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Board presses administrators on ParentSquare messaging contract amid one-to-one messaging concerns
Summary
SD U-46 administrators presented a ParentSquare contract for athletics/activities; board members raised concerns about one-to-one coach–student messaging, opt-out processes, message retention, and monitoring. Administrators said the system archives messages, offers AI flagging and translation, and can be configured for one-way or two-way communication.
Administrators recommended a contract with ParentSquare for $82,183.50 to provide messaging and communication services for middle- and high-school athletics and activities. The contract was presented by Assistant Superintendent Dr. Annette Acevedo and Mark Spicone, coordinator of athletics and activities.
Board members pressed staff about the app's one-to-one messaging between coaches and students. A board member said, "I have a real issue with the ability for a coach and a student to text in a private environment 1 on 1 regardless of its individual text and app. ... It's just a giant no no."
Coordinator Mark Spicone and staff described system safeguards. Spicone said the product is designed primarily for notification, can be configured to allow one-way or two-way messaging, archives communications, and includes filtering and AI-based flagging to prevent questionable messages from being delivered. He described language support and translation features that can render messages into a parent's chosen language and translate responses back into English for district review. "Everything in here is archived and saved so that if we had any questions, we would always be able to go back and review those messages," a presenter said.
Board members requested further detail about configuration options and opt-out processes. Administration agreed to return with additional information and a summary of communication-restriction options, including whether messages could be limited to one-way coach-to-parents/team notifications.
What happens next: administration will provide follow-up information on configuration choices, oversight and opt-out procedures before final execution of the contract.
