Staff Editorial

A new phone app that removes the need for paper binder reminders awaits students in August when they return for the 2012-13 school year.

This is one of the best decisions Cal High administrators have made, especially in the field of technology. This new “Cal High App,” designed by Cal High alumnus Vala Rad, will replace the majority of binder reminders and allow students to put everything from homework to sports events in a calendar.

Everything students can do in a normal binder reminder is available in this app, plus teachers can now send assignments to their students.

Adding more technology to Cal can only make the school better. As we move to more of a technological world and paperless systems, this is a great idea that allows students to keep up with this 21st century mind-set while helping the school save money.

The binder reminders cost the school $18,000 for this school year, but the app will only cost $3,800. Although there will be an annual maintenance fee of $350 a month for the app, the school will still save thousands of dollars each year. With coming budget cuts to public school systems statewide, every penny that Cal can save will help.

Most students do not use their binder reminders as it is, but a smaller, portable version on a phone that students never seem to forget is the best possible replacement.

The only problems with this app are its availability and when students can use it.

Only students with smartphones, tablets and products with app capabilities can download this program. But most students at Cal have smartphones or other items that can download the app.

For students that don’t have smart phones but still want binder reminders, they can buy them for $5 during registration.

One obstacle to implementing this app is that teachers may need to allot class time for students to access it and be more lenient about the no cell phone use policy in class. Some teachers confiscate phones as soon as they see a student use them in class.

There has been talk about amending the school electronics policy to allow students to access the app during the first and last five minutes of each class. This would be an excellent idea because if teachers do not allow students a brief amount of in-class time to access the app, it may become useless at school and be of use only at home or between periods.

Students should find the app very helpful because they are commonly unable to turn in homework because their teacher did not post it on schoolloop or update the due-date. This app will help alleviate this problem that falls on the shoulders of so many students.

The Californian believes this app is a great idea because it cuts costs from Cal’s budget while advancing the school in the field of technology. The students that use binder reminders will now have a portable, update-able, phone version, and students that do not use binder reminders will no longer cost the school excess money.