District rolls out ParentSquare and refreshed websites for fall communications

Executive director Liana Albrecht reported that the district replaced its previous notification platform with ParentSquare and launched redesigned district and school websites aligned to the start of the 2526 school year. The new system currently provides one‑way notifications (email, text and phone) and district staff said two‑way messaging and in‑language translation for family responses will be implemented later this school year.

Albrecht described the goals: improved navigation, priority content on landing pages (calendars, icons and photo galleries), and a translation icon on each page (top‑right) for families to select preferred languages. “This project is allowing us to expand and enhance our communication and engagement at the district and school levels,” Albrecht said. She told the board that ParentSquare provides a single dashboard for sending notifications and that principals and designated staff received training; implementation is rolling and the district will expand training and features after school staff are comfortable with one‑way tools.

Board members asked whether parents currently receive reminders (for example, late start Wednesdays) through ParentSquare; Albrecht confirmed current reminders are being sent via the new system and families can adjust preferred contact methods. A board member said they found the new websites easier to navigate and another director noted positive feedback from principal and admin training.

Albrecht noted the district used stakeholder input (Parent Connections Council and a communications survey) to design navigation and content and that the websites are not static — district and school pages will be updated across the year. The district also launched FinalForms for online athletics registration to simplify compliance and improve participation data, which athletic staff referenced in a later report.