BUTLER TWP — Butler School District will be getting a new and improved website soon, a website that school board members hope will be more informative and easier to navigate.

They unanimously approved hiring the State College-based group Schoolwires to redesign and reconfigure the website, which will go into full effect by the beginning of the next school year.

Superintendent Michael Strutt said the current website, which has been maintained internally, is “static and underutilized.”

Board members agreed with him.

“I think it’s great,” said Carmen Bianco. “I’ve hated our website for the past, how many years. … We’ve needed this for some time.”

A Schoolwires staff member went through a presentation with board members via conference call Tuesday during the board’s committee meeting.

The company has more than 1,600 clients, including Seneca Valley, North Allegheny and Pittsburgh school districts.

A startups cost and subscription from Nov. 1 to June 30 will cost the district $8,100, if the school decides to use one of the company’s template pages. It will cost more for a customized website. Subsequent annual costs will be $5,760 per year.

Aspects of the website will begin to change by early next year, but will not go into full effect until the following school year to allow for a smooth transition. For instance, Edline, a tool for parents to check their children’s grades, will be further integrated into the school district website.

The motion passed 6-0; board members Karen Callihan, Jim Keffalas and Don Pringle were absent from Tuesday’s agenda setting meeting. The meeting, normally scheduled for Monday, was moved because of the Veterans Day holiday.