Wayne County Public Schools unveils new app for parents, staff
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on March 15, 2016 1:46 PM
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Pictured is a screenshot of Wayne County Public Schools' new mobile app.
Wayne County Public Schools.
There's an app for that.
For several weeks, the district has been testing a new mobile app before rolling it out.
The application is designed to provide parents, staff, students and the community with up-to-date information on important information pertaining to the district, said Ken Derksen, director of communication services. The WCPS app is free to smartphone and Android users.
"This new mobile app will empower our school community and district stakeholders to stay connected and receive the information they want directly from their mobile device," Derksen said. "Not only will parents and students be able to access items such as lunch menus, news and events calendars, those downloading the app will also receive notifications similar to a text message for weather delay, closures and other important announcements."
The app was developed in partnership with SchoolMessenger, the district's current webhosting and automated call system provider.
Under the header "Wayne County Schools," it can be downloaded from Apple iTunes or the Google Play Store, Derksen said. Parents of the approximately 19,000 student population are also being notified and encouraged to download the app to their Apple iOS or Android device.
"We look forward to continuing to work with Wayne County Public Schools to help reach its goals for effective and accessible communications throughout the entire school community," said Nate Brogan, vice president of marketing for SchoolMessenger. "Parents today are busier than ever and rely on their mobile devices to connect them to the information that matters most. SchoolMessenger allows schools and community members to stay connected through a robust mobile platform that will continue to evolve based on their needs."
In addition to the current feeds currently being offered in the app, Derksen said in the coming months the district will be working to develop new feeds that will further engage stakeholders and help get the information they are seeking right at their fingertips.
"Offering a mobile app will allow the district to communicate more effectively and better engage those who are connected to our schools," Schools Superintendent Dr. Michael Dunsmore said. "As part of the district's strategic planning efforts, we will be working to improve our current communication tools and strategically implement new tools.
"By giving our parents, staff and the general public a greater variety of options for how information can be received, our district will be able to create a stronger, more connected school community overall."