School Websites Launch January 3

Schools in the Johnston Community School District will be ringing in 2017 with new websites.

The new websites for elementaries and secondary schools will be launched in early January.

On Tuesday, January 3, users visiting any of the eight Johnston school websites will experience a totally new interface. The websites feature similar layouts and functionality as the new district site, which was launched in mid-August.

“When we decided to go ahead with a new district website, it only made sense to bring the schools and other entities onto the same platform with consistent design and navigation features,” said Laura Sprague, JCSD Director of Communications. “Based on the feedback from our website committee, we think the new sites will create a much better experience for our users, whether they are new to the district or current families.”

The re-design process started in October 2015, when the district elected to have Des Moines-based web design and digital marketing agency Juicebox Interactive lead the project. The Juicebox team has created new websites for multiple school districts in Iowa and across the nation.

The school sites feature different template designs for the elementary and secondary school levels. All have news, events, lunch menus, and a principal’s message on the front page. Navigation tabs organize resources for students and parents.

“Similar to the (new) district website, the design and overall website experience was derived from the feedback provided by a committee of parents, teachers, administrators, and students,” said Dale Bentlage, chief strategist for Juicebox. “The new sites are responsive to tablets, mobile, and overall, give schools more ways to communicate and connect with their audiences.”

A new Community Education site is scheduled to launch in late January. They will follow the same design concepts as the district and school sites.