Those who are a part of the Bremen City Schools community now have easy access to information with the launch of their new website and mobile app. The new website went live Nov. 16, 2023. Both platforms have been created with the purpose of increasing communication with parents and community members and to provide parents with quick access to information while also promoting positive things happening throughout BCS.
According to research gathered by BCS, a ComScore study shows that Americans use mobile technologies at twice the rate of desktop computers, and a Pew study shows that 65 percent of adults use social media. With the newly adopted tools, Bremen City Schools can now share news and alerts across all these communication channels.
The free mobile app is available in both the Google Play Store for Android and the Apple App Store for iPhone. Community members can expect to see more stories and regular updates from Bremen City Schools. With Apptegy’s “Thrillshare,” the school can send out alerts simultaneously via push notifications, text messages, voice calls, and social media platforms, including Facebook and Twitter. Apptegy allowed for BCS to make their website ADA compliant, allowing someone with disabilities to have keyboard navigation and shortcuts to move around the site. “One of the reasons we were looking for a company to handle the website was because when we do our website in-house, it is very hard to keep it ADA compliant and provide all the additional features,” said Brian Wheeler, Director of Technology. The website is also compatible with screen reader software for those with visual impairments.
The web addresses for the main pages of the Bremen City Schools district and schools have not changed. Bookmarks to the main page that you have made on your devices will still work. However, if you have linked to other parts of the websites or any files found on them, they most likely will not work and you will need to visit the new website and locate the needed page or file. When The City Menus spoke with Wheeler at that time there were around 700 downloads just on iOS devices. “We’re hoping that will trend upward,” Wheeler said.
Bremen City Schools Superintendent, Shannon Christian concludes with, “I am proud of our technology team for researching and seamlessly implementing an innovative solution tailored to the unique needs of the Bremen City Schools community. One feature that is most useful is the ability to personalize news feeds and notifications. Recognizing the diverse preferences of our parents, students, and community members, the app empowers them to personalize their experience by selecting one school or a combination of schools to receive tailored updates on news, upcoming events, and important notifications. I commend Mr. Wheeler and his team for not only meeting but exceeding expectations with the new website and mobile app.”
