Arkansas Forward Savings

As of 05/23/2025 18:41:07 PM     Refresh

Overall Savings $4,966,348.48

2025 Year 3 January 01, 2025 - December 31, 2025 $3,571,339.02 2024 Year 2 January 01, 2024 - December 31, 2024 $1,022,798.76 2023 Year 1 January 01, 2023 - December 31, 2023 $372,210.70

 Office of Early Childhood (OEC) Applications Portfolio (Pre v/s Post Transition)

Pre-Transition

2023 – 2024
Time Period: 07/01/2023 - 08/31/2024 | 14 Months
$6,316,038.02 (Yearly)
$451,145.573 (Monthly)


Arkansas Commodity (Food) Distribution Sys (ACDS), Commodity Information Website, The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), Professional Development Registry (PDR), Ops Dashboard (Analytics and BI), DHS Performance Center, First Connections STANDS (FC STANDS), DDS Intake (FC Referral), Enterprise Licensing Solution (ELS) – Citizen Portal, Enterprise Licensing Solution (ELS), ELS Master Facility Index, Background Check, Branagh Assessment, MMIS Integration (Gainwell), RATES, DHS Common, CCLAS Legacy, DHS Exclusions Service, AASIS Payment Interface Process, AASIS Repository Process, Participant Agreement Training Management (PATM), Participant Agreement Training (PAT), Child Care Billing Maintenance (CCBM), Child Care Billing Information System (CCB), Child Care Education (CCE) | KidCare Voucher System, HNP – Application, HNP - Claims, HNP – Inspection

Post-Transition

2024 – 2025
Time Period: 09/01/2024 – 08/31/2025 | 12 Months
$2,944,279 (Yearly)
$245,356.58 (Monthly)


Arkansas Commodity (Food) Distribution Sys (ACDS), Commodity Information Website, The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), Professional Development Registry (PDR), OEC BI Quicklinks, ADE OEC Dashboard Portal, First Connections STANDS (FC STANDS), DDS Intake (FC Referral), Enterprise Licensing Solution (ELS) – Citizen Portal, Enterprise Licensing Solution (ELS), ELS Master Facility Index, Background Check, Branagh Assessment, MMIS Integration (Gainwell), RATES, DHS Common, CCLAS Legacy


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Savings: $3,371,759.02

  ASB / ASD To ASDB IT Shared Services (ITSS)

IT Line Item Before ASB/ ASD After ITSS: ASD + ASB
Cell Phones Verizon $14,400 / AT&T FirstNet $30,500 Total $44,900 per year. AT&T FirstNet Only $38,400 per year. After reduction of lines. $29,900 per year.
Savings: $15,000 per year.
Copiers ASB – Canon $32,750 yearly ASD – SBS $31,750 New contract is with SBS for both schools. Cannon one will be cancelled.
Savings: $4,000 per year
School Communication System ASB – School Messenger $1,200 yearly ASD – School Messenger $1,200 yearly Cancelling School Messenger and use Raptor
Savings: $2,400 per year.
Network – ASB-ASD Connection The fiber connection between ASB and ASD $18,000 each. POs are already created, and the job will start within the next 2 weeks. Then, the 1GB K12 fiber network connection at ASB can be cancelled. This is due to ASB’s fiber running mostly aerial down Markham and ASD’s fiber is buried. This will save ADE approximately $18,000 yearly.
Savings: $18,000 per year.
Comcast ASB yearly $9,600 ASD yearly $20,580 ASD & ASB – Cancelled all Comcast Yearly savings of $30,180.
Savings: $30,180 per year.
ASD Fiber Relocation Project ASD’s CTE building is being demolished in 2024. Original engineer / architect / vendor (SCM Architect) provided a sit-down verbal estimate of $150,000+ for fiber relocation. The new actual cost will be $21,725. Savings of approx. $130,000-$170,000. Both schools share the cost of this, and the PO’s have been created and the job will start in the next 3-5 weeks.
Savings: $130,000 total.
Total IT Cost Savings: $199,580.00

Savings: $199,580.00

 The Arkansas Department of Education's (ADE) action steps as part of the broader Arkansas Forward initiative include:

  1. IT Consolidation and Modernization:
    • Retire and Consolidate Applications: Identify and phase out non-critical or duplicative IT applications across all departments, leading to significant cost savings and operational efficiencies.
    • Standardize IT Governance: Improve program management practices to enhance efficiency and allocate resources more effectively.
    • Modernize Legacy Systems: Transition outdated applications and infrastructure to modern platforms to reduce maintenance costs and mitigate risks.
    • Cloud Migration: Emphasize migration to cloud-based services for scalable, secure, and efficient IT operations.
  2. Building Capabilities:
    • Cybersecurity: Invest in enterprise-wide cybersecurity protocols and training to align with peer-state spending and enhance data protection.
    • Data Analytics: Develop robust data and analytics capabilities to support informed decision-making and reduce fraud through analytics.
  3. Efficiency and Procurement:
    • Streamline Procurement Processes: Implement standardized and user-friendly procurement tools and systems.
    • Centralize Resources: Establish a shared services model for IT and administrative tasks to minimize redundancies.
  4. Change Management:
    • Training and Reskilling: Provide training opportunities to state employees for handling modernized systems.
    • Collaboration: Encourage cross-departmental working groups to align IT projects with broader strategic objectives.
  5. Governance and Strategic Oversight:
    • Portfolio Approach: Centralize oversight of IT assets and initiatives to optimize resource allocation and minimize duplications.
    • Enhanced Metrics and KPIs: Develop performance measurement tools to evaluate IT projects based on cost savings, efficiency, and user satisfaction.

These steps aim to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve service delivery across the state's IT and operational frameworks

 

The Governor delivered this report to the legislature and the full report can be found here.

 

Governor Sanders’ Press Release can be viewed HERE.