The West Essex Regional School District launched its redesigned website Friday, providing what it hopes is a better way to communicate about the district, as well as a 21st-century way for teachers and students to interact.

The site was created by the district webmaster in conjunction with the website solution company Schoolwires, based in Pennsylvania.

The goal of the redesign is to make it easier for visitors to learn about the district's schools, programs and administration, as well as to provide the latest school news, calendar of events and contact information. Students and faculty will also have access to dedicated file space through Schoolwires application, Synergy.

It is actually three sites in one; users can toggle between homepages for the district, the high school and the middle school. All sites are accessed through www.westex.org.

"We wanted a clean, uncluttered design to the front pages of all three sites that would bring the focus where it really belongs–on our students and our successes," explained Carrie Sterrs, communications/planning officer and webmaster for the district. "We wanted to make navigating to information a more organized and well-thought out experience for the user."

The district is also implementing strategic educational tools through the site which will be introduced later in the school year.

"This will enable students and faculty to have a web-based, portable hard drive, if you will," stated Sterrs. "It also opens up the possibilities of more educational interaction outside of the classroom. For instance, students will have the ability to simply upload their homework right into their teacher's secure online drop-box from the comfort of their home."

Schoolwires web-based software and web hosting services for the 2010/2011 school year will cost the district $20,738.68. This cost includes two additional modules, Synergy and Assist, that are being phased in later in the school year. The annual Schoolwires services and maintenance fee for subsequent school years is $5,533.92 per year.

The district expects to save between $3,000 and $4,000 annually by going paperless and is eligible for an anticipated E-Rate Reimbursement, federal grant money, of $2,298.24 per year. Total spending for the first year is expected to be $15,440.44.

Superintendent Thomas C. McMahon stated that after months of planning and development, students, parents, school staff and residents could be proud of the end result.

"With changing information needs, the redesigned site will better accommodate the needs of all of our stakeholders," McMahon stated.

The redesign of the website is merely the first step in revitalizing the district's online presence. Ideas of implementing social media and other web 2.0 tools have become a topic of discussion for the Board of Education.