By ANN PIERCEALL

Herald-Whig Staff Writer

PALMYRA, Mo. -- Parents in the Palmyra R-1 School District won't have to wait for parent-teacher conferences to find out how their child is doing in school, all they have to do is click online.

Superintendent Eric Churchwell said the district is offering the Student Information System this year to help out parents.

"We're always trying to find ways to get information to parents, to get parents involved in their kids' education," he said. "As kids get older they tend not to inform their parents as much about what's going on as the younger kids. I think this will be a real positive especially for parents of those older kids, they can keep a little bit better eye on things."

With the a click of their mouse parents will have access to student information that includes lunch charges, disciplinary actions, grades, which will begin to appear after mid-quarter, even notes from teachers on homework.

"It really is a good way get to be part of the process," Churchwell said.

Parents will have to supply an e-mail address in order to get a password from the company offering the program. Once they have that password, then access to their child's information can be gained by going to the Palmyra schools Web site where there's a link to the Student Information System.

Churchwell said before deciding to offer the program the school district checked with other area schools already offering such access. Hannibal School District is one.

Assistant Superintendent Susan Johnson said Parent Link has been up and running for more than three years. She said a majority of middle school and high school parents have signed up to use it.

"The feedback we've received from parents has been very, very encouraging. They appreciate the opportunity to stay in close contact with teachers, to be able to view student progress or lack thereof in their child's classroom, just really be connected to how he or she is doing in school on a more regular basis," she said.

Frank Desmond of Hannibal is one of those parents. His daughter Addie is a junior this year. He said he uses the system regularly for keeping track of Addie's lunch account so he knows when to send money to bolster it.

"I can catch all the grades. You can see test scores. You can see the daily homework scores. You can get a feel for what's going on .... if you need to do something you can before it's too late," he said. Desmond said the teachers are "really, really good" about responding to e-mails.

As for Addie, she doesn't mind her dad checking up on her.

"As long as I don't bring it up often," Desmond said.

-- apierceall@whig.com/(573) 221-5879