Rancocas Valley has decided to end its usage of the software program FlexTime Manager by EdSurge, which had been in use from Fall 2021 to Spring 2023. “FlexTime,” as it was often called, was brought into RV to simplify the I/E selection process. Students could select where they want to go during their I/E blocks by clicking a couple of boxes.

Flextime was a decent, convenient idea but was flawed in execution due to often malfunctions. As such, RV’s administration decided not to renew its two-year contract this summer. 

FlexTime is a program operated by Eduspire Solutions, an education technology company that provides technology solutions to schools. According to its website, Eduspire charges approximately $6.00 per student for its FlexTime programming, but offers discounts for larger schools. According to RV assistant principal Thomas Simonet, RV spent approximately $15,600 for Flextime Manager annually.

It did everything to make students, teachers and administrators’ day just a bit more frustrating. Constant crashing, freezing and refusing to load were among Flextime’s favorite activities. 

“There would just be random days where all the sudden it didn’t work,” said teacher Jason Sapp. “It was hard to log in sometimes, but I think everyone was doing it at the same time.”

Flextime had its positives. When it was working, it made the I/E easier for students and staff. It has an easily navigable UI and made it easy to find out which teachers were open for tutorial or I/E.

 “It was convenient in the sense that I could see everyone who was coming and I knew when they were going to be here,” said Mr. Sapp. “I thought it was okay for what it was.”

“We have switched from the Flextime Software this year to incorporate the program into our student information system [Genesis],” said Simonet. “Now, students receive a targeted offering catalog and Google form with the specific offerings for one of the identified I/E periods [3C, 3D, 4C, 4D]. Once a student makes an I/E selection their selection is uploaded directly to Genesis by the Data Processing Department.”

Flextime was not integrated with Genesis, meaning that teachers, administrators and other staff would have to click back and forth between platforms to find students. Many argued just using Genesis is more streamlined than using a combination of Flextime and Genesis.

“This enables students, parents and staff alike to see all selections within one program and reduces the need for utilizing multiple programs to register and schedule students,” said Simonet. “ It also allows staff to take attendance and see all pertinent student information within the student information system.”

Many students miss the freedom they had with Flextime Manager two years ago. During the 2021-22 school year, students could pick where they wanted to go on a day-to-day basis. Last year, students could only change room selections every few weeks. 

“I miss the freedom of doing whatever I want to do during I/E,” said senior Jacob Nasuti.