Bryan ISD trustees approved a telecommunications system upgrade at its June 1 meeting, providing staff with a new tool for communicating with families while helping protect personal phone numbers.
What you need to know
As previously reported by Community Impact, Bryan ISD considered approving the expanded use of the ParentSquare system, which is an internal communication tool used by teachers to talk with parents about their students. ParentSquare is used to prioritize security and privacy for both parents and teachers.
According to ParentSquare’s website, the company believes parents should be involved with their children’s education, saying it acts as a “hub” to bring the village of educators and parents together.
The project includes a five-year software renewal, the replacement of aging server hardware and the implementation of ParentSquare Calling. This new tool will allow teachers to make and receive calls and text messages through a dedicated school phone number on both smartphones and computers.
The specifics
The use of ParentSquare is courtesy of Bryan ISD’s 2020 bond, which added $175 million of approved funds for various improvements and updates to the district. Director of Technology and Support for Bryan ISD Rob Hayes told trustees this bond-funded project comes under budget.
The system will automatically log calls and notes within ParentSquare while giving employees an alternative to using personal phone numbers when contacting parents.
Hayes said the system has been great for accountability and privacy with the teachers and parents, along with keeping out unwanted calls.
Notable quote
“It gives them an extra layer of accountability because we can have transcriptions on those phone calls,” Hayes said. “We looked at lots of other options for ‘soft phone’ stuff over the years, but SquarePhone gives our staff a one-stop shop for their communication needs.”
Major takeaways
As part of the upgrade agreement, the district unanimously approved agreements with Rocket Consulting LLC and ParentSquare. This includes the continued use of Cisco phone systems until 2031, at which point there will be discussion of another renewal. The contract renewal is set to cost $1.68 million.
Also on the agenda
- Virtual Academy: Trustees received an update on enrollment interest in the district’s new virtual academy, set to launch for the 2026-27 school year. Deputy Superintendent Brian Merrell said 175 students have already expressed interest in the flexible learning option.
- 2020 bond closeout: Remaining bond savings are being redirected toward various maintenance projects identified during Bryan ISD’s 2025 facilities assessment, including HVAC and infrastructure improvements at Bonham, Crockett, Houston, Johnson and Navarro elementary schools.
- 2026-27 school year compensation: Trustees unanimously approved the district’s employee compensation plan for the next school year, which includes a one-time stipend for full-time employees.
Before you goThe next Bryan ISD school board meeting is scheduled for June 15.
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