Google Migration Hub

The move to Google is a direct response to staff feedback: 844 employees completed a survey, and 72% supported standardizing on Google Workspace Plus for staff.

 

Unifying on Google (already used by students) reduces “digital friction,” simplifies collaboration, and improves alignment between teaching and learning tools.

 

The projected go-live date is August 3, 2026. Please refer to the Migration Timeline for details.

 

All D211 staff will transition to Google Workspace at the same time.

 

Guidance will vary:

• Staff currently using the Gmail app for work email should:
  • Mark or clear unread messages in their current Gmail mailbox
  • Silence or disable phone notifications during the migration period (starting July 8)
• Staff not using the Gmail app for work email do not need to take any action.

Yes. All employees will receive timelines, expectations, and support resources(training, documentation, help channels). Staff are encouraged to regularly visit the Google Hub for updates, including additions to the FAQ section.

 

 

Yes, if you have Outlook folders with a forward slash ( / ) or caret ( ^ ) in the folder name, we recommend renaming them before the migration.

Folders containing these special characters do not migrate correctly. During the migration, the special character is interpreted as a folder separator, which creates a new folder structure instead of preserving the original folder name.

For example:

• ADC / Kurt will migrate as:

  • ADC (an empty parent folder)

  • Kurt (a subfolder containing all the original messages)

To avoid this issue, rename the folder before the migration by replacing the / or ^ with a hyphen (-), space, underscore ( _ ), or another standard character. This will help ensure your folders migrate with the names you expect.

No, staff email addresses will remain the same.

Staff will still have access to Outlook after the migration; however, emails can only be sent through Google Workspace. Outlook will remain available for users who need to reference their contacts or other previously stored information.

Yes. The IT team is handling the migration behind the scenes. All of your historical emails, archives, and folders will be securely transferred over to your new Google Workspace account so you won't lose any of your past correspondence.

Your Outlook folders will look a little different but work the same way. Google uses "Labels" instead of folders. When your email moves over, your Outlook folders will automatically convert into Google Labels. 

Also see answer to Q: Do I need to rename any Outlook folders before the migration?

 

Yes. Your personal contacts and your main Outlook calendar events will be migrated automatically over to Google Contacts and Google Calendar. You will be able to see all of your upcoming appointments right when you log into Google for the first time.

While your primary calendar transfers automatically, secondary or shared calendars (like a team calendar or a colleague's calendar you manage) may need to be re-shared once we are live on Google. We will provide a quick step-by-step guide on how to easily re-connect with your team's calendars during the launch week.

Yes, you can still open and use Microsoft Office applications. However, we highly encourage transitioning to Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides. Google Workspace allows for seamless, real-time collaboration with colleagues, auto-saves your work instantly, and removes the need to email file versions back and forth.

No, you don't need to convert anything. Google Drive allows you to store, open, edit, and comment on Microsoft Office files directly without changing their format. If you choose to, you can save a copy as a Google Doc or Sheet with a single click, but it is not required.

Yes. We recommend creating all new internal documents directly in Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides. This will help you get familiar with the new tools and immediately unlock Google's live collaboration features.

There will be minimal downtime during the final stages of the migration.

• Calendar: Beginning Sunday, August 2, at 9:00 p.m., please do not create new calendar events in Outlook. This calendar blackout will remain in effect until Google Workspace goes live on Monday, August 3. Calendar events created in Outlook during this period may not migrate to Google Calendar.
• Email: On Monday, August 3, from 6:00 a.m. to 7:30 a.m., please DO NOT send or reply to email in either Outlook or Gmail while the final migration is completed. Beginning at 7:30 a.m., staff should begin using Gmail as their primary email platform.

Once Google Workspace is ready, staff will receive a go-live email with instructions for accessing Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive, and other Google Workspace tools.

Each building within District 211 has their own dedicated IT Support Team, waiting to help you with any questions you may have. There are a few different methods of contacting a member of the IT Support Team:

• Helpdesk Ticket System - The helpdesk website is only able to be accessed from the district network. It can be found within the Staff Resources page within the D211 website, or by navigating to helpdesk.d211.org.

• Email - If you are unable to access the Helpdesk Ticket System, you can still submit a ticket to the system by sending an email to helpdesk@d211.org 

• In Person - The physical IT Support helpdesk can be found within the library of each school. The helpdesk is where faculty, staff, and students can stop by to discuss any questions they may have regarding their technology. 

• Phone - Provided below are the extensions for each buildings' IT Support Team.

Palatine: 847-755-1761 or ext-1761

William Fremd: 847-755-2761 or ext-2761

James B Conant: 847-755-3761 or ext-3761

Schaumburg: 847-755-3761 or ext-4761

Hoffman Estates: 87-755-5761 or ext-5761

Administration Center: 847-755-6761 or ext-6761

No, you will not be required to change your password.

No, if you’ve accessed any Google product in the past, you will continue to access them in the same way, now you just have Google Mail and Calendar access as well.

PHS / Alex Larson — Technology Department Chair

FHS / Keith Sorensen — Technology Department Chair

CHS / Paul Kim — Technology Department Chair

SHS / Scott Weidig — Technology Department Chair

HEHS / Christina Ordonez— Technology Department Chair

ADC / Kurt Conley — Technology Infrastructure Manager or Andrew Peterman - Director of Technology & Digital Learning

 

District 211 Staff,

Google Workspace is now live. The calendar blackout has ended, and you may begin using Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive, and other Google Workspace applications.

Use the links below to access the new environment:

• Gmail: https://mail.google.com/

• Google Calendar: https://calendar.google.com/

• Google Drive: https://drive.google.com/

• Google Migration Hub: https://adc.d211.org/departments/technology-services/google-migration

Please begin using Gmail instead of Outlook for District email. Quick-start guides, videos, FAQs, and additional support resources are available on the Google Migration Hub.

As with any technology transition of this size, there may be a few unexpected issues along the way. We appreciate your patience as our Technology team works to support our staff members during this migration. If you encounter an issue after we go-live, please connect with submit a Help Desk ticket so our team can assist you as quickly as possible.

If you need assistance, please contact your building’s designated technology support staff using one of the methods below:

• Helpdesk Ticket System - The helpdesk website is only able to be accessed from the district network. It can be found within the Staff Resources page within the D211 website, or by navigating to helpdesk.d211.org.

• Email - If you are unable to access the Helpdesk Ticket System, you can still submit a ticket to the system by sending an email to helpdesk@d211.org.

• In Person - The physical IT Support helpdesk can be found within the library of each school. The helpdesk is where faculty, staff, and students can stop by to discuss any questions they may have regarding their technology. 

• Phone - Provided below are the extensions for each buildings' IT Support Team.

Palatine: 847-755-1761 or ext-1761

William Fremd: 847-755-2761 or ext-2761

James B Conant: 847-755-3761 or ext-3761

Schaumburg: 847-755-3761 or ext-4761

Hoffman Estates: 87-755-5761 or ext-5761

Administration Center: 847-755-6761 or ext-6761

Welcome to Google Workspace!

Sincerely,

____________________________________

Andrew Peterman

Director of Technology & Digital Learning

Township High School District 211

1750 S. Roselle Road, Palatine, IL 60067

847-755-6705

District 211 Staff,

This is a reminder that our transition to Google Workspace remains on schedule for this coming Monday, August 3, 2026. As we prepare to go-live, please review these final reminders, including a NEW important update: 

Important Reminders

• Outlook Calendar Blackout: Beginning Sunday, August 2, at 9:00 p.m., please do not create new calendar events in Outlook. Events created during this blackout period may not migrate to Google Calendar.

• NEW: Temporary Email Pause: On Monday, August 3, from 6:00 a.m. to 7:30 a.m., please DO NOT send or reply to email using either Outlook or Gmail. This brief pause allows our Technology team to complete the final stages of the migration.

• Beginning at 7:30 a.m. Monday, please discontinue using Outlook for email and begin using Gmail as your primary email platform.

Once Google Workspace is ready, we will send a brief go-live email with the links and instructions you need to access Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive, and other Google Workspace tools. Until then, please do not attempt to access the new environment.

Quick-start guides, training videos, FAQs, and the migration timeline are available on the Google Migration Hub.

Need Technology Support?

Each building within District 211 has their own dedicated IT Support Team, waiting to help you with any questions you may have. There are a few different methods of contacting a member of the IT Support Team:

• Helpdesk Ticket System - The helpdesk website is only able to be accessed from the district network. It can be found within the Staff Resources page within the D211 website, or by navigating to helpdesk.d211.org.

• Email - If you are unable to access the Helpdesk Ticket System, you can still submit a ticket to the system by sending an email to helpdesk@d211.org.

• In Person - The physical IT Support helpdesk can be found within the library of each school. The helpdesk is where faculty, staff, and students can stop by to discuss any questions they may have regarding their technology. 

• Phone - Provided below are the direct numbers and extensions for each buildings' IT Support Team.

Palatine: 847-755-1761 or ext-1761

William Fremd: 847-755-2761 or ext-2761

James B Conant: 847-755-3761 or ext-3761

Schaumburg: 847-755-3761 or ext-4761

Hoffman Estates: 847-755-5761 or ext-5761

Administration Center: 847-755-6761 or ext-6761

Thank you for your flexibility, patience, and partnership as we complete this exciting transition to Google Workspace.

Sincerely,
Andrew Peterman

Director of Technology & Digital Learning

1750 Roselle Road, palatine, IL  60067

Township High School District 211

847-755-6705

District 211 Staff,

As we prepare for the move to Google Workspace on Monday, August 3, I’m pleased to share that the migration remains on track. Google Workspace will become the District’s standard platform for email, calendars, collaboration, and file storage.

Important calendar notice: Beginning Sunday, August 2, at 9:00 p.m., please do not create new calendar events in Outlook. This calendar blackout will remain in effect until Google Workspace goes live midday on Monday, August 3rd. Calendar events created during the blackout may not migrate to Google. Existing calendar invitations can remain in your email and can be accepted after the go-live date on August 3. A confirmation email will be sent when the new Google Workspace environment is ready.

Staff may continue using Outlook email as usual until the transition to Google Workspace is complete. The blackout applies only to creating new calendar events in Outlook during the designated blackout period.

Quick-start guides, videos, FAQs, and the migration timeline are available on the Google Migration Hub.

Thank you for your patience, flexibility, and partnership during this transition.

Sincerely,

____________________________________

Andrew Peterman

Director of Technology & Digital Learning

1750 Roselle Road, palatine, IL  60067

Township High School District 211

847-755-6705

Subject: I’m Andrew Peterman, and here’s what to expect this summer with Google Workspace

Dear District 211 Staff,

My name is Andrew Peterman, and I am honored to serve as District 211’s new Director of Technology & Digital Learning. I am excited to join the district at a time when we are working to create a more unified and consistent digital environment for staff and students.

As I step into this role, I will be leading districtwide communication about the Google Workspace migration and the support available to you. This transition is rooted in staff feedback, including the district technology survey in which 844 employees participated and 72% supported standardizing on Google Workspace Plus for staff. Our goal is to reduce digital friction, simplify collaboration, and better align staff tools with the Google platform students already use every day. It’s important to note Microsoft Suite tools will remain available to staff during and after this migration.

Over the summer, the migration is being completed in several phases:

• Staff Google Workspace Plus accounts will be created.
• Email and calendar data will be migrated so staff can work in Gmail and Google Calendar.
• Files and shared resources will be transitioned according to the district migration plan.

Based on the current plan, we expect this work to be completed by August 3rd, before the start of the school year, with support from district staff and implementation partners. At this time, no action is required unless you receive a direct message with account‑specific instructions. If any staff action becomes necessary, communication will include clear steps, deadlines, and available support.

As I begin my role, you will also see strong support from technology leaders across the district’s schools. Paul Kim at James B. Conant High School, Christina Ordonez at Hoffman Estates High School, Keith Sorensen at Fremd High School, Alex Larson at Palatine High School, Kurt Conley in his information technology infrastructure role, and Scott Weidig at Schaumburg High School in his district technology and library leadership role. These leaders will help with school‑based implementation, reinforce updates, and serve as visible local contacts throughout the Google migration. This work is further supported by Chief Communications Officer Maria Robertson, who is leading the overall communication strategy for the migration.

The Google Migration Hub is the central place for project updates, the detailed timeline, FAQs, training resources, and archived communications. Over the coming weeks, I will continue sharing updates with clear notice of any required staff action or confirmation that no action is needed.

Important notice for staff who currently use the Gmail app on their phone to manage work email: once the migration of historical emails begins, your Gmail inbox will receive previously unread messages. As a result, you may see notifications for these older emails.

To reduce unnecessary notifications, we recommend the following before and during the migration:

• Mark or clear any unread messages in your current Gmail work mailbox ahead of time.
• Silence or disable email notifications on your phone during the migration period (starting July 8th).

Thank you for your flexibility, your professionalism, and your continued commitment to District 211 students. I look forward to working with you throughout this transition and beyond.

Sincerely,
Andrew Peterman
Director of Technology & Digital Learning

 

Subject: Board approves move to Google Workspace for staff

Dear Township High School District 211 Staff,

On June 18th, the Board of Education approved a recommendation from the Technology Department to standardize staff communication and collaboration tools on Google Workspace Plus beginning in the 2026–27 school year. This decision aligns staff with the platform students already use each day and reduces the digital friction created by operating Microsoft 365 and Google side by side. The Microsoft Suite tools will remain available to staff during and after this migration.

Earlier this year, 844 staff members completed a district technology survey, and 72% indicated that moving to a unified platform (Google) would improve district effectiveness, communication, and collaboration. This change reflects staff input and supports a simpler, more consistent digital environment for teaching and learning.

The migration is getting underway and expected to be completed in approximately six weeks, before the start of the 2026–27 school year. District 211 is partnering with AmplifiedIT, a division of CDW, to support a smooth and secure transition. The financial impact of this annual cost will be budget-neutral because duplicate services and subscriptions will be eliminated.

While many staff members are on summer break, email communication throughout the transition will be clear, periodic, and practical, and will serve as the primary tool for staff to stay updated throughout the technology project. Additional updates will explain what is changing, what will stay the same, and what to expect before the school year begins.

On July 1, Andrew Peterman will join District 211 as Director of Technology & Digital Learning. Beginning at that time, he will lead ongoing communication about the Google Workspace migration, available support, and the district’s broader technology and digital learning direction.

Thank you for your continued support of District 211 students and for your partnership as the district moves toward a more unified digital environment.

Sincerely,
Dr. Judith Campbell - Superintendent
Gary Gorson - Chief Technology Office