For WISD parents, that task is made simpler by a platform called Parent Square.
And even better for the district, out of 8,110 families, only 13 don’t have it.
“[It] allows for staff to communicate with parents and each other and provide up-to-the-minute and reliable information,” said Reid Blackwell, WISD Director of Communications. “WISD is 99.8 percent contactable.”
Parent Square was founded in 2011 when a computer engineer and parent, Anupama Vaid, took a sabbatical from her job and realized how much more connected she was to her children’s school life. She wanted to bring that experience to all families.
Blackwell said one of the many advantages of the platform is that it can translate any text into 100 different languages. A principal or teacher can input the message and depending on the preferences the parent(s) have set up, parents will see the message in that language. Then, when they reply, they can type it in their preferred language and the administrator will see it in English.
“There is no need to use Google Translator or any other software so it saves time,” Blackwell added. “It breaks down the language barrier.”
Parents can also choose their preferred way to be contacted – an app push, by email, or by text – and they don’t need to be logged in to get the message.
“No matter what, that message will be available to them and it makes sure we’re not inundating them all day long,” Blackwell said.
Kindra Lucia, WISD board member and parent of a child in the district, said it’s her favorite form of communication with the district.
“It’s a one-stop shop,” she said. “[I can get] real time notifications and also communicate with teachers in real time, too. Absolutely love it.”
Blackwell said Ikard Elementary sends about 20 messages per day, mostly around dismissal time, both for staff and for parents to be aware of changes and for reminders.
Ultimately, Blackwell said, the goal of the platform is to inform without over-communicating but also to cut out on misinformation that can disseminated on social media, especially in an emergency.
“It really has changed the way staff communicates with each other and parents,” he said.
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