PICKENS COUNTY — The superintendent of Pickens County schools says communication and building relationships with parents is a high priority.

So now the school district is using technology, like teacher Web sites, to achieve its goal of providing “continuous flow of timely, accurate information from the district, schools and teachers.”

“Although communication with parents has always been a priority, technology provides us with tools that make communication easy for teachers and timely for parents,” he said.

“Today’s parents expect us to use technology to communicate with them, so I have asked every teacher to maintain up-to-date Web pages and online grades at all times,” Hunt said.

Thanks to school and teacher Web sites, parents now have a way to check grades, know what homework, projects and tests have been assigned and when they’re due, said Julie Thompson, spokesperson for the school district.

Parents can also visit these sites to see class announcements and to communicate with teachers, she said.

They can also sign up for “AfterClass,” and e-mail notification system that lets parents know what new information is posted.

In order to take advantage of these features though, parents much create a parent account.

Thompson said that teachers are working on their Web sites now, and parents should expect updated information soon.

The first upload of grades is expected to be available Sept. 16, she said.

Hunt said that finding success for each student is the school district’s ultimate goal.

“Web sites provide opportunities for parents and teachers to work together so that students will be successful,” he said.

For instructions on creating a parent account, visit the school district’s Web site at www.pickens.k12.sc.us and look under the “Families & Communities” section.