Schools & Districts
Technology leadership for districts that cannot staff a full-time director.
Most small and mid-sized districts in Minnesota and Wisconsin run technology with one to three people and no director. The work still has to get done: E-Rate filed on time, a plan the board can vote on, a student information system that does not stall halfway through implementation. Cirik Partners fills that gap with someone who has held the job.
What We Do for Districts
The work a director owns, without the full-time salary.
E-Rate filing and compliance
Forms 470 and 471, competitive bidding documentation, invoicing, and audit support, handled start to finish. Most small districts leave funding on the table or miss a deadline because nobody owns the calendar. We own the calendar.
Fractional technology director
Part-time, ongoing leadership for districts that need a director but cannot justify a full-time salary. Budget and planning, board and cabinet reporting, vendor management, staff direction, and a steady hand during system changes. Typically one to two days a week.
Technology plans and referendum planning
Three-year technology plans written for the board and the community, not for the shelf. Device refresh cycles, infrastructure, staffing, and the cost model behind a levy or bond question.
System selection and implementation oversight
Choosing and rolling out a student information system, learning management system, or productivity platform without the vendor running the project. Requirements, evaluation, contract review, and adoption planning through go-live.
How an Engagement Works
Clear scope. One person. Your calendar.
1.A short call first
Thirty minutes to understand where the district is, what is coming up on the calendar, and whether this is work we should do together. No proposal until that is clear.
2.A scope you can take to the board
Fixed fee for defined projects like E-Rate filing, a technology plan, or a system selection. Monthly retainer for fractional director work. Either way, the board sees a number and a deliverable, not an hourly estimate.
3.Presence, not a portal
You get one person who answers the phone, attends the meetings that matter, and knows your district by name. Most work is a mix of on-site and remote, scheduled around your school year.
Where we workMinnesota and Wisconsin. Most engagements are a mix of on-site and remote, scheduled around your board calendar and your school year.
Start With a Conversation
Heading into an E-Rate cycle, a referendum, or a stretch without a director?
The first step is a thirty-minute call. No proposal until we both think it makes sense.
Enrique Ramos, Founder. Former K-12 Technology Director. Fifteen years in public education technology.