In the heart of Jacksonville, Alabama, the Jacksonville City School District is embracing digital signage to enhance communication and engagement. Leading this effort is Joshua Dobbins, the Desktop Administrator for the district. With over 15 years of experience in educational technology, Joshua oversees a wide range of tech initiatives, from maintaining laptops to configuring software on unconventional devices like water heaters.
His latest accomplishment? Scaling the district’s use of digital signage from three displays to 14 across two schools, delivering tailored, engaging content for students, staff, and parents.
Big Communication for a Small District
When Joshua joined Jacksonville City Schools two years ago, the district faced a communication challenge. The elementary school principal was eager to introduce digital signage, having experienced its benefits at a previous, larger school. However, Jacksonville’s smaller size and budget demanded a solution that was both cost-effective and scalable.
“The elementary school principal was practically begging for something to put in the hallways,” Joshua recalls. “We had to find something suitable for our smaller district and smaller budget.”
The district needed a platform that could deliver dynamic, relevant content without imposing a heavy burden on the limited IT department. Enter Rise Vision, a digital signage solution that checked all the boxes.
Choosing Rise Vision Software & Hardware
“[Rise Vision] fit both bills for not having ridiculous startup costs and monthly fees. It wound up being exactly what we needed in a small package,” Joshua explains.
The district began its rollout at the elementary school with three displays. The program quickly expanded to five and then they added another three displays at the elementary, for a total of 11 displays. Every hallway in the elementary school has at least one display.
The high school caught wind and added three displays of their own, ultimately reaching 14 screens district-wide.
Incorporating Rise Vision’s media players with TVs simplified content delivery and eliminated extra work from falling on the IT team, allowing the schools to make the most of their investment.
What Makes Jacksonville’s Approach Unique?
Kitty Stone Elementary teaches empathy with the Daily Acts of Kindness template from the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation.
Several factors set Jacksonville’s use of digital signage apart. For one, they’ve empowered non-technical staff and students to manage content effectively. At the elementary school, the bookkeeper—a self-proclaimed non-tech-savvy individual—has taken ownership of the content. Meanwhile, the high school’s broadcasting and journalism team, Golden Eagle Media, handles all of their displays with professional flair.
The district’s approach to scaling also stands out. Instead of overwhelming the IT department, they’ve distributed responsibilities, allowing each school to tailor content to their specific audiences. They are also utilizing the Rise Vision media players which are managed by Rise Vision, eliminating the need to get IT involved for technical problems.
Joshua emphasizes, “Your software is ridiculously easy to use. I taught our bookkeeper in five minutes, and I never had to touch it again.”
How Rise Vision Solved the Problem for Jacksonville City Schools
Jacksonville City Schools has leveraged Rise Vision to create a versatile and engaging communication tool that meets the diverse needs of their community.
Lunch menus are a popular content choice for Jacksonville City District.
Elementary School Use
At the elementary school, the displays have become a hub of information. The bookkeeper manages the content, showcasing daily announcements, schedules, and special messages. Notable features include:
- Daily Pledge: Screens automatically display the Pledge of Allegiance at a designated time.
- Lunch Menus: Using Google Slides, lunch managers update the menu, which scrolls across screens for students eager to know what’s for lunch.
- Customized Hallway Content: Sixth-grade hallways feature tailored schedules and reminders, such as field trips and report card updates.
- Recognition Posts: Displays celebrate Teacher Appreciation, Student of the Month, and other achievements.
“The kids love it,” Joshua shares. “You’ll see upper-grade students waiting in the hallway just to see what’s coming up on the lunch menu.”
High School Use
At the high school, Golden Eagle Media oversees content, providing students with hands-on experience in broadcasting and journalism. Led by an English teacher, the team comprises videographers, photographers, and editors who produce content such as:
- Event Announcements: Upcoming games, dances, and other activities are prominently displayed.
- Spotlights: Teacher and student achievements are celebrated.
- Sports Broadcasting: The team creates graphics for live-streamed sports events.
Joshua praises their efforts: “They’ve taken over everything. If there’s a graphic to put up, they’ll make it or collaborate to get it done.”
Lessons for Other Schools
Jacksonville City Schools’ experience offers valuable takeaways for other districts considering digital signage:
- Start Small and Scale: Begin with a few displays to test the system and gradually expand as needed. Jacksonville’s phased approach allowed them to grow strategically.
- Empower Your Team: By training non-technical staff and students to manage content, the district avoided overloading its IT department.
- Leverage Intuitive Tools: Rise Vision’s user-friendly platform made it easy for staff and students to create and schedule content with minimal training.
- Use Content Creatively: From lunch menus to student spotlights, Jacksonville’s displays engage their audience by delivering relevant, dynamic content.
- Choose Reliable Support: Joshua highlights the excellent support from Rise Vision. “The turnaround on support tickets has been the best I’ve ever seen,” he notes. “In less than 20 minutes, we went from dead in the water to fully operational.”
Jacksonville City Schools Demonstrates Scaling Digital Signage Across a Small District
Jacksonville City Schools’ journey with Rise Vision demonstrates how even small districts with limited budgets can harness the power of digital signage to enhance communication and engagement. By distributing responsibilities, leveraging intuitive tools, and scaling strategically, they’ve transformed their displays into an indispensable part of school life.
As Joshua sums it up, “It’s been a great experience. We got exactly what we needed—a simple, scalable solution that works.”
Interested in how your school can use Rise Vision? Book a free demo today.
