District communications director outlines new website, school subsites and outreach plans

Dana Grow, the district director of communications, told the Octorara Area School District Board that since arriving in November she has focused on three priorities—clarity, accessibility and storytelling—to strengthen the district’s communications foundation.

Grow said she conducted a district‑wide content audit, removed outdated pages and reorganized site navigation so families can “find what they need quickly and confidently.” She said the main district website is updated and that she is building individual school subsites for the middle school, primary learning center, intermediate school, high school and CTE programs so parents can access school‑specific attendance procedures, health information, forms and event details without navigating district pages.

Grow described social media and storytelling as tools to “showcase excellence,” naming consistent posts about student accomplishments, classroom innovation and community partnerships as having driven measurable engagement growth. She proposed three near‑term initiatives: a biannual mailed/emailed community communication piece to reach every household, a student communication shadowing program to give students real‑world media experience and amplify student voices, and a comprehensive district profile to support outreach, recruitment and economic development conversations.

Board members asked about a consolidated events calendar, domain continuity and whether communications reach township supervisors and borough council members. Grow said the primary domain remains the same, subsites are under development and she is exploring distribution options and cadence for district communications so non‑parent community members (for example, grandparents or local officials) can opt in to updates. She also said staff are preparing a press release summarizing a recent legislators’ luncheon and that school‑level websites and newsletter plans are nearly complete.

The presentation concluded with board members thanking Grow for branding work, videos and improved consistency across district materials. Grow said the digital changes are intended to make communications proactive rather than reactive and that the district is close to finishing the subsites and a more cohesive public presence.