I read an interesting article in the newspaper the other day. Yes I did say newspaper and my fingers are smudged black to prove it.It was kind of ironic as the article was all about saving paper and trees and how web communications can save big money for school districts.
When I read the numbers I near fell off my chair…One district in Massachusetts with about 6,100 students was spending $72,623 year sending notices and newsletters home to parents.
$72,623 …producing 21 tons of paper and eating up about 50 trees!
I’m no tree hugger but that really made me want to be one.
One elementary school reported that not everyone has e-mail or computers but hundreds of parents have signed up for the e-mail version of the school newsletter so they now only send out about 30 newsletters via snail mail saving them some big money.
I think that sounds like a great idea!
Some New Hampshire schools are testing a parent access link for posting attendance and progress reports and many now have their student handbooks posted on-line.
I was happy to note that Hampstead New Hampshire schools post their sports schedules, school calendar, school announcements and the school handbook all on line. Progress reports and report cards still eat some trees though.
Maybe that will change soon….think about that Hampstead voters when school budget time arrives. Imagine what kind of money we could save?
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6 responses so far ↓
1 Joanne Hanson // Oct 13, 2007 at 1:39 pm
More and more is being found online in the US. We are going to New Zealand soon, but few local businesses are online there. They are just a bit behind us when it comes to being connected. Once you get used to finding everything you could want online, you really miss it! I was trying to find pilates classes, and will just have to check the local paper and bulletin boards once I get there!
It is good that the schools are getting on board!
2 Ines // Oct 13, 2007 at 5:23 pm
The numbers ARE a bit scary, I’m glad some school districts are starting to do something about it. How about yellow pages? Those thigs are like huge yellow dinosaurs that no one uses any more.
3 moni // Oct 13, 2007 at 7:26 pm
Ines,
Yellow pages OMG does anyone use them anymore?
4 moni // Oct 13, 2007 at 7:39 pm
Joanne,
New Zealand….How cool!!! How long will you be there for?
5 Carole Cohen // Oct 13, 2007 at 9:56 pm
$72k! Now just multiply that by all the districts in the Country and wow the savings.
6 Monika McGillicuddy // Oct 14, 2007 at 10:38 am
Carole…I agree that is a lot of money!
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