Businesslike approach keeps school PCs going

As if managing a network connecting more than 600 public schools, in which computers are used by tens of thousands of employees and more than 400,000 students, isn’t enough, Robert Runcie finds himself running something of a business these days.

It is a program Runcie launched in February called Tech-XL, an operation complete with sales, accounting and customer service departments, as well as a slate of subcontractors.

Tech-XL, which stands for technology excellence, is intended to alleviate a massive headache for Runcie, his department and the schools.

In the Chicago Public Schools, Runcie and his information technology department are responsible for the technical equipment leading to the computer connections. This means that the networks, routers and switches, among many other things, are his responsibility.

But the computers, well, those are the responsibility of the schools.

ALEX L. GOLDFAYN

Full Story: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0508200141aug20,1,7936431.story?coll=chi-business-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true