Our friends over at the Christian Web Trends blog have starting posting their workshop notes from last week’s Lutheran Educators’ conference in Daytona Beach.

Their first workshop was on using the Web to improve school communication. They have some very solid advice. I wish I could have been there for the workshop myself.

I’ll provide a quick summary, but you can get all of the information on the Christian Web Trends blog.

Benefits of using the Web to communicate:

1. Prevents miscommunication
2. Prevents missed communications
3. Save time – parents can get the info themselves.
4. Saves money – less paper copies
5. Strengthen relationships. When communication is good and people are “in the loop” they feel more connected, more a part of the team.
6. Increases retention. When people feel connected, they don’t want to leave.

12 Ways to Use Your Website to Improve Communication

1. Put all info for prospective students on the website
2. Put all forms and policies on the website.
3. Put all school-wide communications on the website.
4. Email all school-wide communications to parents.
5. Have a calendar on your site and make sure it’s ALWAYS up to date.
6. Post & email a weekly note from the principal. Perhaps a blog.
7. Online event registration
8. Pay for tuition, lunch online
9. Maintain a class web page.
10. Put all class-wide communications from each teacher online.
11. Email all docs or a link to them to parents
12. Private student pages for grades & progress reports

Speaking of Web sites, it is crucial that all of our Lutheran schools have well-designed Web pages. In today’s technologically-driven world, prospective parents often narrow their lists of candidate schools based on information from the Web. Having an easy to use, up to date Web site can definitely help your school get that face to face contact with new families.