The Web is jello that doesn't jiggle yet. It's not quite there, we don't really know what it takes to make a great Web site. We have some hints, but we don't really know, we've never seen one. The key focus when designing a Web site is to first figure out, who's going to be using it and why. There are lots of ways that a Web site can be used.
Parents have a use for the Web site for general information, such as a school calendar.
Parents also have a use for a school Web site as a communication medium between themselves and their child's teachers. For instance, it would be really nice to find out about costumes that I have to get for school or materials for a project, sooner than the Sunday night before the project is due. It would also be very interesting to know what's happening in the classroom and what they are learning so that I can integrate what they're learning in life. If I know my child is learning long division, I can have him help me figure out unit costs in the supermarket. The Web site also has purposes for communication between students and teachers.