District Administration - August 2009 - (Page 44)

How Well Does This Web Site LEARN WHAT OUR WEB ANALYST SAYS IS RIGHT AND WRONG WITH THIS DISTRICT SITE Rio Rancho (N.M.) Public Schools www.rrps.net By Laura R. Bona RIO RANCHO PUBLIC SCHOOLS, established in 1994, is New Mexico’s newest school district. It is made up of 18 schools (with a second high school scheduled to open in 2009-2010), and it has approximately 16,100 students and some 1,200 teachers. Design Although this site has a text-heavy presentation (there are very few images), all of that text is highly organized and laid out sensibly. On the home page, there are section listings for “General Announcements,” “Parent News,” “Student Achievements” and “District Events.” e individual school sites share the same design. e district logo (at the top left on the main district pages, as well as on the individual schools’ pages) provides a fast click back to the main district home page. ere is also an “RRPS Home” link atop the left-hand navigation bar on the district site. Navigation e site’s consistent top navigation bar has links for “School,” “Jobs,” “Policies,” “Calendars” and “News,” along with a search entry box. e left-hand nav bar has 16 choices, among them: “Our District,” “Our Schools,” “Online Resource Catalog,” “Student Services,” “Parent Services,” “Superintendent,” “Administration” and “School Board.” Most of these navigational links open to cascading secondary menu listings. An upper-right “District Quick Links” nav tab is quite handy, with similar access to a complete list of school site links. e search functionality, powered by Google, returns relevant and accurate re44 August 2009 Although this site has a text-heavy presentation (there are very few images), all of that text is highly organized and laid out sensibly. sults. A site map could not be located at the time of this review. Usability e site provides a great deal of information for a variety of site audiences. While there were a few broken links, the site offers a productive and smooth online experience overall. ere are no accommodations for disabled users. School-to-Home Interaction e “Parent Services” section presents content in a variety of applicable areas. ese include a parenting tips service (oﬀered in conjunction with the Parenting Institute), forms and policies, general school and registration information, student safety and dress code guidelines, food services, parent advisory councils’ meeting dates and agendas, and many others. e “Student Services” section is especially deep and informative. Featured content includes the S.A.F.E. Before and After School Program, a beneﬁts statement regarding district student counselor services, an outline of student nursing and health programs, and much more. e “Contact Us” section for the district oﬀers several ways of getting in touch, including a quick feedback (form-driven) link and e-mail links for the district oﬃce, board of education, and the site’s Webmaster. Additionally, the district oﬃce’s street address, phone and fax numbers, District Administration http://www.rrps.net

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of District Administration - August 2009

District Administration - August 2009
Contents
From the Editor
Letters
News Update
Standards & Assessment
Stimulus Monitor
Admin Profile
District Profile
Tell It to the Mayor
Fighting Fraud in Schools
Recovery High Schools
Keeping the Community in the Know
How Well Does This Web Site Work?
Problem Solution
Tech Disruptions
New Products
Product Focus
Professional Opinion

District Administration - August 2009