PSS transitions to leading-edge database systems, Tyler Technologies

A milestone.

Thus did interim Education commissioner Donna M. Flores describe the Public School System’s transition yesterday afternoon to the Tyler Technologies/Tyler Enterprise ERP, a cloud-based software that improves and automates the financial management system of the school district.

After nearly three years of planning and training, the PSS-Finance department switched at exactly 2pm yesterday to the most modern software integration system that will include financials, human resources, procurement, and federal programs related systems of PSS’ central office.

PSS had been using the JD Edwards System for decades before this transition.

Flores was joined by PSS Finance director Arlene Lizama, Tyler Technologies project manager Caroline Wine, and implementation consultant Sean Grogan, as they witnessed PSS treasurer Elia Marie O. Santos log on to the system, officially migrating PSS Finance’s system to Tyler Technologies.

By the third week of January this month, Tyler Enterprise ERP will be rolled out throughout the school district’s 20 elementary, middle, and high school campuses on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.

Tyler Technologies/Tyler Enterprise ERP is the nation’s leader in integrated software that has done over 40,000 installations, and serves 25% of all school districts in the entire United States, according to Wine. “We are glad to have the opportunity to empower the CNMI PSS to be stronger in all that they do for the community,” she said.

Aside from PSS, the CNMI Department of Finance and the Commonwealth HealthCare Corp. are the only other entities in the Commonwealth that have implemented this

Flores acknowledged the value of PSS’ investment in the new automated Tyler Technologies/Tyler Enterprise ERP.

“This will definitely streamline all financial-related activities that happen on a daily basis at PSS. It is a more elaborate and efficient system that provides improvements,” Flores said, adding that it addresses the recommendations of external auditors in further improving PSS’ financial management systems.

“This is essentially strengthening our accountability and reliability systems, which addresses recommendations of our external auditors,” Flores said.

She also praised Lizama’s team at PSS Finance.

“I really want to acknowledge the hard work of our Finance director Arlene Lizama and her incredible staff who have taken the lead and extra time in building the system. Without their help, it would not be possible at all for our school district,” Flores said.

“This is a milestone for the Public School System. This is a great undertaking that took a lot of persuasion, research, and hard work by our dedicated staff into making this possible. This is as a result of taking the right direction with technology,” she added.

PSS began looking at investing in a modern and automated system three years ago by looking at digital transformation that relied less on paperwork.

“Definitely, the Tyler Enterprise ERP System will streamline all financial system, especially budgeting and forecasting for PSS,” said Lizama.

“This raises our level of accountability by providing more transparency in what we do,” Lizama added. (PR)