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Post by WeNeed3 on Oct 2, 2008 13:32:46 GMT -5
On October 17, District 204 will do its part to go "green" by changing the way community flyers are distributed to students. Currently, community organizations provide paper copies for distribution via backpacks at the elementary level. Last year, the district sent home more than 3 million pieces of paper in backpacks on behalf of community organizations. With the launch of District 204's e-Folder on October 17, Indian Prairie is introducing an eco-friendly online distribution system that saves resources and the time required to sort and handle materials. The e-Folder will be located on the district's website, www.ipsd.org. Flyers from community organizations will be added to the e-Folder each week. For information, including e-Folder guidelines, visit ipsdweb.ipsd.org/eFolder.aspx---------------------------------------------------------------------------- School District 204 www.ipsd.org780 Shoreline Drive Aurora, IL 60504 USA
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Arwen
Master Member
Posts: 933
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Post by Arwen on Oct 2, 2008 15:33:37 GMT -5
Hallelujah and praise the Lord! This may actually stem the paper tide that threatens to drown my house on a weekly basis, mostly for activities we are not interested in!
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Post by gatormom on Oct 2, 2008 15:48:20 GMT -5
Hallelujah and praise the Lord! This may actually stem the paper tide that threatens to drown my house on a weekly basis, mostly for activities we are not interested in! I agree to a point; too much paper, green approach very appealing, saving money is good. There is a provision to have a few hard copies in the office but nothing distributed to students. I do worry about some community organizations may not reach children whose parents may not think of looking on the web site. Scouting is an organization that depends on those flyers to involve children and as hard as it is to believe, there are families that don't have access to a computer.
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Post by warriorpride on Oct 2, 2008 16:43:42 GMT -5
Hallelujah and praise the Lord! This may actually stem the paper tide that threatens to drown my house on a weekly basis, mostly for activities we are not interested in! I agree to a point; too much paper, green approach very appealing, saving money is good. There is a provision to have a few hard copies in the office but nothing distributed to students. I do worry about some community organizations may not reach children whose parents may not think of looking on the web site. Scouting is an organization that depends on those flyers to involve children and as hard as it is to believe, there are families that don't have access to a computer. theres no info on how this will work - will it be a push or a pull system? If its pull and people are expected to remember to check a web site once a week for new fliers, then youre right - there will probably be less traction - many will never go check the site - hopefully there will some type of opt-in email alert system that will notify people when something new is posted
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Post by momto4 on Oct 2, 2008 23:58:39 GMT -5
While this may help with the paper flow in the house, I think there's more of a chance that many of us will not see everything that we would if it were on paper. I agree with WP's post above, there needs to be a way to know what's there and when.
I heard that PTA info will still come home via backpack mail. I also know that the schools my kids attend are moving to putting all newsletters online and while I'm all for saving paper, I find it easier to go through the paper version but expensive to print at home. I don't always know when there is a new newsletter available even though I read all of the e-mailed announcements.
Online report cards are also nice in theory but I will want to print all of them to save forever, and if everyone does, it has saved the schools money but is costing time and money in every household in a greater amount than the mass produced report cards of the past.
I am in a griping mood anyway because of those rotten Cubs and because I'd rather be sleeping than working at this time of day... 6am comes much too soon.
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Post by title1parent on Oct 16, 2008 5:29:53 GMT -5
FYI- THIS STARTS TOMORROW.www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/1224579,6_1_NA16_EFOLDER_S1.article Alternative to paper fliers to launch at 204 October 16, 2008 Sun staff On Friday, Indian Prairie School District 204 will do its part to go green by changing the way community fliers are distributed to its students. Currently, community organizations provide paper copies for distribution via backpacks at the elementary level. Last year, the district sent home more than 3 million pieces of paper in backpacks on behalf of community organizations. Friday, though, District 204 will introduce e-Folder, an eco-friendly online flier distribution system that will save both resources and the time required to sort and handle materials. The e-Folder will be located on the district's Web site, www.ipsd.org. Fliers from community organizations will be added to the e-Folder each week. For information, including e-Folder guidelines, visit ipsdweb.ipsd.org/eFolder.aspx
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Post by gatormom on Nov 18, 2008 7:38:34 GMT -5
I was talking to my alderman last night and the subject of the flyers on line was brought up. As I suspected, this will take its toll on areas where higher percentages of the families do not have home access to the internet.
Just recently, a yearly event in the Georgetown area had its lowest attendence ever, more people attended last year in the rain. People were unaware of the event and did not attend.
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Post by WeNeed3 on Nov 18, 2008 8:29:15 GMT -5
I'm sure it would be a royal pain, but it's too bad you can't notify your school if there is a hardship to get the information and it could still be sent home in backpacks if there was a large majority at a certain school requesting that.
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Post by gatormom on Nov 18, 2008 9:01:26 GMT -5
I'm sure it would be a royal pain, but it's too bad you can't notify your school if there is a hardship to get the information and it could still be sent home in backpacks if there was a large majority at a certain school requesting that. The organization running many events in the GTN area was taken by surprise. I am sure strategies will be developed to bypass the backpack mail. It will cost more but you do what you have to. My biggest concern is for organizations such as scouting, Wheatland Athletic Association and the Naperville community sports group. These are inexpensive activities that are very important for all our children but more so for people in our lower income areas. The need is there but lack of access to information is going to further disconnect people in these communities. These are families who need to be engaged in both school and community.
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Post by boilermaker on Nov 18, 2008 14:18:40 GMT -5
My biggest concern is for organizations such as scouting, Wheatland Athletic Association and the Naperville community sports group. These are inexpensive activities that are very important for all our children but more so for people in our lower income areas. A lot of the activities we've joined/attended is because our kids read the flier and convinced us of their interest. I see at least a couple of scenarios now - I cannot forget to talk about it (and incur my kids' wrath when they find out after something is past) or make a unanimous decision not to (and still incur their wrath!).
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Post by momto4 on Nov 19, 2008 9:49:41 GMT -5
I agree that while the change helps save paper, it does not come with other undesired effects of not reaching the very audience intended. I am not happy with the change and don't know if it will become successful at some point for the organizations and parents. Even as someone who is online all the time, I really would do better with these flyers on paper. I rarely print anything, my child will not see the online flyers, the e-mail will get lost/forgotten until it's too late unlike a piece of paper I can put in the ever-growing stack on the counter or put on the fridge if it seems like one we're really interested in.
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Post by WeNeed3 on Nov 19, 2008 10:56:20 GMT -5
To me, I like it because I do look at them when I get the announcement that a new folder is on-line. Then I can print the ones that interest me. But I don't share the on-line stuff with my kids so they never see them. I do like to go in there when I CHOOSE to rather than being bombarded daily by the paperwork. But I agree, there is probably a lot I miss and even more my child might be interested in but never sees. It definitely takes more of a parental effort to do it this way.
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Post by warriorpride on Nov 19, 2008 11:13:07 GMT -5
Don't they have a way for people to request getting report cards in the mail vs. the preferred web-based access? Couldn't they do the same for the fliers? If they did this, I think that each organization (NOT the SD) should be on the hook for providing/paying for copies.
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Post by gatormom on Nov 19, 2008 11:34:12 GMT -5
Don't they have a way for people to request getting report cards in the mail vs. the preferred web-based access? Couldn't they do the same for the fliers? If they did this, I think that each organization (NOT the SD) should be on the hook for providing/paying for copies. Any organization who provided a flyer, copied it themselves and prepared the batches for the classrooms. You had to get the flyer approved through the district and then drop them off at the school. They would not be distributed unless you provided the classroom batches. Depending on the school's back pack mail, you had to drop it off a day or so before the mass back pack mail day. I have done it on occasion.
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