9 Jan 2002
Site Features Easier Navigation, Better Graphics, Better Content
DALLAS—DALLASISD.ORG is no longer your typical school district website.
Gone are the humdrum brochure-ware pages and layouts that symbolically represent the passing of the clip-on-tie and polyester suits of the '70s and ' 80s.
They've all been replaced by a team of professional graphics artists, layout specialists and webmasters in the DISD Communication Services Department who have endeavored since September 2001 to bring about a new look as the district continues its efforts to better communicate with the public and to continue to improve its image in the eyes of the public, said Donald J. Claxton, the executive manager of the district's communications department.
"From the time you enter the location in your browser you are pulled immediately into what we feel is the excitement and professionalism expressed daily within the DISD's staff of almost 20,000 teachers and support employees," Claxton said. "We put our best creative minds together and challenged them to design a site that doesn't look or feel like any other as far as school districts are concerned. We wanted to have a unique site that uses the most available technologies in the medium and we have come very close."
When users log on to the site they are immediately greeted with a Flash presentation that highlights the successes of the district and features photos of some of the children who make up the diversity of the district.
Once the Flash presentation is over, users are provided with a new look and what the district's designers feel is a better site navigation system than was previously available.
"The layout is cleaner, the graphics are better, even the colors are uniform and web-safe," said Marcus Lopez, one of the district's designers and the Flash presentation's author. "With the Flash presentation we grab people's attention right when they log on and I think we do a good job of telling them, they're not just looking at an ordinary website."
Claxton said the site has been designed and constructed by district employees without hiring outside consultants to manage layout design or graphics packages.
"This truly is a site that's been designed by experts in design and layout, who also happen to be employees of DISD," Claxton said. "In economic times like these, and particularly, when you have a staff of talented people already working in your organization, it just did not make any sense to go to an outside firm and ask them to build us a website. Nor did such an action fall in line with the district's efforts to be better stewards of the tax dollar."
Claxton said the new look has been up on Dallasisd.org since Monday afternoon. There will still be some minor additions and changes made to the site, but overall reaction to the new look has been very positive.
"Traffic to the site this week has been increased because of the exposure other issues are providing the site, and feedback from teachers, administrators and me mbers of the news media has been positive," Claxton said.
Claxton also said that the new look of the site also falls in line with the Texas School Performance Review recommendations made last June by the state comptroller. The comptroller's recommendation number 57 called on the district to enhance the website so that it can be used "more effectively as a timely communications tool." The recommendation suggested the new look should be ready by January of 2002.
Claxton said the list of professionals who worked on the site include Brian Reed, the district's webmaster, Lisa Leon, Ira Jones, Leonadis Patterson, and Jimmy Nelle.