FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Question: Why are school & District websites changing?

Answer: Edline, the current product for school websites, is no longer supported by the vendor. This requires that we convert all school websites to a new product. After a thorough Request for Proposal (RFP) process, West Interactive Services, Inc. and their product, SchoolMessenger, was chosen.

2. Question: What are some of the improvements or benefits a SchoolMessenger website will provide?

Answer: The new SchoolMessenger product is a significant upgrade from our existing websites. Schools will have a fresh new look and users will be able to navigate between schools or to the District website seamlessly. Here are additional improvements / benefits:

• SchoolMessenger websites are mobile browser friendly.
• The new websites will be very user friendly and easy for webmasters to populate.
• Webmasters will edit right on the page.
• The navigation between schools is mostly identical.
• The one stop shop for District resources is on every page - you don’t have to worry about getting District forms and information updated on your site.
• The Communications Department can post alerts and urgent announcements to all sites or just one, in the event of an emergency.
• Granular permissions - no more posting information about the school play. Your drama teacher can be assigned a page to manage on your website.
• The new site will look awesome!

3. Question: Will there be SchoolMessenger training opportunities in addition to the initial face-to-face training outlined in the bulletin?

Answer: Yes. In addition to face-to-face training, this SchoolMessenger Resource Center is available & includes training guides, frequently asked questions, and District contacts for assistance. Open labs will be available for refresher training and an online SchoolMessenger Refresher eLearning course will become available.

4. Question: When will my school’s SchoolMessenger website go live to the public?

Answer: Once your webmaster has mastered the new platform, your new website can open as early as April 2. It must be ready to open NO LATER than June 8. All new school websites must go live on June 8.

5. Question: How will the maintenance of my school’s website change with SchoolMessenger?

Answer: The new website allows for granular permissions for certain areas or entire pages of your website. We need to train a super user for now, but eventually, the task of populating certain areas of your website can be shared by the people who have a vested interest in getting it online. If your webmaster wins the lottery tomorrow and doesn’t come back to work, you will eventually have other individuals on your campus who can make changes to your website.

6. Question: Will the information / content from my school’s current Edline website be moved to the new SchoolMessenger site?

Answer: Don’t panic, the content currently on your website is being sorted and moved over to the new website. Your webmaster will be trained on how to use the new platform and tweak the website to your liking.

7. Question: Some of my teachers have web pages in Edline. Will teachers have similar sites in SchoolMessenger?

Answer: SchoolMessenger does allow for teacher & club web pages. However, SchoolMessenger teacher & club web pages must be PUBLIC. They will not be password protected for students and parents only.

8. Question: Will current Edline teacher web pages automatically migrate to SchoolMessenger teacher web pages?

Answer: No. Current teacher webpages in Edline will not automatically transfer to a SchoolMessenger teacher web page. Teachers who currently have active web pages in Edline need to download and save all of their content and links.

9. Question: If one or more of my teachers want a SchoolMessenger public teacher web page, how do they get one?

Answer: Beginning February 10, teachers or clubs wanting a SchoolMessenger web page should inform their School Tech (ITSA or STST). Then, the School Tech should submit a Service Request in eSupport listing the names of the teachers &/or club sponsors who want a web page. In the eSupport Service Category, select the “Web Content Management System” category under the “Web and Collaboration” heading.

10. Question: How will my teachers learn about the option to have a SchoolMessenger classroom web page available to the public?

Answer: Your webmaster will be instrumental in communicating this message to teachers. However, we will message teachers directly as well.

11. Question: Will ALL teachers in the District automatically have a SchoolMessenger classroom site available to the public?

Answer: No. Only teachers included in a Service Request asking for teacher pages will receive a SchoolMessenger web page.

12. Question: Once a teacher has a SchoolMessenger web page, how will he or she learn how to maintain it and obtain access to maintain it?

Answer: Teachers will access SchoolMessenger via the SchoolMessenger tile in the employee portal. There will be a short online course specific to teachers in eLearning Management to teach them how to maintain and change their web page. In addition, they will have access to this SchoolMessenger Resource Center site. The SchoolMessenger platform was partially chosen for ease of use - teachers who currently manage Edline web pages should find the new system very user friendly.

13. Question: If Edline is expiring, what does that mean for parent access to student grades and related information (parent portal)?

Answer: The District is also launching a new and much improved parent & student 'gateway' within the new SIS product. This does not require any action on the part of the teacher and more information will follow in the coming weeks.

14. Question: Will the SchoolMessenger teacher web pages offer the same functions and features as current Edline teacher web pages?

Answer: No. Since the SchoolMessenger teacher web pages are public, there is no ability for students and teachers to collaborate on assignments, upload assignments, etc. Teachers will be encouraged to use Google Classroom for those types of functions.

15. Question: Will schools be able to create web pages for activities, clubs, and athletics?

Answer: Yes

16. Question: The logo &/or color on my site is not correct. How can I get that changed?

Answer: Submit a Service Request in eSupport with the correct or updated logo attached to the ticket.

17. Question: Are the news feed items near the top left of my site home page supposed to be linked to the large pictures / images to the right of the news items?

Answer: No. The news stories, rotating pictures, & the 2 boxes under the news & rotating pictures are all separate & distinct from each other. They are not meant to be linked to each other. Therefore, you may put any content you desire in each of those locations.

18. Question: Do we have the ability to change the content in the Quick Link (School Calendar, Find My Bus, Referendum 2016, etc.) boxes in the center of my home page?

Answer: Yes, you can put your own content in those Quick Link boxes & you can add more Quick Link boxes. If you do not change the content in the Quick Link boxes, they will default to District content.

19. Question: Can I change the School Info, Athletics & Activities, Students & Parents tabs at the top of my site or the contents of the District tab in the top right corner?

Answer: No, for District branding & consistency, those should remain constant for all schools.

20. Question: Can I add my school’s social media (Twitter, Facebook or Instagram) feed to my school’s SchoolMessenger site?

Answer: Absolutely! You will notice your home page template includes a Facebook feed. You can replace that District default to your school’s Twitter or Facebook feed.

IMPORTANT NOTE: All feeds MUST have been created using a District email address that ends in @palmbeachschools.org. A feed cannot be added to your school’s site if it was created using a personal email address. We would prefer that all school social media accounts are created using a generic email address such as 0741Social@palmbeachschools.org.