DWA-Financial Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Below are questions and answers about the Financial portion of the DWA. (For questions about the DWA in general, see DWA FAQ. Or, for questions about the other two DWA systems, see Student/Special Ed FAQ or Human Resources FAQ.)

• When will the new system be implemented?
• Which of our current financial systems will be replaced by the PeopleSoft systems?
• This is a massive undertaking, to replace the financials in the district. How do we know this will succeed?

When will the new system be implemented?

The Financial portion of the DWA will be implemented in phases. See the Financial Time Line for the schedule.

Which of our current financial systems will be replaced by the PeopleSoft systems?

Our current "mainframe" system, as well as EFRA (Electronic Forms Routing and Approval), MBA for General Ledger, and the Journal Voucher system will be replaced by the PeopleSoft Financial and Supply Chain Management systems.

Additional systems to be replaced may be identified once the "fit/gap analysis" sessions are complete. In these sessions, current business processes are reviewed in light of the way those processes are handled on the PeopleSoft systems, to discover if there are any gaps. As a result of these sessions, it may be decided to change our business practices to match the PeopleSoft systems. Or, some modifications to the PeopleSoft system may be required to eliminate the gap. Or, it may be decided to continue using current methods. As these decisions are made, the information will be posted on this web site.

This is a massive undertaking, to replace the financials in the district. How do we know this will succeed?

Yes, this is a massive undertaking. However, like many other districts and educational institutions, we will succeed. First, we have selected as our implementation partner Empower Solutions, a firm with an excellent record of successes in implementing PeopleSoft solutions in K-12 school districts. In addition, the DWA project is using best practices of project management to identify and manage risks, resolve issues, and stay on top of action items and time lines. We are placing a priority on communications with all stakeholders, from senior management to project team members and end-users through a formal communications strategy. The DWA has the firm commitment and support of the Board of Education, district executives and senior management. To fully succeed, however, the DWA needs your commitment, too!