• When: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Where: PPS district office (501 N. Dixon St). Please go to the lower level parking lot, which has an entrance on N. Larrabee Ave.
• Please bring: Your student’s school ID or ID number. If you are exchanging or returning a device, please bring the device and charger with you.
• Please be aware: We are asking everyone to use recommended social distancing practices, keeping at least 6 feet of space between groups and wearing a facemask or face covering, if possible.

Please note that if you have a technical issue and are not sure if you should exchange a computer, you can also:

• Call: 503-916-3375
• Email: support@pps.net

Department of Information Technology is excited to announce that PPS has renamed its Google domain from apps4pps.net to pps.net for staff and student.pps.net for students.

With this change, we'll have the benefit of using a single login for Google suite and O365, Synergy, PeopleSoft, Destiny, and related apps. This will allow you to log into your Google account using your PPS account name (jdoe@pps.net) instead of having to use a separate name (jdoe@apps4pps.net).

For an FAQ and more information, please visit www.pps.net/googledomain

PURPOSE OF THIS COMMUNICATION
To inform PPS staff that PPS Chromebooks and computers using the Chrome browser will display a new “Gopher Buddy” icon in the toolbar.

WHAT IS HAPPENING AND WHY
The PPS Information Technology Department is using the Gopher Buddy browser software extension to identify Chromebook distribution by locations. The icon appears in Chrome browsers on other types of computers, however it does not perform any function on those computers. The Chromebook location information will improve our technology inventory data for planning and ongoing support.

WHAT IS THE IMPACT TO YOU AS A CLIENT
You or your students may notice the “Gopher Buddy” icon in your Chromebook or Chrome browser toolbar. You will not notice any performance impact and only location data is being reported.

WHOM DO I CONTACT WITH QUESTIONS OR PROBLEMS
Please contact IT Support using the Support portal at support.pps.net, by emailing support@pps.net, or by calling x63375 with any problems or questions you may have.

Thank you,
PPS Information Technology Department

PURPOSE OF THIS COMMUNICATION
To notify PPS employees of a new Support Portal that will be available on Monday, March 4, 2019.

WHAT IS HAPPENING AND WHY
This new service platform will help improve communication, transparency, and efficiency for technology support throughout the district, replacing the former IT Self-Service tool.

WHAT IS THE IMPACT TO YOU
You will be able to submit support requests, check the status of your pending requests, and search through the library of help documentation, which is always accessible at your fingertips. Starting Monday, March 4, you can:

1. Access the new Support Portal at support.pps.net and log in with your PPS email address and password.  
2. Update and monitor the status of your open support tickets
3. Submit a Help Ticket to request Tech Support
4. Request New Services such as new devices and apps
5. Browse Solutions in our library of FAQs and documentation

 

WHOM DO I CONTACT WITH QUESTIONS OR PROBLEMS
Please contact Technology Support at support.pps.net, support@pps.net, or x63375 with any problems or questions you might have.

We look forward to supporting you!
PPS Information Technology

The PPS Technology Department is working to make sure that District Chromebooks and Chromeboxes are updated to the current version of Chrome OS to be ready for instruction and spring assessments.  While most Chrome devices are now up to date, there are currently a large number of Chrome devices in our inventory records that are outdated and not showing active use.

Beginning on March 22, 2019, Chromebooks and Chromeboxes that have not “checked in” to the PPS network within the previous four months will be marked as inactive and will no longer be able to log in. Removing inactive devices from the network will improve processing times and security updates for the rest of our Chrome devices and also free up licenses that can be used for new purchases and donations.

WHAT IS THE IMPACT TO YOU AS A CLIENT
If you have any Chromebooks/Chromeboxes that may not have been used recently, please power them on and log in to make sure they are updated. After March 22, 2019, any devices that have not been used within the previous four months will be flagged as inactive. If you then try to log into an inactive device, you will see a message stating, “This device has been reported Lost or Stolen. Please return to PPS IT”. If this occurs, please contact the IT Service Desk to have the device re-enabled.

WHOM DO I CONTACT WITH QUESTIONS OR PROBLEMS
Please contact the IT Service Desk at support.pps.net, support@pps.net, or x63375 with any problems or questions you might have.

Check out the PPS IT school support metrics for last year on this infographic.

School administrators were surveyed in June, 2018 to report their satisfaction with IT Department service levels at their school and what improvements are needed. Of 42 responses received, 80% were mostly satisfied with the remote and onsite support that they received during the 2017-18 school year.

When asked about technology improvements needed at their school, most administrators identified the need for site-based classroom technology support, more Chromebooks for students , new Chromebooks for teachers, Chromebook and other technology repairs, disposition of obsolete technology, and asset inventory tracking and reports. Also noted was the need for new copier/printers (which have now been deployed) and IT support for CUB events.