Sarasota County Schools launches new app for parents

Parents can keep up with their children’s schools in a different way this school year, thanks to a new mobile app launched by Sarasota County Schools.

The app, targeted toward parents, allows them to choose specific schools to follow, access district calendars and lunch menus, keep up with school sports teams and see news and social media posts from the district, according to a press release. Users can also access the district’s Student and Parent Portal to track grades and attendance.

Director of Information Technology for SCS Joe Binswanger called the app a “one-stop shop for parents.”

“The app gives us the ability to aggregate the various pieces of information that a parent would need or want to successfully be able to support their student in their educational career,” Binswanger said in a the release.

The app is free and available now, and can be downloaded for both Apple and Android devices — just search "Sarasota County Schools" on the App Store and Google Play.

It took about three months to create the app, and it’s been used by district staff since the end of the previous school year. It was created by the district and education technology firm Blackboard.