The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District has unveiled a new website designed to help families, students and staff quickly find information and services.
The launch caps a year-long planning process that began when the district's previous web provider merged with Finalsite. After reviewing options, SMMUSD selected Finalsite as its new provider to build a modern, user-friendly platform. Finalsite specializes in educational website services.
"Our website is often the first stop for families and students who are looking for answers," said SMMUSD Superintendent Dr. Antonio Shelton. "This new platform helps our community access information faster, from enrollment and calendars to class updates and our student information system, Aeries."
Shelton said the improved access removes barriers and keeps the focus on student success and family accessibility.
The redesigned site includes simplified navigation and enhanced search capabilities to help users find pages, forms and resources more quickly. The mobile-first design works on phones, tablets and desktops.
Built-in translation tools make content accessible for families who prefer languages other than English. The site also meets accessibility compliance standards to support users with assistive technology.
Other features include integrated district and school calendars with subscription options, timely alerts and banners for urgent notices, and consistent templates across school sites for easier navigation.
The project emphasized community access and ease of use. SMMUSD gathered feedback from families and staff to prioritize frequently visited pages and essential services including enrollment, academic programs, student wellness, meals, transportation and special education resources.
The new site also offers improved security and reliability through hosted infrastructure, regular updates and uptime monitoring.
The website is now live at www.smmusd.org. Families can explore updated menus, check school and district calendars, and use translation and accessibility tools.
Malibu High School has already transitioned to the new format. All other school websites will launch as they are completed throughout 2025.
Edited by SMDP Staff