Just as the type of teachers using the Web vary in age, subject matter and skills, so too do the districts that have the brightest Web presence. Central Islip's comprehensive list of Internet links, for instance, including one to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, rivals that found on any local site. There are also early signs that Web sites may soon become a potent weapon in budget and bond issue votes. For instance, Bethpage, which will hold a June 14 vote on a bond issue for technology and building improvements, is using its site as a powerful campaign tool. Parents can see photos of corroded windows, leak-damaged ceilings and broken radiators.
School administrators are well aware of the interest in the school sites as Internet use increases.
But it's not there yet, he admits. As chairman of the technology committee of the Nassau superintendents, McGoldrick said, at this point, school Web sites are generally considered more valuable for their public relations function than as an instructional aide. To varying degrees, the three programs are all offering staff training or some type of shared services. Ore. There, the Web site was the organization's central nervous system. He immediately scrapped the old site, he said, created the job of full-time Webmaster and placed responsibility for it with members of his top leadership team.