New Dist. 220 Web site includes social networking

Barrington Area District 220 has unveiled a redesigned Web site that enhances access to information for parents, staff, students and community members.

The new site offers an online village or learning community approach to everything one might need in Barrington 220. The Web site address remains the same at barrington220.org.

In addition to the main school district Web site, the first four schools to unveil their new designs are Arnett C. Lines and Barbara B. Rose elementary schools, and the Prairie and Station campuses of Barrington Middle School.

All other schools in the district will gradually reintroduce their own unique Web sites between now and the end of the school year as well as new pages for each PTO, the 220 Educational Foundation and the Barrington High School Alumni Association.

Moving into a new Web site is much like moving into a new house: sometimes it takes a while to locate items that were previously familiar. Be assured, the same information and much more is available through the new Web site.

For families, the revised layout improves access to classroom information, school and PTO programs, online fee and meal payments and other services under "Parent and Student resources."

The new design offers considerable advantages for the visitor, including the ability to merge calendars for more than one school using advanced filter options. Among other benefits, the revised format provides continuity of information and navigation throughout the various sites, a searchable staff directory, and easier ways for teachers and departments to update their respective web pages.

The new site also introduces visitors to social networking venues, such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, as ways to stay in touch with the school district.

Feedback on the new Web site is welcome, as continual improvements will be made during this initial rollout phase before sites for the other schools are introduced in the spring.

Visit often and enjoy frequent updates in the online village of barrington220.org.