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MFL MarMac moving forward with new website

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By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

MFL MarMac has chosen the company Global Reach, of Ames, to design the district’s new website.

“We’ve put in a lot of work for awhile and looked at a lot of different websites,” said Superintendent Dale Crozier of the selection process.

Teacher librarian Melissa Haberichter said choosing between four different vendors was quite a process, as staff looked at how each could provide the features the district wanted.

One of the district’s priorities, she said, was easier navigation. She noted the current website is rather text heavy, whereas the new website will incorporate more graphics.

“Now, it’s too content-heavy, with too much stuff,” added High School Principal Josh Mallicoat, who was also part of the selection process. “You know what you want, but you can’t find it. Other schools’ websites are more straightforward and clean.”

Another aspect of the new website, said Haberichter, is that there will be one district-wide page, which will offer links to a page for each of the three schools. Maintenance of different parts of the website will be assigned to different people through separate log-ins, making sure changes cannot be made without authorization. The new website will also be mobile-friendly, she added.

Several local entities, including Keystone AEA and the Starmont and Clayton Ridge School Districts, also have websites through Global Reach. A number of schools were contacted for feedback, with none giving a bad review, Haberichter said.

“We use so many of Keystone’s links and services, so they’ll be a good go-to [if there are questions],” she added.

Haberichter said the district hopes to have the website up and running by registration time this summer. 

Now, the district will fine-tune what the website will include content-wise.

“If we take time on the front end to consider and see what we want, we won’t have to make too many changes,” said Haberichter, noting that the initial cost for the website is $5,700, with a $720 annual fee.

The website will be key in getting the word out about MFL MarMac and all it has to offer current and prospective students and families, said Crozier. An upgrade was one of the few recommended improvements for the district from last year’s five-year site visit and was noted as one area in need of improvement during the initial SIAC meetings.

Other topics included:

·The high school student council provided a monthly update, mentioning that they’re considering installing a healthy vending machine in the lobby offering foods like pretzels or fruit snacks.

·Crozier said the district received $1,000 from Norplex for science and technology.

Crozier will write up a 28E agreement with the Monona Chamber and Economic Development for the district to provide infrastructure funding.

·McGregor Center Principal Denise Mueller said the middle school is looking for ways to raise funds for events and activities, as the yearly Eagle Bluff trip is a large expense. She suggested the school could consider charging for admittance to junior high events, charging an activity fee or getting sponsors for students going on the Eagle Bluff trip.

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