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Board approves short-term Edupoint support for Synergy as district transitions to Focus; one member demands weekly accountability
Summary
The board authorized continued Edupoint services to support Synergy data migration while the district implements Focus as its new student information system; Member Rendon voted no and asked for regular, detailed updates on responsibilities and timelines.
The Hillsborough County School Board on Feb. 11 approved a renewal of Edupoint services to support the district’s Synergy student information system while the district ramps up implementation of the Focus SIS for the 2025-26 school year. District staff said the renewal will cost $90,000 less than originally budgeted and will primarily fund data micro-migration and technical assistance.
Member Rendon opposed the motion and asked for a series of weekly updates detailing exactly what work is being done in Synergy and in Focus, who is responsible for each task, and how the district is minimizing duplicated effort. “We’ve doubled their work by this process,” Rendon said, and told the administration she would withhold support for the renewal until the board receives a regular, detailed accounting of progress and responsibilities.
Superintendent Addison Ayers and district staff agreed to supply weekly progress reports; staff said the expenditures are included in the IT services annual budget and are necessary during the ramp-down/ramp-up period. The motion was moved by Member Perez and seconded by Member Combs and passed with Rendon recorded as the lone no vote.
Why it matters: Synergy is the live system for schedules, ESE data and other active student records. The district is operating both systems during the migration; board members said unclear responsibilities and mixed workflows increase risk to scheduling and special-education services during a critical scheduling season.
What’s next: District staff committed to provide weekly updates to the board on the transition timeline and assignments; Member Rendon said she expects frequent, specific written reports until the migration is complete.
