Multi-year deal with OECM brings greater possibilities for collaboration, cost savings and access to reliable service and support to Ontario school boards
Toronto, Ontario – Ontario Education Collaborative Marketplace (OECM), the not-for-profit sourcing partner for Ontario’s education sector, broader public sector and other not-for-profit organizations, announced today that Fujitsu Consulting (Canada) Inc. has been named as the Supplier Partner providing Student Information System (SIS) and related services to Ontario’s school boards through OECM’s Marketplace of products and services.
A subsidiary of Fujitsu Limited, the global full service provider of information, communication and technology solutions, Fujitsu Consulting (Canada) Inc. (“Fujitsu”) will partner with Follett of Canada Inc. (“Follett”) to provide an Aspen Student Information System – Ontario Baseline Configuration (Aspen SIS OBC).
Fujitsu was selected through a rigorous competitive sourcing process conducted in adherence to the BPS Procurement Directive and Trade Agreements, and in continuous collaboration and consultation with:
- A Project Advisory Committee (PAC) consisting of deeply-invested English and French language school boards from across the Province1 ;
- The Ontario Association of School Business Officials Information and Communication Technology (OASBO-ICT); and
- The Project Steering Committee comprised of the Student Information Workflow Advisory Committee (SIWAC).
Together, the various school board representatives provided invaluable input including specific needs and both business and IT requirements that helped shape the Request for Proposal (RFP) deliverables and evaluation criteria.
In December 2018, the Auditor General of Ontario (AGO), Bonnie Lysyk, released her Annual Report, which included an audit on value for money specific to “School Boards – IT System and Technology in the Classroom” (Volume 1, Chapter 3, Section 3.12). The report included a recommendation that encouraged greater collaboration between the Ministry of Education and school boards to identify potential efficiencies and cost savings in the implementation of a centralized Student Information System.
“This newly awarded agreement with Fujitsu is a promising and momentous step towards realizing opportunities for greater collaboration and savings within Ontario’s education sector, and in achieving progress that aligns with the Auditor General’s recommendations,” says John Sabo, President and CEO of OECM. “Not only can school boards collaborate to save on integration and training costs, OECM’s involvement means greater long-term savings and productivity through consistent contract management, reliable service and competitive pricing.”
The Aspen SIS OBC, is a comprehensive tool used by school boards to perform tasks and manage information relating to the academic status of students. The Aspen SIS OBC allows staff members to manage enrollments, scheduling, student accounts, grading, government reporting, and much more.
Under the OECM agreement, Fujitsu will provide access to free webinars, demonstrations and ongoing information sessions about the Aspen SIS and related services.
OECM brings expertise in collaborative sourcing, customer and supplier relationship management, and contract management delivering bottom-line savings.
Sherry Casey, Head of Canada at Fujitsu Consulting (Canada) Inc. says, “As technology advances full-speed ahead, Fujitsu feels an important responsibility to help clients in the education sector keep pace. The SIS solution is an important step forward by digitalizing the Ontario District School Boards’ infrastructure to deliver an integrated, future-proof system that offers teachers, students, parents and administrators a single channel for managing students’ academic careers. The solution promises to deliver significant cost savings and efficiencies across the Province, with unparalleled support from Fujitsu and more opportunities to collaborate across Ontario schools.”
For more information about the Student Information System and Related Services Agreement, please visit https://oecm.ca/student-information-system-and-related-services
1The OECM-developed PAC consisted of representatives from Avon Maitland District School Board, Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario, Conseil scolaire de district catholique Franco-Nord, Conseil scolaire de district du Nord-Est de l’Ontario, Conseil scolaire Viamonde, Durham Catholic District School Board, Durham District School Board, Greater Essex District School Board, Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board, Ottawa Carleton District School Board, Lakehead District School Board, Lambton Kent District School Board, Limestone District School Board, Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board, Thames Valley District School Board, Toronto Catholic District School Board, Upper Canada District School Board and York Catholic District School Board.
About OECM
OECM is a trusted not-for-profit sourcing partner for Ontario’s education sector, broader public sector, and other not-for-profit organizations. We contract with innovative, reputable suppliers to offer a comprehensive choice of quality products and services, to generate significant savings for our customers. Visit oecm.ca for more information.
About Fujitsu Consulting (Canada) Inc.
Fujitsu Consulting (Canada) Inc. is part of Fujitsu America, Inc., a group of Fujitsu-owned companies operating in North, Central and South America dedicated to delivering the full range of Fujitsu products, solutions and services in ICT to our customers in the Western Hemisphere.
Fujitsu enables clients to meet their business objectives through integrated offerings and solutions, including consulting, systems integration, managed services, outsourcing and cloud services for infrastructure, platforms and applications; data center and field services; and server, storage, software and mobile/tablet technologies. For more information, please visit: http://fujitsu.com/ca and http://twitter.com/fujitsucanada.
About Follett of Canada Inc.
Follett of Canada understands the unique institutional needs and goals of Canadian educators across every province and territory, and provides education services designed to meet budgetary goals, manage student data, increase literacy, and support curriculum. When educators choose Follett, they turn to solutions such as Aspen Student Information System, a modern, flexible SIS that comprehensively manages student data; responds to customers’ ever-changing needs; offers a mobile-friendly, one-stop application for teachers and administrators; and keeps parents informed. For more about Follett of Canada, visit https://www.follettlearning.com/about-us/geographic-reach/canada.
For further information, please contact:
Project Manager
(647) 627-2357
Media contact
Fujitsu America, Inc.
Bryan Hollar
(408) 746-6412
