Habersham schools launch ParentSquare districtwide

CLARKESVILLE, Ga. — Habersham County Schools will introduce a new districtwide communication platform this school year that officials say will improve how families receive information while simplifying communication between parents, teachers, coaches and school administrators.

Assistant Superintendent David Leenman unveiled ParentSquare during Thursday’s Habersham County Board of Education work session, describing it as a major upgrade from the district’s previous communication system. The platform was piloted at Habersham Central High School during the 2025-26 school year before being expanded across the district for the upcoming school year.

“Our old software and our old communication tool was literally a one-trick pony,” Leenman told the board. “At one time it did that one thing really well. Since then, it has not kept up with our current communication needs and the different modes in which our families desire to be communicated with.”

ParentSquare allows schools to communicate through text messages, emails, phone calls, push notifications and a mobile app. The platform also integrates directly with the district’s PowerSchool student information system, automatically updating student and parent information each night as students enroll or records change.

The integration will allow teachers, principals, coaches and club sponsors to quickly create communication groups without manually compiling contact lists.

Leenman said the platform also supports automatic translation into nearly 125 languages, allowing parents to receive messages in their preferred language.

“This will be our communication tool for all school-level communication,” he said. “Whether it will be through our teachers, our administrators, our coaches, this is the expectation that all communication will be held through this platform.”

Although parents can download the ParentSquare app to access additional features and two-way messaging, Leenman said families do not need the app to receive district communications. Messages will automatically be delivered using the contact information parents have already provided through PowerSchool.

Superintendent Patrick Franklin said the new platform also will become the district’s primary method for emergency notifications, including weather-related school delays and closures.

“One call will be no call,” Franklin said, referring to the district’s transition to a single communication platform. “It’ll make it very easier on our teachers to set up groups, our coaches, our clubs. You can go in there and pretty much just grab and make the group.”

Leenman said feedback from parents and staff during last year’s pilot program at Habersham Central had been overwhelmingly positive, giving district leaders confidence to expand the platform to every school.

Schools prepare for opening day

Leenman also updated the board on several facilities and operational projects as the district prepares to welcome students back on Aug. 7.

Exterior painting projects have been completed at North Habersham Middle School and Cornelia Elementary School.

“I went to North Habersham today, actually, and it is looking very crisp and clean,” Leenman said. “The paint looks amazing. They are ready for school.”

Administrators also are recommending the board approve a $106,840 contract with Gainesville-based Condition Air Systems to replace two heating and air conditioning units at Fairview Elementary School. The recommendation will be considered during the board’s regular meeting Monday.

Another long-running project also is nearing completion.

Leenman said installation of the district’s new radio communication system has been completed on every school bus and at each school campus. Final testing is scheduled before students return.

The new system will allow school personnel and emergency responders to communicate both inside and outside school buildings.

“Emergency crews will be able to communicate on the radio in any spot of the building,” Leenman said. “That will keep us safer, keep our students safer and allow emergency services to respond quicker in case of emergency.”

Leenman joked that after several years of updates, board members likely were hearing their final report on the project.

“I am proud to tell you that this might be the last one you get to hear,” he said.

Summer meals exceed 100,000

The board also received an update on the district’s summer feeding program, which has served thousands of local children during the summer break.

Through seven weekly distributions, the district has provided 7,210 meal boxes, totaling 100,944 meals. One final distribution is scheduled for next Thursday.

Leenman praised the district’s nutrition department and the employees who staffed the weekly distributions.

“This has been a very overwhelming success,” he said. “I’ve heard nothing but positives from community members.”

The Habersham County Board of Education will meet again Monday for its regular monthly meeting, when members are expected to consider the Fairview Elementary HVAC replacement contract.