School Websites

What are your reactions to the websites you looked at?
All of these websites have interesting ways to lay out their content.  I have done a great deal of research in websites when I took over as the webmaster here at Sioux Valley.


• Is a website like this useful to a school district?
I am always looking for ways to improve our school website.  I ask myself sometime if there are areas that are not necessary to have on a website. A website is useful, but needs to be maintained and updated as to not be outdated so those viewing it are always seeing factual and present information.  That is the hard thing: Five minutes after you update your website it is old.

• Is it worth the time and effort to establish and maintain such a website?
I feel is well worth the time.  The trick to find that time and pay someone for it....some bigger schools have a full time webmaster...which is not practical in most school districts.  It can be frustrating to have very little time to do this task.

• What is the condition of your school’s website?
I would give our school website a 7 out of 10.  I have made many improvements, but have several more things in mind to make it better.  We have frontpage and I would like to update the software to make the website more user friendly and to have more options.

• What information should be included in a school website?
Useful information and information that will enhance and promote the district and all it's programs and activities both academic and extra-curricular.  I see more and more groups affiliated with the school (booster club, music masters, etc...) that are using this to get their information out to the public.

• What role should the superintendent have with the school website?
I think a superintendent's vision should include the website...I can see that person giving detailed instructions of how he or she would like to lay out the website to be and I would also like to see a Supe's Up or weekly blog or bulletin on the website.  This is a great way to extend the communication of the school and the community.

• Should each teacher be required to have a link on the school website that contains information about their classes (such as assignments, web resources, etc)?
I think it would be useful....but again the trick is to keep it fresh and updated.  Having a certain day and time to update the website is always helpful. Once the website is set up, then all of those who view and use it will expect it to be updated regularly.

• How can students be involved creating and maintaining a school website?
I think students can be a useful resource in a school's website.  It would be important to have a supervisor to make sure the quality of work is top notch and that the website is not being mistreated in any way...the hope is that the students would help out a great deal and that students would not damage the website for those that use it.  They would enjoy this very much I believe I think many school use this as part of their curriculum.