School Information System: Home Delivery for Madison School Board

July 06, 2004

Home Delivery for Madison School Board - Your Tax Dollars at Work

Every Thursday before the Monday meetings of the Madison School Board, a school district employee driving a district vehicle pulls up at each of the seven homes of the board members to deliver a packet of information for the upcoming meeting. Sometimes the vehicle is a van. Sometimes it's a diesel truck.

On June 17, a driver in a truck brought me a folder that included the following: a copy of Education Week, photocopies of the monthly meeting schedules for June and July, a photocopy of the agenda for the committee meetings, and two small plastic folders. In the folders were a second photocopy of the committee agendas and photocopies of materials for each meeting. In all, the driver brought me 35 pages of photocopied materials. The final page was a photocopy of a message telling me that “there will be another delivery of materials tomorrow, June 18.”

On July 18 I received another 32 pages of photocopies via courier.

I have asked the Board President to end courier delivery of paper copies and to initiate electronic delivery programs similar to those adopted in higher education and state, county, and local government levels. Where implemented, electronic delivery has proved to be an expedient way to distribute and share materials while saving labor, duplicating, and paper costs.

Electronic distribution has the additional benefit of being environment-friendly since materials are printed only when the end user feels that it is necessary to do so. Similarly, electronic distribution saves on expenditures for and consumption of gas used to drive bundles of paper across town one or more times per week.

Such a plan should be easy to implement because the district provides to each board member a free laptop computer and printer on request. Under this plan, board members could pick up commercial and other materials that are not time-sensitive on Mondays. On July 12 the Board will consider my request.

So far, Board President Bill Keys is "adamantly opposed” to these changes, even though the district purchased over 200 tons of mixed office paper in 2003-04 and even though schools are already recycling paper to save money.

Here’s a summary of my e-mail request to President Keys and his responses.

Bill:
According to Doug Pearson's recent report, MMSD purchased 220 tons of mixed office paper last year. That's 32,040 trees and lots of dollars that could go to the classroom.
I am requesting that the Board of Education set a good
example by changing how we receive information in order to save money, time and materials. Given that the district provides laptop computers and printers to Board members who want them, it seems that we could institute the following practices.

1. End weekly delivery of materials to our homes via MMSD staff in vans or trucks. Savings: cost for use, fuel and upkeep of the vehicles and staff time, if over-time involved. Better use of staff.
2. Have Board secretaries save all written materials that are not
time-sensitive for distribution at Monday meetings. Examples,
magazines, ads, publications, letters, school bulletins, weekly
newspapers. Savings: same as 1.
3. Have all administrative reports and materials delivered
electronically to the Board on the Thursday prior to the Monday meeting. Savings: paper, use of copying machine, staff time.
4. In situations such as expulsions, where many of the materials are copies of boilerplate provided to every student's family, limit the materials sent electronically to Board members to those items that are unique to the student under consideration. To the extent feasible, have staff summarize the unique materials, such as hearing transcripts, reports from neutral-site teachers, etc. for electronic delivery. Savings: paper, use of copying machine, staff time.
I ask you to consider this suggestion and get back to me. …Thanks for considering the idea.

Ruth
++++++
Ruth:
I disagree with you on every recommendation. If you wish to bring this up to the Board, I will certainly respect your right to do so, and will guarantee you an impartial opportunity to be heard by your colleagues. But I will not make any of these recommendations.
Bill
++++
Bill:
Would you mind telling me why you disagree on each item? It's hard to see whether we could achieve any agreement with a blanket statement of your disagreement. Thanks.
Ruth
++++
Ruth:

I repeat. I encourage you to bring this up at a board meeting for a full discussion by the full board if you wish to, and I will guarantee you a fair opportunity to make your case. The suggestions you have made I am adamantly opposed to: I appreciate getting materials early, in print form, (which certainly means the magazines, bulletins, and other relevant publications as well as school news and correspondence because I can read them at my leisure, and well before the Board meetings, and without the problems that e-mail, or computers can cause through the very nature of their technology. The "boiler plate" packages for the expulsions actually save time because separating them item by item, student by student takes up more time than the money expended in simply bundling them together; additionally each bundled expulsion papers creates a more complete case, possibly protecting us from later litigations for improper procedures. Certainly the legal office is not responsible for even a significant portion of the 220 tons of office paper.
How can we "achieve agreement" when I don't agree in any way?
I can't be any clearer than this.

Bill

+++

Posted by Ruth Robarts at July 6, 2004 04:49 PM | TrackBack

Comments

Posted by: that site at October 4, 2004 01:57 AM

Posted by: buy tramadol at October 22, 2004 10:26 PM

Brand New Pocket Bike Latest 2005 Models are here!

Posted by: pocket bikes at October 24, 2004 10:26 AM

Brand New Pocket Bike Latest 2005 Models are here!

Posted by: pocket bike at October 24, 2004 07:59 PM

Super Pocket Bike GMAI-12A-49cc
-The most powerful pocket bike on the market!

Was $899.95 Now only $399.95, plus free shipping!
Brand New Pocket Bike Latest 2005 Models are here!
New arrivals!

Posted by: xanax at October 24, 2004 09:50 PM

Brand New Pocket Bike Latest 2005 Models are here!

Posted by: xanax at October 24, 2004 11:21 PM

Valium is the best muscle relaxant and ant-anxiety
medication.Shipping is quick,secure,and direct.
valium

Posted by: Valium at October 27, 2004 09:19 PM

Codeine is a centrally acting analgesic
used for relieving pain ,shipping is quick,secure,
and direct.
codeine
www.41b.net

Posted by: Codeine at October 28, 2004 04:10 PM

Cialis are the most popular and safe means of
every-day life solvers.
cialis
www.41b.net

Posted by: cialis at November 1, 2004 02:05 PM

Where can I follow up for more information

Posted by: Jon Huron at November 3, 2004 02:46 PM

Posted by: ford motor credit at November 4, 2004 02:10 AM

xenical
xenical

Posted by: xenical at November 6, 2004 10:12 AM

xenical
xenical

Posted by: xenical at November 7, 2004 08:19 AM

Bonjour

Posted by: Ming Ho at November 7, 2004 09:55 PM

levitra
levitra

Posted by: levitra at November 8, 2004 07:43 PM

levitra
cialis
levitra
xenical

Posted by: levitra at November 9, 2004 11:09 AM

cheap cialis online
cheap cialis online
cheap cialis online

Posted by: cheap cialis online at November 10, 2004 08:28 AM

online gambling
online poker
texas holdem
party poker
poker games
online sportsbook betting

Posted by: online sports betting at November 10, 2004 07:45 PM

cialis forum
cialis forum
cialis forum

Posted by: cialis forum at November 12, 2004 10:59 PM

You may find it interesting to check out some helpful info dedicated to chart holdem odds texas chart holdem odds texas http://www.chart-holdem-odds-texas-game.info/ winning at texas holdem winning at texas holdem http://www.winning-at-texas-holdem-win.info/ how to win at slots how to win at slots http://www.how-to-win-at-slots-gambling-4u.info/ purchase phentermine purchase phentermine http://www.purchase-phentermine-top-deals.info/ computor texas no limit holdem computor texas no limit holdem http://www.computor-texas-no-limit-holdem-win.info/ drugs phentermine drugs phentermine http://www.drugs-phentermine-pharmacy-2003.info/ texas holdem poker tin texas holdem poker tin http://www.texas-holdem-poker-tin-win.info/ texas holdem table made in china texas holdem table made in china http://www.texas-holdem-table-made-in-china-game.info/ holdem pokercom holdem pokercom http://www.holdem-pokercom-game.info/ buy phentermine cod buy phentermine cod http://www.buy-phentermine-cod-pharmacy-2003.info/ ...

Posted by: discount buy cheapest phentermine at November 13, 2004 06:56 AM

Found your site through blogspot and wanted to say hi

Posted by: Trannies at November 13, 2004 10:59 AM

Google linked me to this page, nice reading

Posted by: Teen Amateur at November 13, 2004 11:01 AM

Interesting information on this blog, thanks

Posted by: Busty Models at November 13, 2004 10:24 PM

In your free time, visit the pages about texas holdem scanner texas holdem scanner http://www.texas-holdem-scanner-games.info/ texas holdem directions texas holdem directions http://www.texas-holdem-directions-games.info/ software texas holdem download software texas holdem download http://www.software-texas-holdem-download-games.info/ phentermine cash on delivery phentermine cash on delivery http://www.phentermine-cash-on-delivery-leading-pharmacy.info/ cod phentermine cod phentermine http://www.cod-phentermine-pharmacy-2003.info/ cheap florida phentermine cheap florida phentermine http://www.cheap-florida-phentermine-pharmacy-2003.info/ texas holdem calculator texas holdem calculator http://www.texas-holdem-calculator-top-site.info/ texas holdem tournament texas holdem tournament http://www.texas-holdem-tournament-top-site.info/ chart holdem odds texas chart holdem odds texas http://www.chart-holdem-odds-texas-game.info/ slot poker slot poker http://www.slot-poker-gambling-4u.info/ ...

Posted by: texas holdem percentage charts at November 21, 2004 08:28 AM

cialis forum
cialis forum

Posted by: cialis forum at November 22, 2004 08:09 PM

You are invited to check the pages about phentermine phentermine http://www.phentermine-top-deals.com/ phentermine phentermine http://www.best-deals-phentermine.com/ phentermine phentermine http://www.ottawavalleyag.org/ ...

Posted by: phentermine at November 23, 2004 04:11 PM

Xanax online

Posted by: xanax online at November 24, 2004 03:03 AM

Alprazolam

Posted by: Alprazolam at November 24, 2004 05:52 AM

xanax xr
Alprazolam
buy Xanax
xanax xr
xanax online
Cheap xanax

Posted by: xanax xr at November 25, 2004 12:36 AM

Alprazolam
buy Xanax
xanax xr
xanax online
Cheap xanax

Posted by: buy Xanax at November 25, 2004 03:04 AM

Alprazolam|buy Xanax|xanax xr|xanax online|Cheap xanax

Posted by: cheap xanax at November 25, 2004 05:07 AM

buy cialis

Posted by: buy cialis at November 30, 2004 02:39 AM

generic cialis

Posted by: generic cialis at November 30, 2004 02:39 AM

Acyclovir
buy Acyclovir
Acyclovir online
generic acyclovir
cheap acyclovir

Posted by: Acyclovir at November 30, 2004 08:55 AM

buy cialis online

Posted by: buy cialis online at November 30, 2004 05:44 PM

Vioxx Causes Heart Attacks

Posted by: Vioxx at December 2, 2004 08:05 PM

You can also visit the sites about http://www.debt-consolidation-consultant.info/ http://www.debt-consolidation-consultant.info/ debt consolidation http://www.flowers-leading-site.info/ http://www.flowers-leading-site.info/ flowers http://www.flower-leading-site.info/ http://www.flower-leading-site.info/ flower http://www.credit-reports-4u.info/ http://www.credit-reports-4u.info/ credit reports http://www.credit-report-4u.info/ http://www.credit-report-4u.info/ credit report http://www.mortgage-calculators-ebanking.info/ http://www.mortgage-calculators-ebanking.info/ mortgage calculator http://www.mortgage-4-u.info/ http://www.mortgage-4-u.info/ mortgage http://www.private-mortgage-insurance-ebanking.info/ http://www.private-mortgage-insurance-ebanking.info/ private mortgage http://www.student-loans-ebanking.info/ http://www.student-loans-ebanking.info/ student loans http://www.personal-loan-ebanking.info/ http://www.personal-loan-ebanking.info/ personal loans http://www.loans-4-u.info/ http://www.loans-4-u.info/ loans http://www.health-insurancedeals-4u.info/ http://www.health-insurancedeals-4u.info/ health insurance http://www.auto-insurancedeals-4u.info/ http://www.auto-insurancedeals-4u.info/ auto insurance http://www.car-insurancedeals-4u.info/ http://www.car-insurancedeals-4u.info/ car insurance http://www.insurancedeals-4u.info/ http://www.insurancedeals-4u.info/ insurance http://www.insurance-quotesdeals-4u.info/ http://www.insurance-quotesdeals-4u.info/ insurance quotes http://www.credit-card-applications-4u.info/ http://www.credit-card-applications-4u.info/ credit cards http://www.hotelse-site.info/ http://www.hotelse-site.info/ hotels http://www.hotele-site.info/ http://www.hotele-site.info/ hotels.com http://www.las-vegas-hotels-e-site.info/ http://www.las-vegas-hotels-e-site.info/ las vegas hotels http://www.cheap-hotels-e-site.info/ http://www.cheap-hotels-e-site.info/ cheap hotels http://www.hotel-dealse-site.info/ http://www.hotel-dealse-site.info/ hotel http://www.travel-e-site.info/ http://www.travel-e-site.info/ travel http://www.top-e-site.info/ http://www.top-e-site.info/ travelocity http://www.air-travel-e-site.info/ http://www.air-travel-e-site.info/ air travel http://www.great-e-site.info/ http://www.great-e-site.info/ hilton http://www.car-rental-e-site.info/ http://www.car-rental-e-site.info/ car rental http://www.car-rentals-e-site.info/ http://www.car-rentals-e-site.info/ car rentals http://www.rental-car-e-site.info/ http://www.rental-car-e-site.info/ rental cars http://www.deal-e-site.info/ http://www.deal-e-site.info/ expedia http://www.dating-e-site.info/ http://www.dating-e-site.info/ dating http://www.online-dating-e-site.info/ http://www.online-dating-e-site.info/ online dating http://www.dating-services-e-site.info/ http://www.dating-services-e-site.info/ dating services http://www.dating-site-e-site.info/ http://www.dating-site-e-site.info/ adult dating http://www.adult-dvd-top-shop.info/ http://www.adult-dvd-top-shop.info/ adult dvd http://www.dvd-top-shop.info/ http://www.dvd-top-shop.info/ dvd http://www.digital-camera-esite.info/ http://www.digital-camera-esite.info/ digital camera http://www.digital-cameras-esite.info/ http://www.digital-cameras-esite.info/ digital cameras http://www.golf-e-course.info/ http://www.golf-e-course.info/ golf http://www.golf-clubs-e-course.info/ http://www.golf-clubs-e-course.info/ golf club ... Thanks!!!

Posted by: flowers at December 3, 2004 10:13 AM

If you are looking for Yoga Mats or want to buy a Yoga Mat, some yoga Sticky Mats or just a single yoga Sticky Mat then Buy Yoga Mats at the best place to Buy Yoga Mat. Meditation Pillows Meditation Pillows Meditation Pillow Meditation Pillow Also find Eye Pillows if you are looking for an Eye Pillow or other Yoga Props and Yoga Products. Peace. http://yoga-mats.freeservers.com/

Click Here, Click here, Click here,
click here, Click Here, click here,
Click here, Click Here, click here

Posted by: buy yoga mats at December 3, 2004 04:03 PM

order cialis

Posted by: order cialis at December 3, 2004 04:10 PM

I think there is nothing to be commnented texas holdem here :) right free online texas holdem here. But right away here http://www.texas-holdem-i.com you can find the right info for play texas holdem now.

Posted by: texas holdem at December 4, 2004 06:19 AM

Posted by: texas holdem at December 4, 2004 06:46 AM

Posted by: texas holdem at December 4, 2004 06:56 AM

cialis

Posted by: cialis at December 4, 2004 03:09 PM

buy valium

Posted by: buy valium at December 4, 2004 05:54 PM

valium online

Posted by: valium online at December 5, 2004 05:15 AM

buy valium online

Posted by: buy valium online at December 5, 2004 02:56 PM