Portage School Board member says electronic system is an unnecessary expense

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BY JEFF BURTON
Jeff.Burton@nwitimes.com
219.762.1397, ext. 2225 | Thursday, February 28, 2008 | (3 comment(s))

PORTAGE | A new paperless meeting system is on the way, but one Portage Township School Board member says it's an unnecessary expense.

"I'm not going to use the program," board member Tom Pappas said. "We're facing some tough budget problems. Ask me after March 14 and I might change my mind."

Pappas said pending changes to the state's property tax formula could result in a budget shortfall for the school system and with a $12,000 annual cost, Pappas said even that small amount of money could go toward something more relevant to children.

The Board Docs system, currently used by more than 150 school systems around the country, provides an electronic platform for the board and public to view meeting agendas and download information in real-time. Superintendent Mike Berta said the system will also help facilitate communication between the board and the administration.

Pappas was the lone vote against the system in December, when its purchase was approved. Pappas cited concerns over tapping a district technology fund for board business, a concern proved valid. The annual licensing fee will now come from an administration building line-item in the district's capital projects fund. Berta said officials from the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance and the State Board of Accounts said the expenditure is appropriate for the fund.

Under the current system, paid staff make paper copies of all agenda items and pertinent documents for board members. From there, a courier being paid a wage, plus gasoline and milage expenses, delivers the packet to any board members who don't pick them up on their own.

Pappas said he currently picks up his own information packet and has a personal e-mail address already set up where he can receive electronic copies of the documents.

Aside from giving the board advance access to the documents, the program also has a public portal to the information, giving parents, community members and the press access to documents before the meeting.

Berta said by using funds budgeted for the administration building, no money will be taken away from any classroom or student instruction.

"Part of my job is to be an agent of change," Berta said. "It is time to elevate our communication so we can communicate better as a board when the business of the board needs getting done."

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oops! wrote on Feb 28, 2008 10:35 AM:

" Robert: that would be $1,000.00 a month, not $100.00 :-) "

Robert Wright wrote on Feb 28, 2008 8:48 AM:

" Hey Mr. Pappas you might want to wake up and look around. I know we're the Portage Indians but smoke signals are obsolete. I feel the public needs to know what is going to reviewed at the meetings. I was at the meeting at Pual Saylor. I feel you don't care about wasting paper or fuel. The annual cost is only $12,000 ($100.00 a month or around 33 cents a day)less than a cup of coffee. Please take a look the program. I feel once you get to know it you'll use it. I know at your age it's hard to learn a new trick but prove us wrong. Maybe an old dog can learn a new trick. The trains leaving are you onboard? "

See the Truth Portage wrote on Feb 28, 2008 7:29 AM:

" Don't be confused by anything Tom Pappas says, he only is trying to save his own skin. This man is a cancer on the school system and no amount of "populist" talk is going to change that. He will latch onto anything that he can to stay in power. Do not fall for this again...vote this idiot out. He still hasn't apologized for his rude behavior to the employees, if anyone else did that he would still be screaming about it. "

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