Editor’s Note: Student Union’s weekly columns are a joint effort of the region’s high schools, the Bangor Daily News and Acadia Hospital. This week’s column was written by an Old Town High School student. His adviser is Karen Marley.

In an effort to improve record keeping, streamline attendance, and allow for immediate grade reporting, Old Town High School has begun using a new software program called Pinnacle.

This technical addition to the school has frustrated some teachers and students. The new system, which is supposedly full of bugs, has left computer-impaired teachers in a state of confusion, and students with problems related to absences in a state of rage.

Why have there been problems with using Pinnacle, and is it really that hard to use properly? The software has been implemented to make life easier for both faculty and students. However, one of the problems that have arisen involves incorrectly placed unexcused absences.

Excelsior, the company that created Pinnacle, says the system is a “multi-networked software [that] is intuitive and easy to use, and can be readily customized to your state’s performance or proficiency-based requirements.” The company had the best intentions, yet it seems Pinnacle has fallen short of its immediate goals. Not all teachers are computer-literate, and that lack of skill may be a major factor in some of the most recent malfunctions with Pinnacle.

Pinnacle has enormous potential, according to Vice Principal Brian Doyle. Doyle says Pinnacle soon will be able to “provide student progress over time,” which will be a big help in keeping track of the new Maine Learning Results. Also, the system promises to immediately “bring up records of disciplinary actions” when a teacher needs to have a conference with a parent, Doyle explained.

According to Doyle, the program is just “very complex,” and many teachers haven’t had time to learn how to use the program to its full extent. Yet, if this program is going to become a necessary part of our school, why are so many teachers left in the dark, only sliding by with the basic functions of Pinnacle? Some may say this is because teachers are not required to take a course that shows them how to use programs such as Pinnacle.

Most schools have yet to see Pinnacle. While it may seem new to us, the program has been around in beta testing and regular release for some years. So why did the school spend money adopting the program now, while other schools may not even know it exists? According to Pinnacle Tech, the program is “Unlike spreadsheet-style electronic grade books; Pinnacle Tech supports multiyear, multiterm reporting and is designed with the power and flexibility to customize … .” Pinnacle is definitely a necessity to any school that needs a fast, new way to organize its records.

When asked how useful Pinnacle is to maintaining records, Doyle said, “Pinnacle has presented a number of solutions.”

Cries and complaints of teachers and students gradually have been replaced by overwhelming support for the new Pinnacle software. Many teachers see the system as a tremendous improvement in record keeping and say they prefer to take attendance, and even make seating charts with Pinnacle rather than on paper. One of the biggest goals some teachers have is being able to “access Pinnacle from the Web at home,” says Amy Ketch, Pinnacle coordinator for the high school, who adds that “the “biggest complaint is fear of technology,” which may keep untrained teachers from using the program’s full potential.

Perhaps one of the biggest achievements of Pinnacle, according to Doyle, is that “we are using science to solve problems.” On the issue of Pinnacle’s errors, Doyle replied, “[T]he bottom line is [that] we are a school, we can always fix [errors]… .”

Errors remain a major concern among students. The school is on a trial basis with the software, and many members of the faculty are learning new skills every day. According to Old Town Principal Joe Gallant, “It takes awhile for people to get used to it. Out of 740 kids, there are bound to be mistakes.”

Overall, Principal Gallant seems pleased with everything Pinnacle has done for the school so far. He says that while teachers have been frustrated with the new software, they have worked through the problems.

“One of the big things we are excited about is Pinnacle can send e-mails and give updates [to parents],” said Gallant. These updates will let parents know what their children have received for grades during the times between report cards, after a significant exam, or after a student’s grade drops below expectations. Gallant says, “The few people who have talked to me have been pleased.” One of the greatest pluses about Pinnacle is that “I have instant access [to a student’s academic profile] when I’m talking to a student or parent,” says Gallant in talking about his favorite Pinnacle features.

Schools participating in Student Union include Hampden Academy, Brewer High School, John Bapst Memorial High School, Old Town High School, Mount Desert Island Regional High School, Stearns High School in Millinocket, Nokomis Regional High School, Hermon High School, and Schenck High School in East Millinocket.