By Staff
Online resources easier to navigate
By KEVIN SCOTT CUTLER
Lifestyles &Features Editor
The Beaufort County Schools’ Web site is becoming more user friendly and is packed with information for parents, students and staff.
A new BCS site was launched last week, according to Andrea Lilley, instructional design specialist with the schools.
Cynthia Brower, BCS director of instructional technology, recognized the need for an updated school Web site while studying other sites, according to Lilley. Dr. Jeff Moss, then-superintendent of Beaufort County Schools, supported the idea and the school system chose School Fusion, a Colorado-based company, to design the new site.
With input from local school personnel, the site was created to highlight each of the county’s public schools. Photos of student activities are featured, and every teacher can have a personal classroom page.
BCS Public Information Officer Sarah Hodges said the site “is only going to keep getting bigger and better. The response so far has been very positive.”
The students are benefiting from improvements to the site, Lilley said.
Each school is responsible for its own site content, including announcements of upcoming events, bell schedules, bus stops and meal menus. Plans are to eventually include students’ artwork on the site, and sports fans will be able to follow the progress of school teams, Lilley explained.
Lilley called the launching of the site a county-wide group effort. “A lot of county employees have done a lot of work on this site, and it’s opening doors for our students, our teachers and the community,” she said.
One feature parents may appreciate is the updated listings of school closings and delays on the home page, according to Hodges. Parents can also download a form to update their child’s information for Alert Now, an automated call system schools use for weather-related schedule changes.
A parent-friendly transportation page has been added to the site, too.
The transportation page features a link for the North Carolina school bus law, Hudson added.
The new site includes a BCS Board of Education page, as well. Featured will be meeting schedules and agendas, goals, announcements and minutes of each board meeting, along with contact information for board members.
The main purpose of the site is to offer parents and staff the information they’ll need, right at their fingertips, Hodges said.
To view the new Beaufort County Schools Web site, visit www.beaufort.k12.nc.us.