>January 11, 2007
Ridgewood Board of Education
Board of Education
49 Cottage Place
Ridgewood NJ 07451
Mark Bombace; Bob Hutton; Sheila Brogan; Linda Gilman; Joseph Vallerini
Dear Board Members;
Does the Paperless Policy for Ridgewood Elementary Schools discriminate against lower income and single parents?
In September of this year Orchard amongst other Ridgewood elementary schools established school websites and announced that paper school notices will no longer be available to parents. This policy sought to (1) reduce paper distribution costs, (2) allow easy access of information to both parents in divorced families, and (3) to reduce teacher workload.
However, this policy has emplaced a communication barrier for lower income families who simply cannot afford the high speed internet access required. These families must travel out of their homes to have access to such information thus adding an additional burden upon single parents or dual working families already short on time. Orchard School has offered to print notices for those in need however, the resultant embarrassment to both the parent who must petition for such paper copies and for the child who is singled out by receiving them has a predictable chilling effect upon such requests. Existing programs to provide donated machines are beneficial to close the technology gap, but do not provide and pay for the requisite internet connections. Low income parents are thus compelled to go to the library for any access to Orchard information. As noted above, these trips reduce the already sparse family time available to dual working parent households. Junior High and High School students can keep their parents apprised of school happenings, but elementary school children are simply not ready to do so.
While many Ridgewood residents, in fact the majority, may endorse the paperless policy as progressive, such a view ignores the public and inclusive role of our elementary schools. Orchard is not a corporate entity; it is a PUBLIC school and it is incumbent upon us to make sure that all parents have easy and clear access to information regarding school events. To do otherwise not only risks children will be left behind, it guarantees it.
Not surprisingly since the individual principal of each elementary has sole discretion over his or her school’s communication policy the application of the “paperless” policy has been disparate. Orchard’s Principal, Dr. Mueller has implemented a strict paperless policy with the lone exception of safety notices. This exception, of course, is recognition that the paperless policy cannot be expected to and in fact does not reach all parents.
Orchard HSA, while supporting Dr. Muller, recognizes the inherent communication gap brought on by the paperless policy. They have thought of creative ideas such as to “buddy” parents up in an attempt to ensure information is disseminated. The HSAs benevolence is no surrogate for the school’s responsibility to take every step to ensure parental knowledge and involvement. In short, the charitable acts of the HSA should not be looked upon to cure whatever communication shortfalls are brought about by the paperless policy. This is the duty of the schools.
This Board is thus met with a choice wherein it can elect “progress” that while advancing the laudable aims set forth in (1) – (3) above, introduces greater marginalization to our lower income families. There is, however, a middle ground which can facilitate (1) – (3) above yet maintain our schools’ traditional inclusiveness. I put forth the recommendation that the district considers creating a clear communication policy for all elementary schools. This would alleviate confusion, provide consistency regarding the implementation of a new communication tool such as the internet, and avoid alienating an already disadvantaged segment of our school’s community.
The continued use of the Websites as the primary, but not only, method of communication is warranted. However, all elementary schools should be required to regularly provide either by backpack or regular mail a paper summary of major school events, such as the Orchard AppleJuice Newsletter. This can be distributed monthly or a few weeks prior to an Event. Maybe when the district has the technology in place, the schools should also opt to use a third method of communication such as Connect Ed that dials broadcast phone messages in English and Spanish.
In closing, I found these quotes relevant. They are from the Federal Guidelines concerning parent\school involvement.
Three decades of research provide convincing evidence that parents are an important influence in helping their children achieve high academic standards. When schools collaborate with parents to help their children learn and when parents participate in school activities and decision-making about their children’s education, children achieve at higher levels. In short, when parents are involved in education, children do better in school and schools improve. (Parental Involvement: Title I, Part A, Non-Regulatory Guidance, Department of Education, April 23, 2004)
We fail our children when we leave their parents behind. This we cannot do.
I respectfully request that the issue of the internet being used as the sole communication method for notices of school events in the Ridgewood Elementary schools be placed on the agenda of the next meeting of the school board
Sincerely,
Joan O’Keefe
CC: Art Cody, Esq., Jasmine Cohn
