Waste of paper and postage

[Danielle Masters]

Today in the mail I received four identical letters from Lakewood City schools. Each envelope contained a letter telling about how many extracurricular activities there are in Lakewood. The envelope also contained a tri-fold brochure listing the various athletic opportunities and classes available in Lakewood from grade school up to high school.

Now I don't mind receiving the information, in fact I appreciate the information but my frustration in this matter is that I received identical letters for my four youngest children. I am assuming tomorrow I will receive another one for my high schooler. I can't imagine that the district does not have the capabilities to make sure that identical letter don't get sent to families. I would possibly understand if my children had different last names but that is not the case, all five have the same last name.

I am curious how much additional cost is incurred by sending multiply copies of the same information to families. In this day and age of budget crunching I hope that the district looks into this matter, I know I don't like to see money wasted and I am sure I am not alone in that.

[Stan Austin]

Danielle-- I agree. If now days, when I can get my phone bill from one of the largest corporations in the world on line, there's no reason why a local school board can't tailor its communications to be effective and environmentally friendly.
After all, the Board publicist posts here. It's just a little hop, skip and jump to use the same techniques to make everyday publicity efficient and green.
Stan

[Gary Rice]

I'm not sure whether I can offer any specific insight here, but as a retired teacher, I can assure readers that there is a labyrinth of rules and regulations regarding child identification and parental notifications that schools need to adhere to. Add to that, the complexity of multi-parent guardian situations, even within a single family, and you have to follow specific guardianship procedures regarding home notifications.

While a single mailing database sounds like a great idea, (and a laudable goal) at the same time, it is probably easier and more cost-effective just to mail to the registered guardian(s) of each child, even if that results in multiple mailings to the same home.

Remember too that report cards or progress reports, when mailed, would also need to be addressed confidentially and individually. You probably wouldn't want 4 different report cards, for example, coming home in the same envelope.

Then too, all mailings are not necessarily for all grade levels either, This may have been a general mailing, but there are others that need to be grade-specific, and those would require individualized notifications.

Hope this helps!

[Kristine Pagsuyoin]

I understand what you are saying, Gary. That is very true.

However, the letter was more or less promoting the activities the district and recreation center are offering to students. Periodically, we receive postcards home or fliers sent home with kids promoting the different activities and sports. These activities are in the catalog they send out to the community. I thought it a waste only because the some of the activities (football) will be ending soon. At our school, Grant, the recreation department will also use signs by our school entrance to support sign-ups...which is a good thing. I'd rather they continue to send home fliers or advertise in the Chalk Talk (and the middle school/HS newsletter too) rather than waste money on envelopes & stamps. It would be much greener too!

[Danielle Masters]

Gary, I have no problem with report cards or anything having to do with the academics of my children being mailed separately. But I do have a problem receiving multiple postcards and other types of advertisements sent to my home. We only need one. Funny thing on some academic things I have received one for my two elementary children and one for my two middle school children. I know it can be done. It just seems that when it comes to the mailings sent out by the recreation department we receive multiple duplicates which tells me someone somewhere isn't doing the best possible job. Oh and also something I found funny about this particular mailing, well we also received an email about it also. I guess they really want us to sign up for rec department activities.

[Roy Pitchford]

I was sent a postcard stating that my census form would arrive in 2 weeks.
I then received the form, which I mailed back within the next couple days.
2 weeks later, I got a letter, reminding me of the importance of returning the form.
(Even later, I had a Census worker attempt to stop by my home as well...never figured out why.)

Government efficiency (on all levels) leaves much to be desired.