Online financial transparency for public schools is more important now than ever before given our worsening economy.

Why:
(1) Public schools rely on goodwill for their financial support, and online checks make this goodwill a two-way street. With public education dollars shrinking and taxpayers unable to afford higher taxes, (2) it's time for a more meaningful dialogue between school leaders & communities than pie charts regarding where spending cuts should occur. For example, should school nurses be eliminated -- or the district's travel/meal budget for administrators?  As another example from real life, should Detroit schoolchildren have gone without so that former DPS supe Connie Calloway could have two chauffeurs, both of whom quit, alleging she wanted them to carry her purse for her?
Putting check registers online (3) is a terrific way for school leadership to prove their trustworthiness and (4) can help keep school employees honest, knowing that dubious checks will be viewed by the public -- especially if at least half of the check numbers are included. Online checks also (5) encourage wise spending. New reality: (6) with the popularity of this grassroots movement, schools who don't post are beginning to look like they're hiding something.