Just a quick note to mention a product called ADManager Plus. John McMillen shared this product with our regional group today and gives a detailed review of his experiences with the product in his blog.
ADManager Plus is simply a tool for Active Directory management, assisting technicians with template-based user creation and mass creation, editing, etc of accounts. It’s a tool to make your technicians’ lives easier.
In general, I would state that this is an area where many technology staffs could use some improvement. School districts invest in so many instructional packages for their students and teachers. Ideally, this should increase knowledge and make better use of everyone’s time. The same logic needs to be applied to an IT software toolkit. Often, the tech staff is so focused on saving money and living on a shoestring budget that they may not even consider investing in a tool like this.
Products like this are a reminder to occasionally evaluate the tasks that consume the majority of your time and search the landscape for products to make those tasks easier.
Would be curious to know the cost. It sounds very similar to a program called AD Infinitum, which we use in my district (and so do several other districts in the state). It runs about $200 for a lifetime license. http://www.newfawm.com/adi2.htm
John can give the particulars, but he linked to their web site with particulars – http://www.manageengine.com/products/ad-manager/store.html – he did say that there might be a 10% discount or so for eduational pricing.
One thing to understand, though, is that it's an annual cost. Compared to what you're describing, this would be expensive. I guess it all depends on how easy the tool is and how much work you determine that it's saving you.
…and I just used the word 'particulars' twice in a row. More evidence (as if it's needed) that I can be an idiot.