Switched IT jobs, have some new problems, looking for your thoughts

[Grminalac]

Just some background: About three years ago I left my old job having 7 years of service, 4 as network assistant, 3 as IT director, at a small network of only 400 users for a job at a local school district with a bit bigger network of 4500 computers, about 900 staff and around 7000 students. I took a paycut, but now only work 40 a week (I have a two month old baby girl) have a much shorter commute, a full pension and the ability to go back to school with 80% tuition reimbursement. (I currently have bachelors from Penn State in computer science.)

To make a long story short, I feel like I have stepped back in time. While our It budget is fairly large given our size at 1.8 million, I cannot believe the way the IT system operates. The network administrator installs things using a shotgun approach, buys hardware/software without any research, standardizes nothing and seems to make decisions on a whim and without any planning. A good example is rolling out kasperky enterprise to the network without any testing one afternoon- Some serious problem occurred lets just say that...

Anyway my real issue occured when I took a look at our microsoft license and noticed we pay a yearly site license of about 200k. Something seemed odd as that is a lot of money for the amount of software we have. I emailed our rep and was shocked to learn we basically had access to all microsoft software with our yearly agreement. i.e. we did not need to buy 600 additional visual studio licenses, we had already bought them as we pay for them with our site license, we didn't have to buy a backup software for exchange we already had it with Data Protection Manager 2007 in the site license... you get the picture- the list goes on and on and on and on. I did a quick calculation and over the past four or so years I estimate we blew over 400k for stuff we already recieved with the MS agreement... So thinking I was helping out I go to him and bring it to his attention. Note I did not confront him and say, gee you moron you blew a lot of money. i simply said hey this site license allows us to use a lot of stuff that would make our life easier like SCCM, etc... (yeah basically all installs are done BY FRIGGING HAND, we could use group policy, but its fubared and not applying properly, a real mess)

He FLIPS out, has a hissy fit and now is riding my ass hard. This had been about a week now and i am considering finding new employment.
Does anyone have any advice on how to handle this situation, or deal with a completely incompetent boss?
thanks,

 

[Anubis]

does your boss have a boss?

 

[Ns1]

Go above your boss or quit.

 

[Perknose]

Document everything, including your approach to him and his (non) response, and go over his head.

If the bigger wigs balk, threaten to go to your local news team.

Watch them fall all over themselves to get out in front of this suddenly SERIOUS PROBLEM.

And watch your ass at work in the meantime. Give them NO spurious reason to fire or discredit you.

 

[torpid]

Go to your boss's boss. It's a school so surely someone wants to know how much money was wasted by this guy's incompetence.

 

[Grminalac]

Yes, I should have added that the Network Administrator I answer to Answers to the IT Director. He seems like a good guy, and I spoke with him, he initially seemed positive and said we would sit down and work out a plan, but then later changed his mind saying he knows where I am coming from, but feels as though right now I'll have to let the network administrator do the networking.
Other than that I have the School Superintendent. I'd rather not do that or really cause any issues. I really took this job for lower stress.

lets be honest.... I took a no brainer IT tech job as I could have no long hours punch out at the end of the day and enjoy my family in the off time and go to PITT part time for a masters... The problem is it drives me crazy spending my days manually updating java, adobe etc in labs and watching as these nincompoos blow LOADS of taxpayer dollars.

I think you are right, I need other employment.

Do you think many school districts, gov't jobs are like this???

 

[torpid]

Originally posted by: Grminalac
Yes, I should have added that the Network Administrator I answer to Answers to the IT Director. He seems like a good guy, and I spoke with him, he initially seemed positive and said we would sit down and work out a plan, but then later changed his mind saying he knows where I am coming from, but feels as though right now I'll have to let the network administrator do the networking.
Other than that I have the School Superintendent. I'd rather not do that or really cause any issues. I really took this job for lower stress.

So you didn't mention to him that you have found at least $400,000 in completely unnecessary purchases?

 

[wheresmybacon]

Originally posted by: Perknose
Document everything, including your approach to him and his (non) response, and go over his head.

If the bigger wigs balk, threaten to go to your local news team.

Watch them fall all over themselves to get out in front of this suddenly SERIOUS PROBLEM.

And watch your ass at work in the meantime. Give them NO spurious reason to fire or discredit you.

this ^

 

[Grminalac]

No. I didn't.

 

[compman25]

I take it this is a public school? If you can document it and prove he's blowing a ton of money, call a TV station and give them a story idea, tax dollars being wasted by schools.

 

[bctbct]

tell 1 tax payer that he blew 400k, count the days.

 

[OdiN]

Originally posted by: Grminalac
No. I didn't.

Mistake #1.

You start talking about misused funds of that size, and the higher ups take notice - they deal with money more than computers that they most likely don't understand.

If you try to talk to them about site licensing and other crap they won't care. Tell them that $400K was wasted and that WILL get their attention.

 

[Grminalac]

I'm considering writing a letter to the editor of the local newspaper. Thanks for all the ideas, i sort of just needed to vent and get all of this out.

 

[Grminalac]

Originally posted by: OdiN

Originally posted by: Grminalac
No. I didn't.

Mistake #1.

You start talking about misused funds of that size, and the higher ups take notice - they deal with money more than computers that they most likely don't understand.

If you try to talk to them about site licensing and other crap they won't care. Tell them that $400K was wasted and that WILL get their attention.

I think you are right, I am not sure they knew the magnitude of the screw up, or the fact we were buying loads of software we had already paid for. I think iether way I handle this I've pretty much ruined my job there. I either suck it up and deal with the nonsense or make things known and deal with some serious backlash.

 

[bctbct]

Originally posted by: Grminalac
I'm considering writing a letter to the editor of the local newspaper. Thanks for all the ideas, i sort of just needed to vent and get all of this out.

Most papers will not print an article without your name.You would be better off writing an anonymous letter to the school board first.

 

[OdiN]

Originally posted by: Grminalac

Originally posted by: OdiN

Originally posted by: Grminalac
No. I didn't.

Mistake #1.

You start talking about misused funds of that size, and the higher ups take notice - they deal with money more than computers that they most likely don't understand.

If you try to talk to them about site licensing and other crap they won't care. Tell them that $400K was wasted and that WILL get their attention.

I think you are right, I am not sure they knew the magnitude of the screw up, or the fact we were buying loads of software we had already paid for. I think iether way I handle this I've pretty much ruined my job there. I either suck it up and deal with the nonsense or make things known and deal with some serious backlash.

I know I'm right

I've dealt with this kind of crap before.

Luckily right now my VP is relatively competent when it comes to IT and actually understands what's going on most of the time.

 

[CrazyLazy]

Originally posted by: Grminalac
I'm considering writing a letter to the editor of the local newspaper. Thanks for all the ideas, i sort of just needed to vent and get all of this out.

Don't write a letter to the newspaper complaining without first going to your boss about the lost 400k. You need to at least make an effort to fix the problem before going and telling everyone about it, otherwise you just look like someone who likes to snitch on his boss to future employers.

 

[Salt n Vinegar]

Follow the money. I'd be willing to bet the companies he bought the software from have some kind of "rebate" program or a relative works for said supplier. 'Course it's just as likely the IT director and his boss are incompetent. Public school systems do not reward competence, they reward those who don't make waves and follow policy.

 

[pstylesss]

Fortunately for you, you're a government employee. You'll have an angry school board that will help you win that battle. Find the youngest one that seems fiscally conservative and send him an anonymous tip to take a good look an the IT budget and spending. If the school board doesn't listen then I'm sure a slip to the newspapers might get a no vote on the next voucher, which in turn will force the board to care, and in turn will ensure the staff cares.

Your IT director is in as much fault as your direct boss. You're boss does not have purchasing authority, as in he cannot release funds. The department director needs to sign off on funds. If it's outed that your boss wasted 400k, then its outed that your director wasted 400k... it won't look too good for him, which is why he put a lid on it. You have an incompetent IT department.

 

[OrByte]

Im going to go against he grain here.

I say put up with it until you find another job or your Network Admin does.

I am thinking you aren't the first one to notice this issue.

And I am also thinking that since your IT director didn't seem too interested, your life will be miserable if you take it outside and to a school board or something. It is really his fault (IT Director) so imagine here what it is you are exactly up against.

You are witnessing first hand what government waste is all about. Take my advice, it isn't worth trying to fight it.

 

[JS80]

Originally posted by: Grminalac
Just some background: About three years ago I left my old job having 7 years of service, 4 as network assistant, 3 as IT director, at a small network of only 400 users for a job at a local school district with a bit bigger network of 4500 computers, about 900 staff and around 7000 students. I took a paycut, but now only work 40 a week (I have a two month old baby girl) have a much shorter commute, a full pension and the ability to go back to school with 80% tuition reimbursement. (I currently have bachelors from Penn State in computer science.)

To make a long story short, I feel like I have stepped back in time. While our It budget is fairly large given our size at 1.8 million, I cannot believe the way the IT system operates. The network administrator installs things using a shotgun approach, buys hardware/software without any research, standardizes nothing and seems to make decisions on a whim and without any planning. A good example is rolling out kasperky enterprise to the network without any testing one afternoon- Some serious problem occurred lets just say that...

Anyway my real issue occured when I took a look at our microsoft license and noticed we pay a yearly site license of about 200k. Something seemed odd as that is a lot of money for the amount of software we have. I emailed our rep and was shocked to learn we basically had access to all microsoft software with our yearly agreement. i.e. we did not need to buy 600 additional visual studio licenses, we had already bought them as we pay for them with our site license, we didn't have to buy a backup software for exchange we already had it with Data Protection Manager 2007 in the site license... you get the picture- the list goes on and on and on and on. I did a quick calculation and over the past four or so years I estimate we blew over 400k for stuff we already recieved with the MS agreement... So thinking I was helping out I go to him and bring it to his attention. Note I did not confront him and say, gee you moron you blew a lot of money. i simply said hey this site license allows us to use a lot of stuff that would make our life easier like SCCM, etc... (yeah basically all installs are done BY FRIGGING HAND, we could use group policy, but its fubared and not applying properly, a real mess)

He FLIPS out, has a hissy fit and now is riding my ass hard. This had been about a week now and i am considering finding new employment.
Does anyone have any advice on how to handle this situation, or deal with a completely incompetent boss?
thanks,

Using other people's money (Corporate/government purchasing) to buy shit they don't need
+
Huge commission to the salesman
=
kickback to your boss.

You should whistleblow to the school board and newspaper. If he's reacting like that good chance there is a shady agreement.


BUT FOR GOD'S SAKE IF YOU DO WHISTLEBLOW DON'T GOOSE US

 

[jersiq]

Originally posted by: OrByte
Im going to go against he grain here.

I say put up with it until you find another job or your Network Admin does.

I am thinking you aren't the first one to notice this issue.

And I am also thinking that since your IT director didn't seem too interested, your life will be miserable if you take it outside and to a school board or something. It is really his fault (IT Director) so imagine here what it is you are exactly up against.

You are witnessing first hand what government waste is all about. Take my advice, it isn't worth trying to fight it.

And how would you feel if it was your tax money being wasted?

 

[Chunkee]

you have described most companies. get used to. it is sad i know. now i work at a place at the opposite end of the spectrum...TOO MUCH Control, not enough flexibility too much red tape to get anything done too tight with vendors to consider new technologies.

jC