Hugh Cummings, director of information management for Vicksburg Warren School District, looks at Warren Central High School teacher Cheryl Swan’s Web site link to www.vwsd.org, the school district’s web address. (The Vicksburg Post/Melanie Duncan)

[10/15/02]A new Web site for Vicksburg Warren School District may give parents a new, free insight into their children’s assignments.

“According to the kids, they never have homework,” District Director of Information Management Hugh Cummings said. “Now parents can check for themselves.”

Cummings said teachers have the tools to post lesson plans for a week and parents can quickly see what’s being covered at school.

“I believe parents would very much like to go out and see that information,” Cummings said.

He said parents will also be able to communicate directly with teachers via the Internet.

“It was done as a means of communication,” Cummings said. “And it’s a two-way communication. If a parent has a question, they can e-mail the teachers directly.”

Cummings said teachers can post test dates, due dates for projects and homework assignments on the sites.

“What we are trying to do is make Web sites the parents and the public can use and get information that can help the kids,” Cummings said.

Warren Central High School ninth-grade English teacher Cheryl Swan said the site will be an effective tool if the students, parents and teachers will use it.

“I think it’s wonderful,” she said. “It’s an excellent way for parents to keep up with their kids.”

Swan said she plans to put bonus questions for tests on the site.

“That’ll give students an incentive to use it,” Swan said. “Some students do not have a computer at home but there are plenty of opportunities for them to get online at school or at the library.”

Cummings said it is not mandatory for teachers to create or maintain sites, but he said he hopes teachers will use the tool.

“We are in the process of training teachers how to implement the Web sites,” Cummings said. “Once they see how easy it is, I think they’ll use it.”

Cummings said many in the community now have Internet service.

“That’s why we have to communicate through this means,” he said. “There’s an audience out there.”

Cummings said establishing the Web sites cost the district nothing. The district has received numerous awards for innovative use of the Internet.