[Erate] Saying Good-bye

[MIDDELBURG Pat * DAS IRMD PMO]

One of the inevitable facts of life is that change occurs.  And one of
those changes is that I will be relinquishing my duties as the State
E-rate Coordinator for Oregon.  I got this dubious honor back in Funding
Year 2 by being in the wrong place at the wrong time and no one else in
my agency understanding the word "e-rate".  (Or maybe they understood
the word and I naively didn't!)  Chicago for my first training and boy
was I glad I didn't have to file an e-rate application.  My role was
just going to be a central point of contact for SLD.   That changed when
we needed to file a statewide application on behalf of all the schools
and libraries that purchased off of a state master contract.  Now I was
in the same boat as all the rest of you - having to file 470s, 471s,
486s, etc. etc. etc.  Filing the application really opened up my eyes,
and through this process, I hope that I have been able to impart just a
little bit of insight to help you all become successful in your
applications and dealings with SLD.

 

The statewide contract is ending and the replacement contract we are
working on will not necessitate filing a statewide e-rate application.
Therefore, there is no reason for me to stay engaged with the e-rate
program.  The workload for my other duties (an IT project manager
working on consolidating 12 agency data centers into one) has increased
significantly over the past year to a point where I can no longer divide
my time between the E-rate program and my Project Management duties.  

 

I have seen many changes to the e-rate program - some good and some bad.
Even though our statewide application got denied last year, I feel
encouraged by the recent FCC rulings.  Hopefully for your sake, SLD
finally gets the message that every denial, request for additional
information or other roadblocks they put up only serves as a deterrent
to program participation.   

 

I only have one more e-rate duty left - a site visit in July --
something that I have managed to avoid for the past three years.  Baron
Rodriguez is your contact at the Department of Education, and Darci
Hanning is your contact at the Oregon State Library.   I wish everyone
good bye and good luck on your future e-rate applications.  It has been
an honor and a privilege of working with all of you.   Thank you.

 

 

Patricia K. Middelburg, MEd., PMP

Project Management Office Interim Manager

and State E-Rate Coordinator

Department of Administrative Services

Information Resources Management Division

c/o 530 Airport Road SE

Salem, OR 97301

503.373.1365

Fax: 503.378.2736

pat.middelburg at state.or.us

 

 

Patricia K. Middelburg, MEd., PMP

Project Management Office Interim Manager

and State E-Rate Coordinator

Department of Administrative Services

Information Resources Management Division

c/o 530 Airport Road SE

Salem, OR 97301

503.373.1365

Fax: 503.378.2736

pat.middelburg at state.or.us

 

 

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