Laptops to phase out paperwork

By VIRGINIA ROSS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT.
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- The New Castle School Board is looking to become paperless.
Superintendent George Gabriel, at the board's recent work session, presented each member with a new Hewlett Packard laptop.
"It's a much more effective way to get information to board members and to reduce our paperwork," Gabriel said.
"And it's a way to reduce costs for the school district."
He said the district is developing a policy to outline appropriate and acceptable uses of the laptops. Board members likely will vote on whether to accept that policy at their public meeting next month, he added.
If the policy is accepted, board members will be asked to sign it, he said.
Adds up
Administrators said that the school district spends about $5,040 a year preparing, printing and distributing paper agendas for the board's monthly work sessions and public meetings.
The sum includes the cost of having agendas and school business-related documents delivered to each board member before the meetings.
The district bought nine laptops at a cost of $9,441, and administrators said they anticipate being able to use the laptops for at least five years.
They noted that the Pennsylvania School Board Association advocates the use of computers among school board members.
Gabriel said board members may use the laptops to access board agendas, meeting notes and updates and the district's Web site.
They also may use them to correspond with his office through e-mail.
"This is going to be a slow, take-it-one-step-at-a-time process," Gabriel said.
"But everything is turning to electronic. Our goal eventually will be not to send any paper home with board members."
He said board members are encouraged to attend one or two work sessions to learn how to operate the computers. At the recent work session, members viewed their agendas on their laptops.
Gabriel said paper agendas will continue to be available at the district office for school officials and the public.