As the school year comes to a close, most Waukegan Public Schools employees are preparing for a well-deserved vacation, and those of us who work a twelve-month schedule are planning for completing all the things we can’t do while school is in session. I realize this is a hectic time, but I do have to ask you do a few things to summer-ize your web sites.

Web Editors, if you are not returning next year, please let me know. If you maintain a school or department web site, please let your principal / department head know they will need to find someone to take your place. Is there anything I can do to help you with your web site? Would you like additional training? Is there something you’d like to do that goes beyond what is covered in training classes?

Principals, now is a good time to review your school web site. Even though school is not in session over the summer, many parents are looking at our web pages to find the information they need to prepare for next year. One item in particular you should review is your school supply lists. During the summer months, many parents search for this information on the web, and it is not always clear if the information is the same as last year, or if the web page is out of date. I would ask that you review this information and notify your school web editor (or me) if any changes need to be made. If nothing needs to be changed, I ask that you send me an e-mail (webmanager@waukeganschools.org) to let me know you have reviewed it. (This way, I won’t have to track you down over the summer when a parent contacts me about school supplies!) The deadline for reviewing school supply lists is June 15, 2007.

Principals and Department Heads, if your school / department web editor will not be returning next year, now is the time to decide who will takeover those responsibilities next year. Is there someone else in your school that could do this? Does that person need training? Can the retiring web editor show his / her successor around the web site? The sooner you work this out, the smoother the transition will be.

To those considering being a Web Editor, let me assure you that I do everything possible to make it easy for you, and I provide as much assistance as you ask for. Creating a web site does not have to be a major, long-term commitment. If you try it and decide you don’t want to continue, just let me know. I will soon be scheduling web training classes for the next year. If you are interested, send me an e-mail (webmanager@waukeganschools.org), and I will contact you when I have completed the class schedule.

In conclusion, I hope you all have a great summer, and if we plan ahead, we can “hit the ground running” when school starts in August. I will be working all summer, so don’t hesitate to e-mail me at webmanager@waukeganschools.org or call me at (847) 263-2300.

Thank you,
Patrick