Schools, other organizations continue to go paperless
Many businesses and public ventures have made the decision in the past few years to transition to a paperless environment, and it's paying off for them. That kind of transition is also seen in a potentially unexpected realm these days: the classroom. The document conversion trend can be a boon for school districts as budgets tighten, and for teachers looking for a little more organization in the classroom.
One teacher in Waynesboro, Virginia, is hoping to start a trend for her district in terms of reducing paper, according to a report from the Waynesboro News Virginian. Fifth-grade teacher Diane Lundstrom is using a program to make sure everything is coordinated via email, including assignments and class calendars, and so far the results have been strong.
"Posting assignments [on a paperless program] cuts down on paper usage, for sure," Lundstrom told the newspaper. "That helps everyone – students aren't looking for their work, I'm not lugging piles of papers home, and the cost of paper usage goes down."
Switch seen as smart
Things have gone so well in the first few months of school that Lundstrom's entire school system is now transitioning as well, the report said. Berkeley Glenn Elementary School principal Leola Burks said parents now register their kids online and check on their grades online, as well as handle ongoing paperwork needs electronically. The switch might not be good news for everyone, though: Kids probably won't be able to convince their teachers that the dog ate their homework.
Why such a move is beneficial
Indeed, the decision to go paperless is one that typically pays off in a number of different ways, according to the Business Journal. For instance, when it's vital to track down necessary documents – for any reason – there's one place for everyone to look, and no worries that anything was misplaced. That can also help to speed up the distribution process, and nothing gets lost in the mail.
In addition to that peace of mind, the added security that comes with encryption options and other programs can go a long way too, the report said. The additional money saved by the switch ensures it pays for itself over time.
For these reasons, businesses that are considering a switch to paperless may want to think about the benefits of making initial investments in document scanners so they can properly digitize documents and make sure everyone is on the same page going forward.
