensure correct hours worked
    • Ensure correct compensation rate
  • Work with school leadership to ensure compliance with State and Federal Financial rules
    • Fair Labor Standards Act
    • Family and Medical Leave Act
    • Short-term disability
    • Pension counseling
    • Payroll laws
  • Develop electronic pay card that can be sent to preparer and would include
    • Employee name
    • Employee ID number
    • Funding
    • Hours worked for pay cycle
    • Extra time hours, if applicable, and comp rate
  • Benefits administration
    • Pension
    • Health Insurance (currently 4 plans)
    • Prescription Insurance
    • Dental Insurance
    • Vision Insurance
    • Blood Bank
    • Employee Assistance Program
    • Flexible Spending Plan
    • Short term disability
    • Long term disability
    • Life Insurance
    • Deferred Compensation

Licensing and Certification

This service includes an on-site assessment conducted by an expert in new teacher induction, licensure, certification, and Highly Qualified Teacher status. Our expert works with school staff to determine the licensing and certification status of each teacher and shows teachers and administrators how to navigate the Delaware Educator Data System (DEEDS). School leaders receive a report on the status of each certified staff member.

Optional additional Licensure and Certification Assessment support includes: 

  • Preparation of a personal/professional growth plan
  • Recommendations for proceeding from one license level to the next
  • Assistance in the Continuing License renewal process
  • Information and support for teachers who need to attain certification in current or additional specialty areas
  • Support for non-certified, emergency certified, or ARTC teachers who need to take the Highly Qualified Survey, Praxis II or Para Pro tests
  • Assistance for administrators who need to navigate obstacles to teachers attaining their Highly Qualified status.

Information Technology

Year long contracts include up to 216 hours of support in the following areas:

  • Help Desk Support
    • General maintenance and repair
    • Hardware and software installation
    • Hardware and software troubleshooting
    • Needs assessment
    • Network security
    • Rapid-response service
    • 24 Hour Emergency Service
  • Remote Monitoring of the entire network infrastructure including the servers, PCs, laptops and networking hardware

Additional support is also available for:

  • Computer Lab Set-up
  • Audio Visual Set-up
  • VOIP Phone System Set-up
  • Network Design and Installation
  • Back-up for Email and Data