1998 EdTech Update Report
Y2K Planning Update
The Year 2000 "Millenium Bug" is a serious issue, but it can be addressed if users consider all of the issues and follow the suggested steps.
Some people say that if you haven't started working on assessing the size and scope of your Year 2000 "Millennium Bug" problem, it's too late. Don't despair, however, because there are some things you can do right now, but don't delay too long, because time really is of the essence!
Because it is not a single problem, but actually a nest of different problems with myriad implications, there is no such thing as a "comprehensive Y2K solution." Its complexity can affect the system at the hardware, operating system or applications layer, and the resulting effects can be interrelated. A Y2K problem may require a different solution for each make or model of computer and for each database, application and protocol. Finally, a failure in any component of a system can cause the entire system to fail, and a failure of any system in a network can cause the entire network to fail. This is the "domino effect."
Some things to think about:
Check your software - Many software vendors were caught by surprise by the year 2000 problem and some will not be able to make their products ready. Others may make their products ready but may not be able to deliver the ready software until late 1999. Some vendors may no longer support a particular product that you may be running, and other vendors may have gone out of business. For date-sensitive systems, contact the vendors to find out their readiness plans. If a vendor will not give you information about the readiness status of a package, or if a ready version will not be available until late in 1999, you should investigate an alternate system or contact the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Question your vendors - At the very least consider asking your vendors questions like the following:
Does the system allow for entering dates? If yes, is the year 2 or 4 digits? What happens if you enter "00" or "01"?
Will the system operate differently depending on the day of the week? Will it operate differently at month-end, quarter-end, or year-end?
Can the system put things in order by date?
Does the system allow you to retrieve things by date?
Can the system perform date-based calculations?
Check your hardware - Today, personal computers are widely used in schools. All personal computers have an internal clock that maintains and reports the date and time. In some computers, the year is stored and processed as two, rather than four, digits. The year 2000 will affect these computers just as it affects other systems. If you are running systems on your computers that access that PC's date, they may fail or produce bad results. All PCs should be tested, regardless of how they are used. Most major manufacturers of personal computers maintain a web site with Y2K information that can tell you which models are affected. Many of the fixes required are available directly from the vendor for free. If you find a problem with systems you have, contact a computer retailer to investigate purchasing a new Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) chip that is year 2000 ready, download software solutions from the Internet, or replace the non-ready PC with a model that is ready. Warning: Even a brand-new state-of-the-art PC may not be ready for the year 2000. Check with your vendor.
Five simple steps you can take:
- Awareness - educate and involve all levels of your school district in solving the problem.
- Inventory - create a checklist of year 2000 readiness items.
- Assessment - examine how severe and widespread the problem is in your District and what needs to be fixed.
- Correction and Testing - implement the readiness strategy you have chosen and test the fix.
- Implementation - move your repaired or replaced system back into circulation.
Other resources:
http://www.magnet.state.ma.us/y2k/ - a link to the State's home page where you can find additional information
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last updated: January 1, 1998
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