TECHNOLOGY – MBUSD launches app

The Manhattan Beach Unified School District launched its new mobile app. Pictured is the app for Mira Costa High School

by Hibah Samad/MBUSD 

Parent and community engagement is now enhanced with the Manhattan Beach Unified School District’s new mobile app for Apple and Android phones. 

The app has been live for two weeks and allows students, staff, families, and the community to stay connected and access the latest information through custom, branded home screens for each of the eight Manhattan Beach Unified schools.

MBUSD Superintendent Dr. John Bowes said that the app is another way to further engage families in their student’s education. 

“We know that our students are more successful in school when parents are engaged in their learning and school activities,” Dr. Bowes said. “We wanted an easy way for our community to access useful information, the latest news, and activities, to stay updated daily at the District and school site level.” 

Once you download the mobile application, an individual is asked to set-up and customize it by selecting the schools they are most interested in. District officials say it provides a mobile-friendly version of the information most frequently accessed on the District’s website and each school site. 

The District home page features District news, Board meetings, employment information, and enrollment, and the current school year calendar. On Mira Costa High school’s page, you will find buttons for the student bulletin, student handbook, and for reporting an absence, as well as the Aeries parents and student portal, which provides live student information such as attendance and grades. 

The Middle School app features a button for the District’s Sprigeo reporting tip form for bullying and safety threats. Plus, all parents can stay in touch with quick links to social media feeds. 

“The app is one more platform where our families and staff can find vital information and it’s accessible wherever they are,” Dr. Bowes said. “We hope they will download it and experience the new communication tool that meets the needs of all of our families.” 

 

The platform offers push notifications to users in real-time when news and announcements are made through the District and school websites. The one stop shop app offers 42 languages for users to choose from. 

The District asked for input and feedback from school site PTAs and administrators to ensure the app was designed with everyone in mind. The app is just one more communication platform district leaders hope families will use, along with the District and school site websites. The District plans to continue to expand and make updates to meet community needs.

District officials say there has been a positive reaction to the app.“The new District app makes it easy for me to get the information I need on a daily basis,” said Erin Levin, an MBUSD parent. “Whether it is one tap to check the bulletin or being notified with that day’s events, it keeps me organized and informed. It is a must have!.” 

The MBUSD app is free to download. It can be found in the Apple or Google Play store by searching for “Manhattan Beach Unified” or “MBUSD.” See MBUSD.org for more information. ER 

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