Too little too late

Given the unknown hierarchy of the technology position in our school, there were a lot of collisions. It was not always certain who I reported to, what I had control over, and who needed to keep me in the loop.

The maintenance people often just did projects that related to my work, but only showed me after they were done. Usually it was “OK” but sometimes resulted in having to do it over. Sometimes it was worse than that. 

The school had been planning for some time to move the admission office to a new building, to be built on the site of an old faculty house right near the entrance to the school. The condemned house was given to the local fire department and they used it for a house fire drill. It was quite educational watching them practice all kinds of techniques and test their equipment as the house slowly burned down.

As it became clear that we had engaged an architecture firm and that a new building was being designed, I requested to be added to the meetings as the design progressed. There had been a number of changes in the admin team at this time and I think they wanted to limit the voices in the room. Clearly they did not need my input about architecture or landscaping or even room design or work spaces, so I think they assumed my input would simply not be helpful.

At one point we had a ground breaking ceremony over the ashes of the burned house, and I again requested that they include me in the progress. There were several vague replies but never was I invited to a planning session.

Soon the construction crew arrived and the foundation was laid and the walls and floors were erected. Being in New England it was good to get it enclosed as soon as possible and soon the outer walls and roof were in place. No invite to see the plans or give feedback.

A few weeks went by and windows and doors were added and soon we could see the basic layout and look of the fresh new building. 

Walking by I saw sheet rock going in and painters and I waited still. 

Finally I got a call that one of the architects had offered to give me a tour and get my feedback. 

He was quite proud of the work as he led me inside. The floors were not complete but all the interior walls were done and much of the ceiling. He led me to one of the offices for an admission officer.

I said “So where are the Ethernet jacks for the computers?” He said, “I don’t understand what that is. There is a power outlet and a phone jack by each workspace on the plans.”

So I said, “They can’t work here without an Ethernet connection for each computer. (This was years before WiFi). All their work involves accessing the database and using email. And maybe printing.” He said, “Well we use IBMs at our office. We don’t need Ether.. whatever you said. Why do they need that here?” 

I asked to see the server closet and the fiber connection area. He said “I don’t understand what that is?” I said, “Clearly.” He asked if it was really necessary at this point. I said “Only if you want the people to come and use this building.” 

He asked “So how do you install Ethernet by the desks?” I replied, “Well the easiest way to do it is to run the wires BEFORE you sheetrock and paint. Now you are going to have to cut holes in the walls, fish the cable up above the suspended ceiling and then find some way to extend them to the server closet, which as of yet does not exist. I assume it will be in the basement. And then re-tape and probably repaint a lot of areas.”

He said “That is not in the plans. It is a change request and likely will be quite expensive. I don’t see how it will fit in the budget.” I said, “Well the budget is not my department. But if the Admission Office can’t occupy this building I think that will be even more expensive.”

I bade him good luck as we exited the building. The head of maintenance called me and was quite angry that I had confused the architect at this late stage. But he wanted to know how they were going to make it so that the Admission staff could use it. The opening ceremony was slated for a few weeks later. 

I said that it was not my department. I gave them the number of an installer that another school had used to put in their network wiring. I told him that I would help move the computers and printers when everything was ready and to call me then.

For the next two weeks there were electrical installers parked outside the building running in and out all day long. I just stayed away. The installers called me a couple of times with questions and we finally got a server closet, a fiber connection and Ethernet jacks in all the offices.

Right before the grand opening I went over and moved everyones computers to their desks and hooked up the printer. All was again working.

During the ceremony no one said anything and acted as if everything had gone exactly as planned. For me it was just one more step toward me finally leaving the school.