District demonstrates ParentSquare rollout, translation and AI chat features to board
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Summary
Communications lead Carmen presented ParentSquare as a unified district communications platform with two-way messaging, automatic language translation, Skyward sync and analytics (2,530 parent emails, 56% app adoption, ~209,820 direct messages over two years); she showed a website AI chat reading the calendar and returning dates such as 03/25/2025.
Carmen, the district communications lead, told the April 8 board the district adopted ParentSquare to unify communications across email, text, app and website channels and to provide two-way messaging and automatic language translation. "It's a unified platform," she said, adding that ParentSquare replaces multiple apps and offers mass notifications, classroom posts and direct messages that preserve privacy while enabling conversation.
Carmen shared usage statistics from the district dashboard: about 2,530 parents with email addresses in the system, roughly 56% of users have downloaded the app, and the district has sent about 209,820 direct messages in two years, with more than 13,000 active threads. She emphasized that messages are archived and synced with Skyward for recordkeeping.
On language access, Carmen said automatic translation to the family's preferred language is a key feature and that staff have worked to get language settings configured for multilingual families. "Once you do it, then you can see it on the sheets you have," she said, noting staff follow-up to ensure translations reach families.
Carmen also demonstrated website AI: she said the site's chat feature scans district web content and returned an example that identified a varsity softball opening date of 03/25/2025. She described the chat as a diagnostic tool that can surface missing or inconsistent calendar content and as an opportunity to identify common questions the district should put on its site.
Why it matters: the platform centralizes outreach, provides analytics for engagement and aims to increase access for multilingual families who rely on automatic translation. Carmen recommended families check notification preferences (instant or daily digest) to control message volume.
Next steps: district staff will continue training, encourage app downloads and refine the Hornet Blast Mini paper newsletter distribution at community locations such as City Hall, the library and the senior center.
Direct quotes: “The most important thing I think though is this, what if I'm not getting notifications?” Carmen asked, explaining digest and instant preferences. On translation she said, “It doesn't matter what the family when a family moves into Beech Grove, they will have their language.”
