Spring-Ford ending an era: No more paper report cards

By: Dana Bieber
The Mercury, Pennsylvania

March 30, 2009

Blame it on the recession or new technology, but the days of Spring-Ford schoolchildren losing their paper report cards or rushing home from school to show them off are numbered with the start of a new era: the electronic report card.

For students in the seventh through 12th grade, that era has ended already; third-quarter report cards will be posted on Skyward, an online program that allows teachers to update their students’ grades periodically and parents to track it.

The report card will look exactly like it did on paper, it just will be posted online, said Superintendent Marsha Hurda.

“We will be contacting parents (via a telephone messaging system) prior to the release of report cards online,” Hurda said. “I want to make it clear that nobody will get left out of the process. Parents will be able to request a paper copy.”

The move to include all grades by the 2009-10 school year is expected to save the district thousands, considering it sends out report cards four times a year for more than 7,000 students. Those costs include paper, ink toner and cartridges, postage and manpower.

“It’s a considerable savings to the district as we go into the process,” said Ken Donahue, assistant superintendent. “If you revisit this in 10 years, probably all schools (in the country) will be online.”

The decision was supported by a handful of parents and students asked to weigh in on the news. And many believe it’s a win-win situation because of the Skyward system.

“I think it’s a good decision; it’s a waste of paper,” said junior Kevin McLaughlin.

For Alethea Gillings, it doesn’t bother her. “I already keep track of my children’s grades on Skyward,” said the mother of two Spring-Ford students, 9 and 16. “When I get their report cards, it’s no surprise.”

One of the best investments the school district made was turning to Skyward, Hurda said.

“Parents never need to guess how their child is doing,” explained Cheryl Murgia, the high school’s broadcast production teacher. “We’re encouraged to get in grades as soon as possible so there are no surprises for parents.”

Junior Ryan Baylor, 17, can attest to that. He has long forgotten the days when his parents looked forward to getting his report card. These days, his parents already know what his report card will say.

“My mom is on (Skyward) a lot,” he said. “She doesn’t even go through me; she always checks it out online.” Of course, there are going to be parents who want that paper report card, said school board member Julie Mullin, who has three children. Mullin has no problem with the decision as long as parents are given a choice.

Perhaps one drawback is not being able to hang the report card on the refrigerator, according to Dennis and Nancy Gilbert, the parents of Daniel Gilbert. After all, their son’s academic accolades include being named a finalist of the 2009 National Merit Scholarship Program.

The family agreed they could always print it out on the computer.

“It just won’t be the same color,” Nancy Gilbert said.