Web pages can drive people crazy. If a web site doesn't change often, or does what some call "go static", it's hard to get people to look at it ever again. Also "old information" will tend to make this problem worse.
The HPES web site (http://www.hpes.org) is made from basic Google "Sites" web pages. It's GREAT at what it was designed to do: give information as a tool. Now the thing about Google is, as a company, they are WONDERFUL at producing "tools". You might like to think of them like you think of the "generic" brand you might pick up at the grocery store: functional but generally "basic", especially when new information isn't passed on to keep information more current.
This, by the way, is not designed to be a rant on anyone doing the maintenance or design of the web site. I know from experience it's a Herculean attempt to do and I think that's done very well here, especially without new information.
My real rant would be in not getting new information to help keep the web site "fresh" and interesting. (Newspapers have "static" information, web sites should be dynamic.)
I generally can tell a "Sites" web site by "look"; they look alot alike. Why? Much like Google Docs or Google Sheets, they give you a good "basic" tool set, surly functional, but overly "fancy". That makes them look alot alike, as a group.
The "down side" is the same: they look pretty much the same, and are often maintained pretty much the same way: not much new information often. Hence, readership is often limited, because the pages grow static as well.
I've often heard it said "Oh, we need our web site to look like the rest of the district". My response to that is "Why?" If the "rest of the District" wants poor readership, thanks to a "cookie cutter" approch, that's not a requirement. (My mom always used to say "Just because your friends will jump off a bridge, doesn't mean you have to. Actually some very good reasoning there...)
I believe a web site should not only be factual and enlightening, but some be a dynamic tool as well. I'm going to see over the next few months if I can "shake things up abit" and make our web site a a place where people WANT to go. "Did you see what's on the HPES Web site now?" I hope everyone wants to help.
Keep your eyes open...
mikel
Just to be clear, I was not complaining about the design or maintenance of the web site. Kudos to Yvonne Jones for the work she does so well! My "rant" was on the limits of the tool (Google Sites) and to the lack of new information being provided to be placed on the web site. Google is aware of how basic this tool is: aware enough so they are redesigning Google Sites. It's up the the community that a web site represents to provide new material, not the web sites maintainer/designer.
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