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New School Web Site Delivers Information

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By JOYCE McKENZIE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 12, 2008

TEMPLE TERRACE - Thanks to a new online program at King High School, there are no surprises for students or parents at the end of a grading period.

Edline, a Chicago company, has instituted a Web site that allows teachers to post students' grades, list homework assignments and announce upcoming events. It also lets teachers comment about missed or late assignments, disciplinary problems and other student issues.

"Since the kids have seven classes, parents can't always confer with each teacher during parent/teacher conferences so this program really helps keep them in the know," Principal Carla Bruning said.

Yinka Alege, assistant principal of curriculum, said the Edline program has appreciably opened the lines of communication between parents and their children as well as students and teachers.

"We've had significantly lower failure rates this first nine-week period," said Alege, who noted the site generally is updated weekly and an e-mail is sent to every parent.

Matt Romano, assistant principal of the school's magnet curriculum, said before the Web site was created the basic means of communication between the school and parents in between reports cards were progress reports issued every four and a half weeks.

"I think in the past the parents may have been somewhat intimidated to call and ask about their children's grades," Romano said.

Republic Bank in Temple Terrace donated $3,800 toward the school's $7,000, two-year contact with Edline.

"They have been very, very kind to us," Bruning said. "We have really been blessed by our business partners."

Diane Tone, the bank's branch manager, said her organization strives to immerse itself in the community it serves.

"King High School is our school," she said.

King High senior Zachary Ford, 17, admits he has mixed emotions about the program.

"It's kind of a pain sometimes because my parents keep me from doing things when I get bad grades," said the Temple Terrace resident, who describes himself as a B student. "But I think it's good because it's helped me keep up my grades and it's helped me keep track of where I stand."

Senior Rachel Bohannan, 17, whom Bruning described as a "great student all the way around," is very much in favor of the program.

"I think it helps because my parents can always be in contact with the school and know where I stand," she said. "I definitely think it's also helped me by the fact you can't lose it - it's always there.

Melissa O' Connor, the mother of 15-year-old King High sophomore Eric O'Connor, wholeheartedly supports the new Web site.

"The biggest thing is that you don't have to wait for progress reports and I think it offers a great way to communicate with my daughter and her teachers about her schoolwork," said the New Tampa resident. "It creates an ongoing dialog between parents and teachers. I would think, too, it would save teachers time by not having to return phone calls and e-mails."

Reporter Joyce McKenzie can be reached at (813) 865-4849 or jmckenzie@tampatrib.com. Reporter Joyce McKenzie can be reached at (813) 865-4849 or jmckenzie@tampatrib.com.

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