We are proud to announce the release of Version 9 of Surfside Lighthouse. Lighthouse continues to set the standard for affordable, easy-to-use student information systems. Version 9 includes many features requested by users over the past year.

Some of the features of Version 9 include:

• Show Database Connection - A new utility has been added to display each computer currently connected to the database. This can help greatly when the system administrator needs to perform maintenance on the database and must have exclusive access.
• Track Medications - A new Medication tab has been added to the health records system for tracking medications that are to be taken by the student or administered by the school. Tracked for each entry is the name of the medication, reason for taking, dosage, days and times to be taken, notes, and whether the medication is taken by the student or administered/supervised by the school staff. This medicine information can be displayed in the Teacher Client, if desired, to ensure that the teacher is made aware of this important information.
• Health Tab Improvements - The Health tab now includes additional Reports/Lists and Maintenance tabs, which adds new functionality and centralizes all of the functions used by the nurse all in one place.
• New Progress System Reports - The Progress Report (mid term) system now includes all appropriate reports that are available in the report card system. This includes Grade Distributions, Class Rank, GPA List, Grade and GPA Variance, and Honor Roll.
• Dropdown List Improvements - On the Student List, multi-column dropdown lists now display both the field value and description to the user, making it much easier to see the underlying purpose of the entry. For example, what before might have appeared simply as "17" will now appear as "17 (Eligible for Speech-Language Services)".
• New Fields - Several new fields have been added to track student data, including additional emergency contact information, several different notes, and transferred to/from for enrollment.
• Teacher Client
• Performance and Stability - The Teacher Client has been extensively reworked and optimized to reduce connections to the server and improve performance and stability
• User Interface Improvements - The user interface has been streamlined to provide faster and more intuitive access to student data and program functions
• View Important Health Data - Access to a new "Health" tab can be granted to teachers in order to view student allergies and medications that need to be taken or administered
• Attendance Feedback - Improved feedback when submitting attendance and grades makes it easier to see why the submitted data was not accepted for any reason

We are proud to announce the release of Version 11 of School Ledger. Version 11 includes many features requested by users over the past year.

Some of the features of Version 11 include:

• Export to Excel – Version 11 features “one click” exporting of all data screens (i.e. vendor, ledger, checkbook, receipts…etc.) to the popular XLS file format used by Microsoft Excel and other industry standard spreadsheet applications. Simply click the “Excel” button on the toolbar, name the file and your data will be opened in Excel exactly as it appears on the screen. The data can then be manipulated and formatted for printing or emailing to a colleague.
• Enhanced Searching – Several of the list screens throughout the program have been equipped with an enhanced “find” function that makes it quicker and easier to find the data that you seek. For example, in the vendor list you can now click inside the “search” box on the toolbar and type a few characters of a vendor’s name – the list will instantly display only those vendors whose records contain the characters you typed in the search box. This enhanced search makes it much easier to find the information you need right when you need it.
• Speed Increase – Extensive optimization has been done throughout the program resulting in faster loading of most screens, especially for those schools with a large vendor database. The larger your account database the more you will notice the optimization.
• Memo Management Feature – Version 11 boasts a new “memo management” function that allows you to save commonly-used phrases or memo items. Every note/memo/description field throughout the program supports memo management. Press F2 in any of those fields or click the … button to load, save or delete memorized note items. This feature saves considerable time when find yourself typing the same information over and over again.
• Restore Hidden Accounts – This auditor preference prevents the use of the hidden general ledger accounts. It “un-hides” any accounts currently marked “inactive” in the chart of accounts.
• “Layouts” Capability – Users may now save/retrieve items that are commonly used in the “items” or “allocation grid” sections of the program. For example, you can now save a set of purchase order items that can be loaded into a new purchase order with just a few clicks of the mouse. Layouts capability is supported on just about every data entry screen, including checks, purchase orders, receipts, deposits, EFT’s, NSF’s and more. This feature can be an enormous work-saver over the course of a fiscal year.
• Running total on Fund Detail Report – Version 11 adds a running total to the fund detail report so that you can see the impact of each transaction on the report’s balances.
• Detects posting to parent accounts – The chart of accounts grid shows a warning icon next to any parent account to which a user erroneously posted transactions – a real time-saver when you’re searching for a problem.
• Exports Vendor 1099 Data – Version 11 exports data from the Vendor 1099 report to a comma-delimited file that can be picked up by your district/county office to consolidate district-wide 1099 data. Why This is Important: Section 9006 of the Health Care Reform Act mandates that a 1099 form be sent to any vendor that is paid $600 or more in a calendar year. Previously 1099’s were issued only to individuals and unincorporated businesses. Under Section 9006 all vendors with $600 or more in payments must receive a 1099 – that means Staples, Wal*Mart and other corporate businesses. Go on-line and Google “Section 9006” if you would like more information on this new regulation.
• Customized Columns – The vendor list now offers extensive ability to select the data field that you seen on the screen. A new “columns” button is available on the toolbar that lets you turn on or off any piece of vendor data. The columns that you select can be moved, resized and sorted. The customizations you make are saved between sessions. This will likely be added to other list screens over the life of V11.
• “Trial” Reconciliation Report – The “trial” reconciliation report allows the user to “preview” a reconciliation report before the bank reconciliation is saved. One may view the trial report and then go right back to working on the bank reconciliation.
• Running total on Encumbrance Detail Report – A running total is shown on the encumbrance detail report so that you can see the impact of each transaction on the final balances.
• Originator Name Shown on Purchase Order – We show the originator or “sponsor” name on the printed purchase order as well as on screen. The purchase order list may then be sorted by or searched upon these originator names.
• Vendor Phone, Fax and Email – Printed purchase orders now include vendor phone number, fax number and email address.
• Vendor Envelope Addressing – If a vendor’s mailing address is not in the system, that vendor’s shipping address will be populated when using the Print Vendor Envelope function.
• And more...

We are proud to announce the release of Version 8 of Surfside Lighthouse. Lighthouse continues to set the standard for affordable, easy-to-use student information systems. Version 8 includes many features requested by users over the past year.

Some of the features of Version 8 include:

• Billing System - Many of our private school and career academy customers have requested a billing function. We are pleased to introduce that feature with Version 8.
• Dedicated Mailing Label Function - Version 8 boasts a “dedicated mailing label” function which provides the ability to generate only one label per family address, generate labels for both parents and students and to start printing at any specific label on the page to skip over already-used labels on the first sheet.
• Copy E-mail Addresses to Clipboard - Does your school do e-mail broadcasts to the entire student body or select groups such as a sports team or the band? Are you concerned about keeping your most current e-mail list somewhere “in the cloud”? Version 8 addresses these needs with the new “copy e-mail address to the clipboard” function.
• Transportation Profile Enhancements - The Transportation tab of the Student List was expanded to allow for multiple routes and dismissal routines, such as accommodations for different scenarios depending upon the day of the week.
• Tracking of Family Records - When you add a new student, Lighthouse can now check for existing student records from the same family and copy pertinent information to the new student’s record.
• New Toolbar Options on Student List Screen - The Student List Screen received additional toolbar options to filter students based upon a query or the results of a report as well as to print the student list in a grid format.
• Schedule enhancements - The student locator report was re-designed to print in an easy-to-read format suitable for binding, and most schedule screens and reports now include additional statistics such as Percent schedules and free seats.
• And many more...

We are proud to announce Version 7 of Surfside Lighthouse. Lighthouse continues to set the standard for affordable, easy-to-use student information systems. Version 7 includes many features requested by users over the past year.

Some of the features of Version 7 include:

• Dozens of new fields - The Contact and new Parents tabs on the Student List screen have seen the addition of dozen of new fields for tracking additional phone numbers, doctor information, parental custody and releases, and emergency medical contact information.
• Queries on the Reports menu - Queries can now be "pinned" to the reports menu so that those users not familiar with the use of the Query function can quickly and easily run reports.
• Queries can now contain parameters - You can now add a parameter to a filter condition so that each time the query is run it will prompt the user to enter a value for each parameter. You can, for example, enter a filter conditional as

  ">=[Enter the lowest year of graduation]"

  and the user will be prompted for that YOG each time the query is run.
• Easier PDF and e-mail - All Print Preview screens now contain PDF and E-mail buttons in the toolbar to quickly and easily save a report to PDF or e-mail the report to a recipient.
• New Attendance Reports - New Attendance Grid and Attendance Calendar reports let you see your daily attendance data in new and exciting ways.
• And many more...

Version 9 of School Ledger and School Accounts Payable is now available and ready to ship!

Some of the features of Version 9 include:

• Enhanced user interface - Many input screens across the program were upgraded to better accommodate the many additions we have made to these screens over the past few years.
• Receipt edit trail - As receipts are edited an audit trail created automatically, allowing you to see all of the edits that occurred.
• Payment Vouchers may be printed for any existing purchase order. A payment voucher is essentially a re-cap of the purchase order with a place to indicate that it’s okay to pay an order and also if there are any changes to the amount being paid.
• Print an Envelope for any vendor. This feature was requested by schools that no longer use window envelopes for mailing purchase orders.
• A Save Purchase Order as PDF button was added to the purchase order screen to facilitate easier emailing of purchase orders. In previous versions it was necessary to preview the purchase order through the purchase order register before one could create a PDF of the order.
• And many more...

We are pleased to introduce Version 8 of our popular School Ledger-Report System with Accounts Payable fund accounting software.

Over the past year we have collected dozens of suggestions from both new and veteran users of the SLRS family of products. Many of these are reflected in the Version 8 update. That’s why we’re sure you will be delighted with Version 8’s new features.

• Profit & Loss reporting
• Audit Tools
• Single keystroke to advance the date and transaction # on ledger posts
• Upgraded data backup utility
• Easier to read reports
• "Dual View" checkbook mode to easily view ledger entries for a checkbook transaction
• Bank reconciliation report can itemize outstanding checks and deposits
• View vendor history
• "Additional Documentation" checkbox on receipts
• Voided entries are flagged with a "V" on register reports
• A "coin" option has been added to receipts
• Outstanding Check report has additional filter capabilities
• A new Encumbrance Details report has been added
• And much, much more...

MyStudentData.com - our online student data access system - has been updated with new features and a new look. Teachers may now upload their Lighthouse teacher gradebook data for parents to view their child's assignment, quiz and test grades. We have also added new statistical and search functions for the school administrator.

Head over to www.mystudentdata.com and click the "Lookup Sample Student" button to see a sample student's data.

We are proud to announce Version 5 of Surfside Lighthouse. Lighthouse continues to set the standard for affordable, easy-to-use student information systems. Version 5 includes many features requested by users over the past year.

Early bird pricing requires that Surfside Lighthouse Version 5 be purchased and paid for no later than May 31, 2007. Version 5 will ship in early May.

We are pleased to announce that Lighthouse now supports the importing of state ID numbers that will be issued to schools on March 19th as part of the NJ Smart initiative.

These new ID numbers will be a permanent addition to each student's record and will follow the student across his or her entire school career.

We are pleased to introduce Version 7 of our popular School Ledger-Report System with Accounts Payable fund accounting software.

Over the past year we have collected dozens of suggestions from both new and veteran users of the SLRS family of products. Many of these are reflected in the Version 7 update. That’s why we’re sure you will be delighted with Version 7’s new features.

• Database Backup Utility
• New Email Database function
• Enhanced search functions
• Easier to use preference settings
• "Snapshot balance" feature
• Multiple bank accounts
• Easier and enhanced reconciliation screen
• Audit trail for edited checks
• Alternate check stub

We are pleased to announce that Surfside Lighthouse now supports the "New Jersey Smart" electronic reporting for schools in New Jersey. The NJSMART export is available free to users of Surfside Lighthouse Version 4.

Lighthouse is a comprehensive and tightly integrated student information system for your school.  From student demographics, to schedules, grades, attendance, discipline, transcripts, counselor contacts and more, Lighthouse provides all the features you need.

We are pleased to introduce our new teacher gradebook for Surfside Lighthouse. The gradebook is available right now.

Surfside Lighthouse gradebook is an full-featured teacher gradebook companion for Version 4 of Surfside Lighthouse. This easy-to-use gradebook system offers the ease of use that Surfside customers have come to expect at a most affordable Surfside price.

The Surfside Lighthouse gradebook is designed to mimic a standard pen-and-paper gradebook and track student grades across an entire school year. Using an industry standard look and feel, teachers can start using the program immediately and be proficient in a very short time. Powerful tools are available to track a student's performance and produce professional quality reports quickly and easily.

Version 4 of Surfside Lighthouse commenced shipping on May 5, 2006. We are very pleased to share with you the new features added to this latest upgrade of Lighthouse.

Version 4 offers a number of new features that were requested by users of Version 2 and Version 3. The features described in this article reflect the highlights of what we implemented in Version 4.

• Discipline Messaging System
• Improved Attendance System
• Upgraded Student Query Engine
• Enhancements to Student Schedule Management

Pricing and Availability

Version 4 of Surfside Lighthouse started shipping on May 5, 2006. Please call or email our sales department for your school's price on Version 4.

We are delighted to announce the availability of web-based training for our full line of school administrative software.

Through "Surfside Academy" and "Heritage Academy" we have offered personalized training for many years. These sessions required travel to our Cape Cod training facility. With school budgets tighter than ever, we decided to make the same training experience available over the Internet.

Two Kinds of Seminars

Traditional Seminars - Users of Surfside Lighthouse or School Ledger-Report System may sign up for school-specific training sessions where you get to set the agenda and will have exclusive access to our training staff during your seminar. These sessions may take place at the participants' offices or you may gather your staff in a central office conference room and share the training experience as a group. Either way, it's the next best thing to travelling to Cape Cod and working in person with our staff.

Topical Seminars - Through the school year we will email current users of Surfside Lighthouse and School Ledger with information about "mini-courses" we offer o­n specific topics. These seminars will last approximately thirty minutes and will cover a topic of interest to most users at a specific time of year. For example, in mid-March we might offer a program on "starting to schedule for next year" or in August we might run a seminar on "setting up attendance for the new year". Tuition for these mini-seminars is quite reasonable. Tution is free to IC Gold subscribers.

Contact sales@surfsidesoftware.com to be added to the email broadcast list for Surfside and Heritage topical web seminars or to arrange a half-day, school-specific class for your staff.

In 1996 we launched Surfside Academy, our popular advanced training experience offered to a select group of customers. This year we are pleased to introduce Heritage Academy for users of School Ledger-Report System with Accounts Payable.

Both "academies" offer sessions that are enjoyable and informative for both visiting school personnel and our own staff. Many new features added to the Surfside Lighthouse and School Ledger in recent years were suggested during various "Academy" sessions.

Surfside and Heritage Academy sessions are conducted at a conference center here o­n scenic Cape Cod. O­ne or two-day programs may be arranged - or half-day programs may be scheduled to permit you to enjoy Cape Cod.

We work with only one school district at a time. Therefore, you can work with us to set the specific agenda for your Surfside Academy or Heritage Academy session.

This program is not for first-time users. It is for experienced users of Surfside Lighthouse or School Ledger who wish to sharpen their skills and for those who are tasked with training others in the use of the software. Academy sessions may also be used as a "train the trainer" program for those familiar with the software and seeking to build their skills as a trainer.

Call 800-942-9008, ext. 110 or email today for information and pricing for Surfside Academy or Heritage Academy.

The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) initiative strives to ensure that all children receive a high quality education so that no child is left behind.

Achieving this goal requires the support of many parties, including state and local agencies, school districts, and yes, even your software vendors. We are proud to include in our Lighthouse school administrative software the fine degree of reporting necessary to help support this goal.

Here at Surfside we believe that every school deserves the best of administrative software - no matter what your size or budget. Schools with fewer than 300 students are eligible for very special "small school" pricing. Call 800-942-9008 ext. 110 or email sales@surfsidesoftware.com today for a price quote for your school