Blackbaud Parent Directory

Grace Mickelson

Hello All -

As a school, we are hoping to begin utilizing the directories tool as offered by Blackbaud Enrollment Management. We do have some concerns though because a user's profile is automatically opted into giving full access to a user's information in the directory.

My concern is that if a family is automatically opted into the directory and does not change their opt-in settings, their information will be available for all families when they really didn't want that.

Do any schools use the directory as a function? And if so, how do you automate it to make it simple for the families to navigate?

Thanks in advance!

-Grace

Lauren Marcus Eisenberg

@Grace Mickelson We rely on the online directory for families. We adjust settings so access is peer-to-peer among families: parents of current students see contact info for other parents. Families (parents) do not have access to student cell numbers, etc. Our opt-out policy specifies that we share info unless the family opts out via email before the first day of school.

Grace Mickelson

@Lauren Marcus Eisenberg This is a great insight. For your opt-out policy, are you creating that in a school form or including it in your contract?

Thank you!

Lauren Marcus Eisenberg

@Grace Mickelson We include this language in a require form (after the contract is signed):

All home addresses and phone numbers, parent/guardian emails, and parent/guardian cell phones will appear in the directory on the password-protected school website. The student emails and cell phone numbers will be accessible ONLY to students and faculty/staff.

If there is information you would like to exclude from the directory, please notify policynotification@ (our school name here) by email no later than the first day of school, indicate "Directory Exclusions" in the subject line, and include your child's name and grade and what information you would like to exclude.

If an email has not been received, it will be considered as agreed that the school is authorized to include this information in our directories.