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MPS launches new GPS-enabled mobile website

Published  July 18, 2012 9:32pm CDT
Milwaukee Public Schools
FOX 6 Now Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE -- Parents shopping for school supplies, shopping for a school for their children or just looking to learn more about Milwaukee Public Schools now have a new tool to help them: the district’s new mobile website.

The website – at m.milwaukee.k12.wi.us – launched Wednesday, July 18th and features a GPS-based school search function that allows parents to find schools based upon the parent’s current location, location of a home or offerings of a given school. Parents can search for schools with a focus on the arts/music, bilingual education, career/technical education, English as a Second Language, Gifted and Talented programming, International Baccalaureate curriculum, language immersion and the Montessori method, among other options.

The site also allows parents easily find the information they request most often: school supply lists, lunch menus, district news, events and program information – all from any web-enabled mobile phone, including iPhone, Blackberry and Android-based products.

MPS launched the site as research continues to show significant mobile internet usage among district families and across income and demographic groups. The district’s own 2011-12 school climate survey found 75% of families have internet access and 53% have a smartphone or tablet with internet access.

“Information is critical to our current and prospective families – and we have to go where our families are,” Superintendent Gregory Thornton said.

The district created the site through an approximately $20,000 contract with Roll Mobile, an award-winning Milwaukee-based mobile development and marketing agency.

More information is at http://whyroll.com.

MPS opted for a mobile website as opposed to costlier “apps” for each mobile platform – and district staff will maintain and update the site at no additional cost.

Smartphone users visiting the full MPS website – www.milwaukee.k12.wi.us — will be redirected to the new site with the option to switching to the full site if they so choose. Users are encouraged to bookmark the site!