Solution

The SchoolSpan Solution
 Frame-Casting
WYSIWIG web design
Microsoft Office Integration
Benefits to your school
Why Choose SchoolSpan

Why Choose SchoolSpan
Based on customer feedback, here are some of the reasons school officials say they prefer SchoolSpan to other alternatives:


SchoolSpan versus Online Portal Companies
SchoolSpan Advantage Portal Companies SchoolSpan's Solution
Less expensive Most only offer their service as an Application Service Provider (ASP) and cost two to five times more than SchoolSpan SchoolSpan is available as either an ASP solution or as a locally hosted software application. A portion of the ASP service is E-Rate eligible
Lower set-up fees They charge significant fees to create your new site, typically $10,000 to $50,000 up front There are almost always no set-up fees. Schools keep their existing pages and supplement new content in SchoolSpan modules
Broad range of modules/features Companies offer only a limited number of tools for school web sites SchoolSpan offers a growing list of tools designed exclusively for schools
Integrates with existing web site Companies want schools to replace their entire web site SchoolSpan customizes its modules to match the look and feel of your current site, supplementing your existing work
Protects your current web site investment Your current web site is obsolete and replaced 100% by their service You keep most of your existing web pages. But features that require special software (calendars, newsletters, alumni portals, document storage) use SchoolSpan modules
No ads or company logos Companies post their name, logos and links. Some include ads and "sponsors" No reference to SchoolSpan on your web pages to compete with your content.
You maintain ownership of your site The portal company owns 100% of your site. If you cancel your service, you're left without a web site You still own your existing web site and all of its pages. If you cancel SchoolSpan, you only lose those modules, not your web site


SchoolSpan versus Self-Publishing
SchoolSpan Advantage Do It Yourself SchoolSpan's Solution
Local Software School must buy licenses for web editing software and have it installed on computers to update the web site No software, other than a web browser, is required. All the modules are web-based applications
Multiple Levels of Publishing Permissions When someone is given a password, they can automatically post content live to the web site. Concerns over security keep publishing staff limited Multiple publishing levels allow more staff and students to contribute content to the web site, using built-in approval processes to avoid security issues
Access to Experts to Create Custom Applications An IT staff member may be able to create a program to do certain functions. But the program may not scale properly and if that staff person leaves, you may be unable to fix the software We have a team of programmers whose sole purpose is to support and enhance our suite of applications. Your subscription gives you access to that research and development resource
Reduced Burden on IT Staff Many districts have to funnel content through the IT department to get something posted on the web site, making publishing a slow process Designed to be used by non-technical people, authorized staff can publish to the web site in real time. This frees up time for the IT staff
Lower Cost Typical costs include stipends for publishing staff as well as time used by IT staff to manage the web site Costs significantly less than other portal companies, and cheaper than what districts spend on web site stipends or technology staff to manage the site