Board Member: Online Notices Won't Help Those Without Internet Access

The Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District is trying to save money and the environment by going green—but some wonder if that will benefit all residents.

The district has instituted a policy this year to place announcements and other information on its website, rather than sending home notices with students.

"We are looking at budget constraints and environmental issues," Superintendent of Schools Michael Schilder said at Tuesday's Board of Education meeting.

But one board member is concerned about the impact this will have on those without access to a computer.

"With paperless communications, there are families that do not have access to the Internet because of economic reasons or because they speak limited English," Board Member Al Smith said. "I am always afraid that people who should probably get the information are the ones who are not."

Schilder agreed that this issue is a concern, but that residents can travel to the library or other places to access the Internet if needed.

But, Smith said, if they cannot afford Internet access, maybe they don't have access to a vehicle, either. He said he is concerned that these people never know about notices or information being circulated because they don't have continuous access to the website.

In those cases, Smith said, they could miss important information.

"How do they know the information's out there in the first place?" he asked.

Schilder said all schools have hard copies of notices that have been sent out through e-mail, but understands that letting people know information has been disseminated can be a foremost issue.

"I know the principals are sensitive if someone says he or she does not have Internet access," he said.

Smith said maybe one option would be to have teachers find out what students specifically have access to the Internet at home, then work out a solution to aid those who do not.

But, Smith acknowledged, that could be difficult to make work as well.

Board President Jeffrey Brookner said he believes there is a possibility that those who don't have access to the Internet were not going to receive the notices from their children anyway.

"Someone who doesn't get notices when there are all these options are probably ones who aren't going to get them anyway," he said.

Board Member Jill Gladstone suggested that teachers speak to parents about the Internet situation at back-to-school nights, but acknowledged that even that may not help.

"That would be a good opportunity to talk about the e-mails," she said. "But we don't know if everyone will go to back-to-school night."

Still, Schilder said he would look into possibilities for improving the communication trail to parents without being required to use too much paper in the coming months.

In addition, while trying to put most informational pieces online, Schilder said he would also like to see what can be done about creating more online registrations for programs and organizations. He said many of the registrations are not sent home as paper copies, but parents then have to download them to mail them back.

"I have heard that the school is just transferring the paper burden to parents," he said. "They have to print the pages out at home and send them in anyway."