Hall Co. Schools Meet ‘Virtually’

The rising fuel costs have taken its toll on everyone these days.  For the Hall County School System, the increase in travel expenses has caused them to look at other ways to conduct meetings.  School officials have started using a program, which could cut thousands of dollars off their budget.

Motorists aren’t the only ones feeling the pinch at the pump.  The Hall County School System is too.  With the amount of meetings teachers and administrators must attend throughout the year, Gordon Higgins says they have created a long-term plan to save on travel expenses.  And, the best part is, those using the new system don’t even have to leave their desk.

“The popular term is ‘Go To Meeting,’ where you can basically have conference calls with people want to network with,” Higgins tells Newschannel 32.

Not only can you conference call on the telephone, but participants can link their computers with others.

“You can look at the same desktop/Power Point from your own office location to a central location,” explains Higgins.

In addition to being a money-saving feature, the “virtual” meetings don’t disrupt daily activities.

“It doesn’t take these people out of the building or classroom, where they’re most valuable to us and to our children here in Hall County,” continues Higgins.

It also cuts back on paying for substitute teachers.  Higgins claims the School Board has received a positive response, and officials plan to use the program more next year.

At last Monday’s meeting, Hall County Schools Superintendent Will Schofield said the system could cut 40-thousand dollars from the 2009 proposed budget.