In a small, rural community there are few ways for neighbors to communicate. In times of crisis we usually just pick up the phone, but with technology advancing every day, e-mail and the Internet has, in some situations, become the better choice.

It is why Bruce Pavalow created Lewisboro Online, an online community center for townspeople to connect and find information about their town. It is also why the school board should support his request to be added to the list of media outlets the school district contacts about school closings and delays.

At a meeting of the school board, a majority of members and administrators seemed skeptical about adding Lewisboro Online to the list of people contacted about school closings and delays in snowstorms and other emergencies. Many said that, although it would not be difficult to add him to the list of calls the district makes, it may not be fair, since his organization is not a radio or television outlet nor is he connected with the school district.

Board member Donna Walsh said she knows a number of organizations in town that would love to be on the list. Other board members and administrators agreed. They said the school district's only responsibility was to inform the public and the district did that through the school Web site and the radio and television stations. Therefore, they were under no obligation to accept Mr. Pavalow's offer.

It may not be required, but it would be another way to provide more efficient communication between parents and the schools.

Fulfilling responsibility is good. Doing something that is easy and will go beyond fulfilling responsibility is better. The Lewisboro Ledger uses Lewisboro Online to post articles from the previous week and will use it this week to let townspeople know who wins the final Town Board seat. It isn't necessary for us to do so, but it improves our communication with our readers, so we do it as an additional service. It is a similar situation with the schools.

Dr. Robert Lichtenfeld, school superintendent, said it was not difficult to add another name. As pointed out through questions from board member Brent Hailpern, there is no complicated application process. In fact, it is a simple one.

It is understandable that the school does not want to be unfair to other organizations. The board is rightly concerned. However, Lewisboro Online is not of the same genre as the various nursery schools and private groups that would like to be called in the case of a delay.

Unlike those groups, Lewisboro Online is a media outlet, just as radio and televisions stations have been for years. While its messages aren't broadcast over radio waves they reach members of the community more and more each day. Mr. Pavalow said just this week the number of parents asking for the e-mail service has grown from 87 to 94. You may do so at LewisboroOnline.org. That's one new person a day.

If Mr. Pavalow were to have a more efficient way of knowing that schools were closed, those very people who are currently asking the district for prompter notification could be added to his list of contacts and could also receive his free service.

Today, e-mail has become a vital outlet for communication for many people. In some situations it is more appropriate than the radio or a phone call or searching the 'Net. Those who are up early while others are sleeping, or in the office where others are working, may not want to have the radio on, distracting those around them. As Mr. Pavalow suggested, constantly checking the school Web site is not always an option for people either. Rather, a quick e-mail reporting the delay or cancellation is sometimes more effective.

The school board often says it wants to improve communications with the public. For once, opportunity is knocking. All the school district has to do is answer.