Project: Designer, Manager, Maintainer, AI Consultant
Years: 2022–Present
Introduction
Managing and maintaining a digital presence for a school district with multiple schools can be challenging, especially when existing web infrastructure becomes outdated or inconsistent. School District 8 Kootenay required a fresh approach to unify and modernize 22 school websites and the district portal, ensuring accessibility, reliability, and improved communication for families and staff.
The Challenge
- Disparate websites were inconsistent in design and functionality.
- Content was difficult to update, with legacy data causing reliability issues.
- Parents and staff struggled to find timely, clear information.
- Administrative overhead to maintain and upgrade sites was significant.
- There was interest in leveraging AI to improve information access while respecting privacy concerns.
The Solution
I modernized and maintained a multisite Drupal ecosystem across the district and all schools, introducing multiple improvements:
- Multi-site Architecture: Streamlined updates, upgrades, and consistent design deployment across all 22 school sites.
- Privacy-Focused AI Chat Assistants: Custom AI chatbots trained on district documents to answer common questions for parents and staff, providing instant and accurate responses.
- Content and File Recovery: Addressed legacy content issues and recovered important files to improve daily site reliability and user experience.
- Security and Accessibility: Enhanced site security and ensured compliance with accessibility standards to serve all users effectively.
The Approach
- Close partnership with district leadership, educators, and families to identify key communication needs.
- Prioritized privacy and data protection in all AI applications and site features.
- Established reliable workflows for site maintenance and ongoing improvements with minimal disruption during school operations.
- Iteratively refined AI assistants based on user feedback to maximize helpfulness.
Impact
- Families and staff enjoy clearer, faster access to critical information.
- Administrative staff benefit from reduced support requests and easier content management.
- The district’s web presence is unified, accessible, and resilient.
- AI assistants provide scalable support while respecting privacy, reducing barriers to information.
Reflections & Lessons Learned
Complex multisite systems require careful planning and user-focused design to serve diverse audiences effectively. Integrating AI thoughtfully can enhance communication while maintaining trust and data privacy. School District 8’s transformation shows how technology can empower education communities through improved accessibility and smarter tools.
