Call Out System

Synrevoice’s School Connects has been used since September of 2007. School Connects is used for communication with parents, staff and students by phone and electronic messages. School-wide messages are delivered as well as messages to more targeted audiences. District #200 uses an on-site School Connects system for delivering non-urgent messages. Examples of non-urgent messages would include reminders about conferences and other upcoming events. In addition, we subscribe to the fully-hosted ASP service for situations where we need a higher calling capacity and need to deliver a message very quickly.

E-Mail System

Microsoft Outlook is the official email system currently in place for all district staff. Beginning in the fall of 2010, we began implementing Google Apps for Education which includes access to Google’s gmail. We are currently using gmail as our recommended student email system for students in grades 6-12. (Teachers who wish to use this tool to communicate with students are also provided with a Google Apps account.) Hastings Apps gives all 6-12 students access to a robust and secure platform for collaboration with their teachers and other students. 

In addition to email, Hastings Apps includes tools for word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations. The technology team has carefully configured the system to maximize its use while preserving a secure online environment for students. All emails are scanned for potentially malicious content. As with other technology systems, the best defense is effective supervision of students while they use technology and education for students about safe online practices. Hastings Apps provides a wonderful opportunity to discuss digital citizenship with our students and provides them with an opportunity to begin developing their “professional” digital footprint.

Marketing and Branding

In the spring of 2010 District 200 produced a District #200 Video which is currently posted on our District #200 website in an effort to market the district and further the branding of  ISD #200 in the surrounding areas.

Electronic School News and Calendars

District #200 School News is published on the District #200 website and building level web pages. School Connects is utilized to delivery news messages such as reminders about upcoming conferences, registration and open house dates, and other messages that need to be delivered to the entire district or a more targeted audience such as a specific building or grade level. School Connects messages are delivered via phone and/or email. The District #200 planning and events calendar is published on the District #200 website. School level calendars are available on each school’s website. 

In the fall of 2010, Hastings High School began distributing school newsletters electronically.  Families continue to have the option to “opt-in” and receive a paper copy of the newsletters, but approximately 95% of the newsletters are sent to families electronically.  Parents are notified using School Connects email and/or phone messages when new newsletters have been posted to our website.

Social Media and other Web 2.0 Applications

In the fall of 2010, Hastings Apps (Google Apps for Education) was introduced in our secondary building to help promote collaboration, accountability, engagement and communication.  The first phase of this project was open to all teachers in our secondary building that showed an interest in incorporating these tools into curriculum. A wide spectrum of teachers (special education, regular education, honors and gifted and talented) expressed interest and have begun using Hastings  Apps with their students. Our middle school students are being introduced to  Hastings Apps through their technology classes. Teachers at our high school have been redesigning projects to incorporate this technology. Hastings Apps is only one of a myriad of Web 2.0 tools (Animoto, delicious, Dropbox, Shelfari, Rubistar , Wordle, etc.) that we are promoting (through in-service technology training) for our teachers to use in their subject areas to help prepare their learners for the 21^st Century. 

In the spring of 2011, District #200 will launch a District Facebook Page which will allow students, staff and community members to voice their opinions on a variety of subjects. It will also be another means of communication for School District activities, meetings and information.

Community Survey Tools

District #200 has used several methods of surveying parents including Survey Monkey, School Connects, online surveys through our website and Poll Everywhere, a web based polling tool that uses text responses from cell phones as a survey tool. 

Video Broadcast/Podcast

District #200 utilizes the local public access channel, Hastings Public Television, Channel 14, to broadcast interviews and question and answer sessions with the Superintendent of Schools, as well as other administrators, faculty members and members of the community on topics of interest and concern to the community.  In addition, we produce video clips and post them directly on our website on various topics of interest to parents and well as the community at large. We are also looking at more fully implementing teacher and student created videos into our instructional practices. We are exploring how best to “house” and share these with our students and among our teachers and perhaps beyond our school walls.

Videoconferencing

Videoconferencing is a tool that has had, to date, limited use in our district. We will explore ways to add this tool as a means for communication in a number of settings. Several staff are utilizing videoconferencing and other video streaming as an alternative to face to face meetings. Attending a meeting virtually is sometimes a preferred method given the savings of travel and time. In addition, we are looking at ways that we can use videoconferencing to connect our students beyond their classroom, community, and sometimes even beyond our state and country. A team of teachers participated in a federal grant program during the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 school years that focused on using videoconferencing as part of a Project Based Learning implementation.

Dynamic Website

District #200 uses Urban Planet for our dynamic website. Websites have been built at the district level as well as building levels.  In addition to the district and building websites, nearly all teachers in the district have a web presence. Teachers are given the option of developing their teacher webpage using Urban Planet, SchoolTIES or other web management tools, provided they follow the District #200 Internet Acceptable Use Policy and Web Page Guidelines.