OJAI : Junior High Installs Homework Hotline

Matilija Junior High School in Ojai is banking on a $13,000 phone system called Homework Hotline to help parents know what is happening in their children’s classrooms.

The system, designed by Advanced Voice Technologies, allows parents with touch-tone phones to dial recorded messages from teachers.

Teachers will make daily recordings of assigned homework, tips, messages or field-trip information. If a child misses a day of school, the parent can call to find out what is expected of the child the following day.

Matilija Principal James Berube calls it a “fantastic tool for parents and teachers to hold hands and educate.”

Ojai Unified School District contracted with the Nashville, Tenn., company to install the four-line phone system and train teachers and administrators how to use it. Officials expect the system to be operating today and teachers to be trained next week. The hot line is expected to be ready for parents’ calls by Jan. 14.

Company spokeswoman Carol Frazer said it will be the first Homework Hotline in Ventura County. Berube learned about it after seeing an article in the Los Angeles Times about a school in Irvine that uses the system. The Ojai school is the 41st in the country to buy it, he said.

“We’re finding out that from 40% to 60% of the parents use the system on a daily basis,” Frazer said.

Gateway Middle School in Maumee, Ohio, with an enrollment similar to Matilija of about 600 students, reported 8,323 calls within the first six days of installation, she said.

Matilija’s system will provide callers with 24-hour access to classroom information, an events calendar, PTA news and a message from the principal, Berube said. It will also allow emergency messages if a disaster such as an earthquake occurs and the phones are still working.

“The program advocates parent involvement and, in my opinion, that is a great influence on student performance,” Berube said.