“Our district has been beyond thrilled with Aspen’s online registration solution. Part of our district’s plan to respond to the coronavirus pandemic was to move our kindergarten registration process online. Aspen was able to work with our aggressive timeline and create a process that exceeded our expectations.”

Easy Registration at a Distance

As the COVID-19 pandemic forced school districts across the country to close, many searched for new ways to approach old processes. Massachusetts-based Wrentham Public Schools harnessed the power of Follett Aspen SIS to quickly and easily register kindergartners for the upcoming school year – all through a secure online portal that expedites the verification process.

The Benefits of a Robust Student Information System

Seven years ago, Wrentham Public Schools transitioned to Aspen SIS, modernizing the district’s SIS, enhancing data security, and adding flexibility in data usage to support educational goals. “From day one, Follett has been a valuable partner because of their commitment to keeping student data secure while maintaining key functionality and flexible reporting capabilities,” said Sean Ahern, Wrentham’s Director of Technology.

In 2020, amid the pandemic, Aspen transitioned from being a valuable platform for managing student data to an invaluable tool that enabled Wrentham Public Schools to swiftly move student registration online.

A Quick Pivot to the Digital Realm

When Wrentham initially adopted Aspen, implementing an online registration platform wasn’t an immediate priority. However, the pandemic changed everything in March when schools closed, and access to Wrentham’s buildings was restricted.

“We needed to quickly pivot many things, including our kindergarten registration process,” Ahern said. He reached out to the Aspen team in April to explore the system’s online registration module and its implementation timeline. The team was optimistic and worked closely with Wrentham to have the system ready for the public by May 21, 2020.

Ahern noted that the Aspen team’s consistent communication and feedback kept him apprised of progress, leaving him confident that Wrentham was set up for success. This confidence reassured families that, despite the uncertainty, they could trust the process.

“During the pandemic, one of the things we found our families wanted was stability and certainty,” Ahern said. “With things changing every day, the uncertainty of our constantly pushed-back kindergarten registration dates was just another thing to add to that. In implementing Aspen’s online registration, we were able to provide families the stability and normalcy of registering their students for kindergarten in a convenient and safe manner.”

As an added bonus, staff also saved valuable time. Verifying student registrations online instead of through a paper trail has been essential and a significant time-saver.

“Aspen has changed the way we register students. Both families and staff have been able to recoup precious time with the implementation of Aspen’s online registration. It has smoothed over our registration process and reduced the amount of time we spend on it,” Ahern said.

Responsive Service and Knowledgeable Support

When Aspen was first considered over seven years ago, the district was intrigued by the system’s customization capabilities. Aspen’s flexible code makes it fit end-user needs effectively. Wrentham found that timely updates of modules and features made data handling easier.

“Aspen’s support might be the most important part of their product – it has exceeded expectations,” Ahern said. “Between the library of video tutorials, regular webinars, and live customer support, we rarely have a question that goes unanswered. We appreciate the rapid response of Aspen as questions arise, and their willingness to spend time training and supporting our use of the product.”

Christina Gilbert, the Data Specialist for the district, agrees. “Our Aspen support representative has been amazing! He got our registration form up and running quickly and has been quick to respond to every piece of fine-tuning we have asked for,” she said. “I wanted to know how to make small adjustments to the form myself, and he not only scheduled a phone call to answer my original request but also responded to each subsequent question clearly and with screenshots. This allows us to take full advantage of Aspen’s customizable features that we have become used to and love.”

A Partnership Built to Last

Regardless of how things change moving forward, Ahern is confident that Wrentham’s experience with Aspen’s online registration module has positively affected every aspect of the process and everyone involved, from staff to families.

“I would recommend my peers consider working with Follett and especially consider exploring their online registration module,” Ahern said. “They understand the needs and expectations of educational institutions. They are positioned to partner with you, learn your needs, and implement the solution you’ve been seeking.”

SEAN AHERN 
Director of Technology
Wrentham Public Schools

CHRISTINA GILBERT
Data Specialist
Wrentham Public Schools

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