Brewster School District adopts ParentSquare as new communication platform

In a pivotal Board of Education meeting held on July 1, 2025, the White Plains City School District unveiled its new communications platform, ParentSquare, marking a significant shift in how the district engages with families, staff, and students. The decision to adopt this platform was met with enthusiasm, as it promises to address several shortcomings of the previous system, K12 Alerts.

The district's current platform, while reliable, has faced criticism for its lack of user-friendliness and security. It primarily focused on mass communications, failing to cater to internal communications or provide translation services. Recognizing these gaps, the district explored various alternatives, including Infinite Campus' Messenger and ClassDojo, before concluding that ParentSquare offered the most comprehensive solution.

ParentSquare stands out with its modern interface and user-friendly design, making it accessible for parents, staff, and students alike. Notably, it allows for seamless communication through text messages, emails, and social media-like posts, ensuring that important information is easily disseminated and not lost in crowded inboxes. The platform also features automatic translation capabilities, supporting up to 200 languages, which is crucial for a diverse community.

During the meeting, a demonstration showcased ParentSquare's functionalities, including targeted messaging, alerts, and a user-friendly posting system. The platform's ability to categorize communications into posts, alerts, and direct messaging was highlighted as a significant improvement over the previous system. This allows for more effective communication tailored to specific audiences, enhancing engagement and responsiveness.

As the district prepares to roll out ParentSquare, plans are in place for professional development sessions to ensure that teachers and staff are comfortable using the new system. The goal is to foster automatic adoption, with the hope that its intuitive design will encourage widespread use without extensive training.

Looking ahead, the district aims to expand ParentSquare's use into classrooms, establishing a robust internal communications protocol. While there are concerns about potential overuse of the platform, the overall sentiment is one of optimism. The transition to ParentSquare is seen as a crucial step toward enhancing communication within the White Plains City School District, ultimately benefiting the entire school community.