Case Studies

600+ Webmasters at Rochester Community Schools

Rochester Community Schools, a suburban community in Southeast Michigan, serving more than 14,000 students, needed an easy way for teachers and staff to create web pages and provide online content for parents, students and community members.

The district realized the existing web development process could no longer adequately meet district needs. Staff members were continuously frustrated by the multitude of steps that were required to create and post online content. Teachers were using various HTML editors and word processors to create personal websites to provide class-related information. In response to the demand for a user-friendly development tool, the district researched several available products, but weren't satisfied with the solutions or costs of those options. The decision was made to build a web engine that could accommodate the staff needs and allow for a securely managed web environment.. In addition, the website had to be compatible with the District's existing infrastructure and be self-sufficient with regard to support and maintenance. The District couldn't add new staff or increase their training budget.

LTGI worked with the District to create an RFP (Request for Proposal) for a distributed, database-driven website. The RFP listed the core elements and desires of the District. It also contained detailed descriptions of the technical requirements and very general descriptions of the aesthetic features desired. This enabled vendors to focus on the creative design and database features and enabled the District to minimize the technology impacts of the site. Once the District selected their vendor, LTGI managed the build of the site to the specifications of the RFP and helped guide the process.

Two years after the installation, more than 600 teachers and staff now provide content to the District site. The District receives applause from the community for the wide variety of information available.