Change happens all the time, and the time has come to switch school gradebook software.

Tyler Technologies, the company behind SIS, discontinued the site in 2022, and since then, it’s been up to schools to maintain it until the school found a replacement. This caused issues with speed and productivity levels, namely in finals season in December and May.

Focus was chosen as SIS’s replacement in the Wentzville School District, as well as other schools in the St. Charles County area, and the country as a whole.

Some staff and students at Holt were asked about their experience with Focus so far. Division Secretary Katie Trudo said that Focus is very user friendly.

“It is much more user-friendly that SIS!” Trudo said. “It’s a quick and easy way to sign students in or out.”

The theme of things being easier to do on Focus seems to carry over to teachers as well.

“Teachers can take attendance much faster than they used to,” Senior Class Sponsor Sarah Pondrom said. “We can import grades from Canvas into the gradebook much faster than we used to be able to.”

Students appreciate that Focus allows them to get into contact with their teachers easier.

“With Focus, we have ways to communicate with teachers and staff in much easier ways than email,” Charniya Matthews (‘25) said.