Frazier parents may try Internet program
PERRYOPOLIS – Parents of students in the Frazier School District will have the opportunity to see first hand how to access their child’s attendance, classroom assignments and grades among other information on the Internet as part of a demonstration on Jan. 26 of the district’s new computer software program. The program will be revealed at 6:30 p.m. at the high school by Free LOGIC Experience, based in Lawrenceville.
The school board learned of the program’s status Thursday from Barbara Mehalov, middle school principal, during its work session.
With the $111,349 purchase approved by the school board last summer, the district was able to meet the needs of current state law as well as extend the boundaries of the classroom to create an interconnected learning environment between teachers, students and parents.
The program was designed and is being installed by Free LOGIC.
Mehalov said school and company officials met Thursday to further discuss additional information that is being downloaded on the Web site, including locker numbers, home room sheets and attendance records.
According to Mehalov, the company plans to load that information on Jan. 18, while copies of attendance, assignments, grades and Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) have already been incorporated into the Web site.
The software is being implemented in five phases over a one-year period in which teachers and administrators are undergoing training.
With the program, John Pascasio, Free LOGIC’s designer, said parents, teachers and students would be able to access the information management system 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
In addition to the teachers, Pascasio said parents and students would also benefit from Free LOGIC as far as placing study materials, up-to-the-minute grade reports and real-time collaboration tools at their fingertips.
“It just makes it easier for parents to keep track of their kid’s stuff,” said Valerie Bubnash, school board member.
In addition to the parents, the school board will also receive a demonstration, tentatively scheduled on Jan. 20 during the work session of its regular meeting.
The board also discussed several unrelated issues, including president Bill Vargo’s announcement of naming the football stadium field house after Eldo DiVirgillio, a 1942 graduate of Frazier and legendary basketball coach.
Vargo added that DiVirgillio would be honored in a brief ceremony on Jan. 21 during halftime at Frazier’s next basketball game. Vargo noted that he was a member of the high school’s basketball team when DiVirgillio served as coach.
In conjunction with the recent decision of the Fayette County Commissioners to lower the percentage for tax collectors, the board agreed to forward a letter to them to also reduce that of Frazier’s delinquent tax collection.
Tom Shetterly, business manager, said the district currently pays its tax collector 2 percent for face and discount taxes and 3 percent during the penalty period, which increases to 5 percent for delinquent accounts.