Students in the William S. Hart Union High School District were asked to bring their own report cards home this session, part of an ongoing district effort to cut expenses during the state budget crisis. District officials say that the move is expected to save an estimated $20,000 in postage over the next two report periods.
Parents received a telephone call over the district’s automated information system letting them know that report cards are coming home and reminding them that they may need to ask to see the report card if they haven’t already.
In the future, the District may be able to save even more money by reducing printing costs as some parents will be able to monitor their children’s progress online, thanks to a new student information system that will go into effect in August.
That system, which has a parent portal that will allow parents to obtain specific password-protected information about their children’s progress, replaces the district’s current antiquated system which will offer no support services to users after this year. Staff members at schools and the district office are currently undergoing training in the new system.
The cutback is just one of the ways in which the Hart District is trying to cut back $15 million in ongoing operating expenses necessary to insure that it will be able to pay its bills for the next two years.
A District news release claims that the goal is to make cutbacks as far from the classroom as possible and with the least impact on jobs.