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Microsoft Office 2007 deployment to begin Tuesday

After reviewing the test results for Microsoft Office 2007 completed last week, a decision has been made to deploy Office 2007 in a multi-phased approach. A phased approach was agreed upon because the department has computers that do not meet the minimum requirements for operating Office 2007 and because Access 2007 needs additional testing and time for modifying existing Access applications.

Two things are accomplished by using a phased approac:.

First, the software can be deployed to non-compliant computers as they are upgraded or replaced rather than creating an urgency for coming up with funds to replace or upgrade computers.

Second, it allows more time for the owners of Access business applications to modify their current Access applications and to adequately test them.

Microsoft Office 2007 Deployment
Beginning Tuesday ( May 20), Headquarters employees will receive training and then have Office 2007 deployed to their computers. The deployment to District employees will be coordinated with each district’s IT Coordinator and HRD (for training purposes).

The deployment will occur in phases, based on the capacity of individual computers. Employees with the most powerful computers will receive the software first. Those with older computers that are not robust enough to run the new software will not receive the software or the training until they have computers that are better able to run Office 2007.

The training will be timed to coincide very closely with the installation of the software on each individual's computer. The first phase of the deployment will not include Access 2007; Access 2003 will remain on your computers and will not be upgraded until a later date.

The minimum requirements for your computer are: 1 GHz processor, 1 GB RAM, and 5 GB free hard drive space. If your computer does not meet those minimums, you will not receive the software or training during the first phase.

Again, there is no urgency in upgrading or replacing the computers that do not meet the minimum requirements. Office 2003 and Office 2007 can each read and work with files created in the other version.

Microsoft Office 2007 Required Training
Since the new version of Office is a big change from previous versions with the many useful, powerful tools and new capabilities, training is required before the software will be deployed to your computer.

Nearly every command has been moved to a new location. In order to save employees from wasting time trying to find everything on their own, the HRD computer trainers have developed a half-day class called "Transition to Office 2007." This four-hour class shows employees how to find the old tools in their new locations, and demonstrates some very desirable new tools.

At some time over the next 2-3 months, those of you whose computers meet the minimum requirements will receive an e-mail with more information about training dates. Remember that the class is only a half-day long and all employees are required to attend. Contractors are not eligible to attend.

If you have questions about the training please e-mail Carinjoy Condon (Computer Trainer). If you have questions about the deployment, please e-mail Sergio Aranguiz (Project Manager).