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Kearney board approves ParentSquare to centralize district communications and revamp websites
Summary
The Kearney School District Board approved a contract to adopt ParentSquare as the district's single communications platform and to migrate district and school websites to the vendor's templates; implementation begins this summer with training for staff and prioritized rollout for coaches and activity sponsors.
The Kearney School District Board approved an agreement to adopt ParentSquare as the district's primary communications platform and to migrate district and school websites to ParentSquare templates. The board passed the motion by voice vote; the contract is scheduled to take effect July 1.
District staff said the platform will replace multiple separate applications currently used for messaging and classroom-level communication, consolidate mass notifications (email, robocall, SMS and push), and provide a mobile app with two-way messaging for classrooms, activities and athletics. The vendor's website templates will also replace the district's current WordPress-hosted sites.
Superintendents and staff told the board the selection followed a stakeholder committee process that included teachers, coaches, activity sponsors, parents and central-office staff. Coaches and activity sponsors were identified as an early rollout priority; district staff said volunteers from those groups will help pilot the system at summer activities. Administrators also noted that ParentSquare offers a data-privacy agreement and that the district will continue to work with the vendor on a payment add-on the vendor offers.
District leaders said the platform is intended to reduce the number of separate apps parents and staff must use, centralize official communications and improve access to event RSVPs, forms and calendars. Technical and training work will be required: the district indicated it will provide staff professional development and that the vendor provides technical support. The board approved the contract and authorized staff to begin implementation steps.
Votes at a glance: the motion "Move to approve the agreement with ParentSquare as presented" passed by voice vote; no recorded no votes or abstentions were announced in the meeting transcript.
Implementation details provided at the meeting included a July 1 contract start date, an administrative rollout plan with training and a website redesign effort managed with the vendor. The district will continue to evaluate the vendor's optional payment functionality and follow federal guidance on data/privacy as it configures the system.
