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Superintendent unveils ParentSquare, new district website and strategic-plan launch
Summary
Superintendent Santana showcased a new district website with multi-language translation and introduced ParentSquare as a consolidated parent-communication platform with auto-translation and auto-rostering; trustees requested earlier notice and asked for access/training ahead of public rollout. The strategic plan will be presented Aug. 27.
Superintendent Santana used the communications portion of the meeting to highlight three district initiatives: a new district website that offers multiple-language translation, a consolidated communications platform called ParentSquare that auto-translates messages for parents and auto-rosters accounts, and a public launch of the district's new strategic plan on Aug. 27.
On ParentSquare, Santana described the platform as a replacement for multiple existing tools (Blackboard Connect, Remind and others) and emphasized two capabilities: automatic translation of teacher messages into a parent's chosen language and automatic translation of parent responses back into English for staff, and auto-rostering that enrolls families through the district student information system. "If a teacher puts a message into a parent that has selected to receive information in Spanish, the platform automatically translates it to them," Santana said. Santana added the district will provide training for administrators and teachers and will distribute instructions for trustees to log in.
Trustee Pacini said trustees should have been notified earlier about a system that affects every family; Pacini described receiving a robocall before board members had been briefed. Santana said the communication had been included in a board update and pledged to have staff send trustees login instructions and to schedule training. The board also discussed offering parent workshops in August to explain the device policy and the communications rollout.
Superintendent Santana also previewed the new district website's features, including language toggles (Espanol, Creole, Urdu) and school-level pages with quick links to calendars, contact information, weekly schedules and program highlights. Santana said the site will reflect the district's new strategic plan and that the plan will be publicly presented at the Aug. 27 board meeting.
Why it matters: consolidating communications and improving translation aims to increase access for families whose preferred language is not English and reduce reliance on personal phone numbers. Trustees asked for timely briefings and access so they can answer constituent questions.
