School-district Web page updated
by Sue Mroz of The Review staff
PLYMOUTH – Although Jamie Piontkowski is not a surgeon, she performed a facelift recently.
The School District’s Coordinator of Community Communications, Piontkowski has given the district’s Web site a fresh, new appearance.
Superintendent Clark Reinke noted at the Nov. 17 School Board meeting that Piontkowski’s part-time position is a newly created one. She joined the school district this fall.
“As part of the district’s communications pillar, the board decided to hire a communications specialist, in order to have a better informed community,” Reinke said.
Piontkowski then updated the board on her communications and marketing initiatives. “One of my first efforts was to focus on having more usage of the district’s Web site,” she said. “The Web site was fairly static, and the content did not change a lot.
“I wanted to have stories on the Web site and to change them regularly. So, I created 60 different news items, telling stories about what is going on in the district.”
She also replaced the empty-hallway photo that previously appeared on the Web site with a more appealing photo and has included many other photos, as well.
Piontkowski pointed out that a system on the Web site tracks the number of people viewing the page. “The usage is beginning to build,” she said. “There have been more than 7,000 page views. District residents are seeing the Web site as a destination to learn what is going on.”
The school district’s Web site is www.plymouth.k12.wi.us
She noted that she also sends press releases to The Review and The Sheboygan Press and to radio stations WJUB and WHBL.
“The Review has been very receptive and has used 92 percent of what I sent,” she said. “The Sheboygan Press has used 73 percent of the press releases.”
She has also reached out to the broader community – to those without children or grandchildren in the school system. “I created a Homecoming poster that people could download and put into their windows,” Piontkowski said. “This was a unifying effort.”
She discussed the school district’s Web site “Go Panthers!” store, offering the sale of school gear, such as sweatshirts and T-shirts.
“This store is in conjunction with Createch Inc. [a promotional marketing company,] Piontkowski said. “It has 20 items for purchase, with all proceeds to benefit the district.
“The online store will enhance Plymouth pride,” she added. “Pam Holzhaeuser [school board member] is the driving force behind the online store.”
Piontkowski has prepared a community report, which will be an insert with one of the December editions of The Review. The report will feature course listings and also several stories,” Piontkowski said. “The content will also be posted online.”
Regarding marketing initiatives, she is preparing a series of letters for parents with young children in the district. “The initial letter is for parents of newborns,” Piontkowski said. “It will welcome the children and point out resources in the district.”
A brochure being prepared will introduce new families to the district and feature key programs. She said one of her ongoing goals is to engage parents and grandparents to become more involved with the school district.
