San Benito CISD approves new five‑year website contract with custom mobile app and integrated messaging

The San Benito CISD Board voted to approve a five‑year contract to replace the district’s website and digital communications platform.

Superintendent Alfredo Perez told trustees the new system will be a custom design built for the district and will consolidate communications channels, add a mobile app and allow each campus to operate an online storefront. “This is gonna be the opportunity that San Benito has to showcase, one of the best websites in South Texas,” Perez said during the meeting.

District staff said the new platform includes an AI chat box to surface common information quickly (for example, campus phone numbers or administrator names), direct posting to social networks in the correct formats, and a centralized interface to send email, text and social notifications. Staff told the board the vendor agreed to extend the current provider through November so the district’s current site will remain live while the new site is designed; the target launch date for the new site is Dec. 1.

Trustees moved and approved the item in open session. A motion was made by Mr. Lopez and seconded by Mr. Corona; the board voted to approve the vendor selection and five‑year contract term.

Administration described the procurement as a cost‑saving decision: the five‑year commitment reduces the overall cost compared with annual renewals. The package the district approved also includes a mobile application for parents and a commerce component that will allow campuses to sell items such as yearbooks and spirit merchandise online.

District staff said they will include stakeholders in the design process during the roughly five‑month design phase and that the committee will bring drafts and concepts back to the board and community for input. The board did not vote on the implementation plan or communications schedule at the meeting; those items are expected to be coordinated by the superintendent’s office.