Problem: Implementation of a School List Serve

In order to keep up with technology, the School Improvement Team at PB&J Elementary would like to implement an electronic mailing list (List Serve) to increase communication between the school and home. This announcement list will supplement the existing communication methods already in place at the school, such as monthly newsletters and flyers sent home with students. The system will also provide pertinent information in a timely manner to families, such as early school dismissals due to weather conditions or emergencies. Mr. Skippy, the principal at PB&J Elementary, has informed the school librarian, Ms. Jele that the system will be housed in the media center and that she has been given the task of implementing and maintaining this new system. Before she can implement the system fully, several issues must be resolved.

The first matter that Ms. Jele must resolve is to decide which type of announcement system will best serve the school and libraryís needs: an announcement-only list with one-way distribution or an email list in which the recipients may respond? Because this may be a new concept for many families of the school, a simplified system may be the more accepted arrangement. Due to the fact that Ms. Jele has very little volunteer help in the library, another point that she needs to consider is the amount of responsibility this new system may involve. Which system will best meet the needs of the school and library yet not generate a considerable increase in work load?

In order to enroll the schoolsí families into the system, Ms. Jele will need to consider the best procedure to take. Will sending home a flyer with the students get a favorable response? Should the families be informed of the system through an information night? In what way can Ms. Jele reach those who may be intimidated by the technology and assure them that the system is of value? What should be done for families without access to a computer at home?

Ms. Jele must also consider the method which families and/or school staff must go through if they would like to post an announcement over the List Serve system. Who will approve each posting? How will Ms. Jele ensure that the system is being utilized by the school community yet not being abused? Should there be a system in place as to who needs to approve announcements? A set of guidelines should be posted as to what is and is not acceptable. The procedure must be straightforward so as not to alienate those who have not embraced the system completely.

A final consideration Ms. Jele must make is how she should manage postings for the schools' ESL (English as a Second Language) families? Should all announcements be sent in Spanish on a separate list to those ESL families with computer access? If so, who will be responsible; Ms. Jele, the librarian or the ESL teacher?