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Rockdale County schools approve $163,835 ParentSquare contract to replace Remind
Summary
The Rockdale County Board of Education approved a three-year $163,835 contract for ParentSquare, the company that acquired Remind, after a presentation on the platform’s features and recommended transition plan.
The Rockdale County Board of Education on May 20 approved a three-year, $163,835 contract to purchase ParentSquare, a communication platform that acquired Remind, the district’s current texting tool. The board voted 7-0 to adopt the superintendent’s recommendation to buy ParentSquare, with the district funding the contract from Title IV dollars.
Chief of Strategy and Innovation Mrs. Ball presented the purchase recommendation and described ParentSquare as an integrated communications platform that combines Remind’s texting features with expanded functions such as automated attendance notices, newsletters, urgent call/text alerts, multilingual automatic translation and direct integration with the district’s student information system (Infinite Campus). Ball said ParentSquare supports 20 million students nationwide, offers automated language translation and allows families to customize how and when routine communications arrive on their devices.
Ball told the board that Remind will not automatically update to ParentSquare on parents’ phones, and families will need to download the ParentSquare app; however, district rosters will be migrated so families remain connected by class and school. Ball said the vendor will allow Rockdale County to choose a schedule for turning Remind off to ease the transition.
The superintendent’s memo recommended the contract because ParentSquare had acquired the district’s current messaging vendor and offered broader functionality. The contract cost is broken out as $49,910 in year one, $54,250 in year two and $59,675 in year three, totaling $163,835 over three years. Ball said the contract has been reviewed by general counsel and that the district intends to use Title IV funds to pay for it.
Board members asked whether Remind would automatically update to ParentSquare and whether the new platform would be user-friendly for less tech-savvy parents; Ball replied Remind would not auto-update and said ParentSquare is designed to be as easy to use as, or easier than, Remind. Justin Kenny made the motion to approve the purchase; Heather Duncan seconded. The motion passed 7-0.
The board discussion and vote occurred during the meeting’s new business segment after an informational presentation from Ball on the district’s plans for the tool and a brief question-and-answer exchange about rollout timing and usability for families.
