Park Dale School Moves Forward with Centralized Printer Initiative!

December 22, 2009

Park Dale School staff and students have adopted an environmentally friendlier approach to technology. Instead of providing a printer in every classroom, a centralized location with 6-7 classrooms using one printer is their new method of operating.

This initiative has been ongoing for the past two years and according to Administrative Assistant Paulette Macey there has definitely been a huge reduction in paper costs. Principal Heather Rutherford says the benefits outweigh any negatives. Not only is this initiative eco friendly, it is also a healthier approach to printing. By placing a printer in another room other than a classroom, emissions and toner particles have less damaging effects. Of course where confidential content is being printed, printers are still available to staff in offices and the staff room.

Principal Rutherford suggests that "others who want to 'make this type of difference' in their school need to look at the environmental benefits before making a decision not to do this". She said that her staff looked at some of the concerns such as student traffic in the halls and felt that they were minimal in comparison to the benefits. Paper waste was reduced by the use of a tracking system. The addition of the Green Print program (which is a free program) causes everyone to 'stop and think' before printing. Also, as in the Secondary schools a printing allowance can be set for each student. Maintenance and repairs and consumables have been greatly reduced.

According to Principal Rutherford the centralized printing initiative is now a part of the school culture and staff and students continue to support this initiative because 'it was just the right thing to do'!

Take a bow Park Dale staff and students!