District outlines communications strategy, reports ParentSquare rollout progress

The Kearney School District communications and community relations staff presented an overview of the past year’s work and near-term priorities, including the districtwide rollout of ParentSquare and plans for website replacement, customer-service restructuring and a communications internship program.

The presenter described the communications office as a one-person department that supports stakeholders and teams across the district, while relying on collaboration with cabinet and administrative staff. The district has procured a comprehensive communications platform and reported a soft launch of ParentSquare for summer programs and coaches. Staff said about 67% of staff and roughly 50% of parents had registered accounts as of mid-June; presenters called for additional outreach to raise parent registration.

The communications lead described a multi-pronged outreach plan to reach households outside the district’s immediate network, including engaging a local vendor to verify households by literally driving district boundaries to ensure mailing lists are current and planning mailings and website improvements aimed at residents who are not yet connected. The presenter said the district is planning commemorative events for the district’s 150th anniversary as an engagement opportunity.

Board members praised the staff’s work and asked for follow-up on ParentSquare adoption by board members and for progress reports on parent-registration rates. The presenter said future work will focus on connecting the communications plan to district strategic goals and broadening engagement beyond families already connected to schools.