Migrating a large public-sector website from Blackboard CMS to Finalsite

I led the migration of Region One Education Service Center’s public website from Blackboard CMS to Finalsite. The project involved more than moving content between platforms. It meant reconsidering how a large, service-focused organization presented information to educators, school administrators, families, employees, and community members.

The previous site contained years of content spread across a complex organizational structure. Aesthetically it was still using it's primary css styling from 2006, Its navigation was dense, page layouts were inconsistent, and some important services were difficult to find. I worked to preserve the institution’s essential content while creating a more consistent, accessible, and maintainable website. My work included auditing and organizing existing content, rebuilding the site architecture, migrating pages and digital resources, and developing reusable page patterns in Finalsite. I also addressed redirects, navigation changes, accessibility, responsive behavior, and quality assurance across devices and browsers. The redesigned site groups services around the needs of its audiences, creates a clearer visual hierarchy, and gives departments a more sustainable framework for managing content. It provides a clearer picture of Region One ESC’s work while making information easier to find and maintain.

Working with the marketing team, I helped develop Region One ESC’s branding guidelines so staff could use the organization’s colors, typography, and logos consistently. I then translated those guidelines into reusable web templates for workshops, conferences, and other events.

Departments had often created their own Google Sites without centralized branding or technical guidance. This made it possible to launch sites quickly, but it also led to inconsistent designs, duplicated work, difficult updates, and websites created outside the organization’s established processes. Ownership and long-term access were also concerns. We saw the problem firsthand when a department hired an outside contractor to build a website for its conferences and services. When we later tried to retrieve the website and its related materials, the contractor could no longer access the account after relocating and losing the login credentials. Because the department had not secured full ownership, we had no practical way to recover or manage the site.

The experience made it clear that event websites needed consistent branding, clear ownership, dependable access, and a sustainable maintenance process.

The Solution

Staff could start with an approved structure and customize it for their event instead of building a site from scratch or managing an independent website.

The Outcome

The template system reduced the number of unapproved or inconsistently branded Google Sites created across the organization to effectively zero. It also shortened production time, simplified updates, and gave staff a clearer process for requesting and managing event websites. It also helped establish organizational ownership of event websites and their content, reducing the risk of losing access to important digital assets.