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Texas School District's New App Includes Access to Student Records

The Port Arthur Independent School District wanted to create something accessible to more people in the community — including those who may not have access to a laptop or home computer.

(TNS) The Port Arthur Independent School District has released a new free mobile app for iPhone and Google Android users. The app, labeled “PAISD Mobile” in the smartphone applications folder, is the first of its kind in Region V.

Kristyn Hunt, PAISD media/communications specialist, said Wednesday PAISD Mobile allows users to have the entire district at their fingertips — all completely free of charge.

“We’re trying to reach out to more parents and more people in the community,” Hunt said. “Parents can use PAISD Mobile as an additional tool — a one-stop shop for access to your child’s records and accounts, and for information about what’s going on at your child’s school. It allows parents to put money in their child’s account for lunch and access their report cards through the parent portal.”

Hunt said a key feature of PAISD Mobile is the ability to filter district notifications to eliminate information that doesn’t apply to all parents.

“It allows parents to choose which schools they want to keep up with,” she said. “Let’s say a parent has one child at Memorial High School, one at Thomas Jefferson Middle School and one at Robert E. Lee Elementary School. You’ll be able to click those schools only, so you receive only the information that pertains to the schools your children attend.

“We’re trying to streamline the information so our parents aren’t flooded with updates that don’t apply to them. You can also choose how you want to receive this information. Text, email, phone call — it’s totally up to the parent how they want to be notified.”

Hunt said creating PAISD Mobile was a collaborative effort between herself, PAISD Web Master Raul Picon and K-12 Blackboard Connect that started in July 2014. The district wanted to create something that would be accessible to more people in the community — including those who may not have access to a laptop or home computer, she said.

“We weren’t going to put it out until it was ready — but it’s ready now,” Hunt said. “We are still working on a tutorial video that we’ll feature on our website to show parents how to download the app and what the different features can do.

“We are the first school district in our region to have a mobile app, and we’re so thankful for our Superintendent Dr. Mark Porterie and our Board of Trustees for being so supportive of our interest in making this happen. We’re trying to see a change in Port Arthur. We’re trying to see a change in our school district.”

To download the new app, search for “PAISD Mobile” in the iPhone App Store or the Google Play Store.

©2015 The Port Arthur News (Port Arthur, Texas)