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Great Valley staff pitch ParentSquare app to centralize communications and add translation features
Summary
Communications staff recommended ParentSquare to replace several district platforms, emphasizing built‑in translation, targeted messaging and a phased implementation; the board will consider a three‑year contract with year‑one cost quoted at about $25,000 and a one‑time onboarding fee.
Communications staff asked the Great Valley School Board to approve a districtwide rollout of ParentSquare, a unified communications platform that the district would use for mass notifications, newsletters and two‑way messaging with automatic translation into more than 90 languages.
Theresa (communications staff) introduced ParentSquare and described how the district evaluated platforms. She said the district sought better translation services for multilingual families and wanted to consolidate multiple systems. "Instead of adding just another tool to our inventory, there are a lot of platforms that are available these days that really condense it all into 1 streamlined communication platform," Theresa said.
What ParentSquare would do: staff described three core features — mass notifications (email, phone, and text), post feeds that function like newsletters and announcements, and two‑way direct messaging with a live translation feature that supports more than 90 languages. Staff also described optional features (forms, permission slips, calendar RSVPs, invoices/payments and conference scheduling) that could be phased in after core functionality is operating.
Cost and rollout: the district presented a three‑year quote totaling $80,226; year one was quoted at $24,980.80 plus a one‑time onboarding cost. Staff proposed a phased implementation: first train district administrators and year‑round staff over the summer, then train teachers and coaches, then launch to the broader community with multilingual materials and parent sessions. "We would include students because students are part of the remind," Theresa said when asked about athletics and coach communications; district staff noted ParentSquare can replace or incorporate Remind‑style team messages and integrate coach, teacher and student communication while preserving translation.
Board questions focused on adoption and scope. Board members asked whether parents would still receive traditional emails (yes — ParentSquare supports email and daily digest options), whether PTOs could use the platform (staff said they would explore legal and counsel constraints for external organizations), and whether the district could launch before school to avoid adding another wave of messages once the year starts. Theresa said staff would prioritize early rollout and back‑to‑school events for parent signups.
Planned action: staff will present a ParentSquare approval item to the board at the next meeting (the presenter said it will be on the Monday meeting for board consideration). If approved, staff plan a phased three‑month implementation and training schedule.
