Read 180 is as a reading intervention program to aid below level and struggling readers. As with most programs the initial support costs were fairly modest but as the program grew so did the costs. In 2004 the MMSD Technical Services department was able to take all support into their own department and cancel the outside contracted support services. Since this change, MMSD has saved up to $210,000.

In 2002, MMSD chose Wright Middle School as the first Read 180 pilot site. Brian Sack and Lynda Chen from Technical Services took the lead in testing, troubleshooting and proving technical support. Read 180 was known to be a very complex program requiring extensive support due to its very intensive database. It was decided at that time that standard outside product support was needed to ensure program stability and functionality.

In 2003, the district successfully expanded deployment of Read 180 to 14 more sites. The Technical Services microtech group then received a full-day of training on Read 180 technical support for these 15 sites.

In 2004, Technical Services had reached a level of training and competence in this complex program that they felt confident to cancel the computer support contract with Read 180. This decision and the commitment of the Technical Services staff have resulted in a savings of nearly $210,000!

Since 2004, Technical Services has taken the lead in providing technical solutions for Read 180 throughout all Wisconsin school districts. Lynda Chen has advised the IT staff at Verona, Oregon, Appleton, on their network, server and workstation system setups for Read 180. From 2006-2008, the district piloted a Read 180 Enterprise version with much more advanced and stable database configuration at East, Wright, Cherokee and Lincoln.

The lead technical support staff in this project are Lynda Chen, Brian Sack, Pascal Brinkman-Kampmann, and Jeff Benzschawel. The techs, Garret Hagenbucher, Daryl Tessmann, Sam Espich, Kelly Schuppener, Moses Her, Kevin Blackmore, Alex Blohowiak and Brett Kinney are also playing essential roles in supporting the standard Read 180 version at the other sites. MMSD has received BOE approval to proceed with the Enterprise version for all other Read 180 sites for the 2008-09 school year.

Our hard working microtech staff always does their utmost to make things run as smoothly and efficiently as possible while trying to save the district's much needed monetary resources. Our 14 friendly microtech staff support the software we use every day, but also all of our computer hardware and portions of our network as well. They also staff the Technical Services Helpdesk that employees can contact throughout the work day for any computer assistance.