diff --git a/deploy/config_templates/local_settings.py b/deploy/config_templates/local_settings.py
index 6386b6a44b..089474a6fe 100644
--- a/deploy/config_templates/local_settings.py
+++ b/deploy/config_templates/local_settings.py
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@
 PROJECT_ROOT = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(os.path.realpath(__file__)), '..')
 USE_MAILMAN = False
 DEBUG = True
-TEMPLATE_DEBUG = DEBUG
 SHOW_TEMPLATE_ERRORS = DEBUG
 CACHE_DEBUG = False
 
diff --git a/esp/esp/local_settings.py.travis b/esp/esp/local_settings.py.travis
index b3367497bb..8a4c159dda 100644
--- a/esp/esp/local_settings.py.travis
+++ b/esp/esp/local_settings.py.travis
@@ -59,7 +59,6 @@ CLOSURE_COMPILER_PATH = '/usr/lib/closure/bin'
 # Debug settings  #
 ###################
 DEBUG = True
-TEMPLATE_DEBUG = DEBUG
 SHOW_TEMPLATE_ERRORS = DEBUG
 DEBUG_TOOLBAR = False
 USE_PROFILER = False
diff --git a/esp/esp/settings.py b/esp/esp/settings.py
index 611b62c231..cd491a9665 100644
--- a/esp/esp/settings.py
+++ b/esp/esp/settings.py
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@
 
 # Do this here so we have access to PROJECT_ROOT
 TEMPLATES[0]['DIRS'].append(os.path.join(PROJECT_ROOT, 'templates'))
+TEMPLATES[0]['OPTIONS']['debug'] = DEBUG
 
 # Ensure database settings are set properly
 if len(DATABASES['default']['USER']) == 0:
diff --git a/esp/esp/utils/management/commands/update.py b/esp/esp/utils/management/commands/update.py
index de8eda2431..e0162e989d 100644
--- a/esp/esp/utils/management/commands/update.py
+++ b/esp/esp/utils/management/commands/update.py
@@ -39,9 +39,9 @@
 class Command(NoArgsCommand):
     """Update the site.
 
-    - Sync the database tables.
+    - Clean out old .pyc files.
     - Perform database migrations.
-    - Install initial data.
+    - Install initial data (happens automatically after running migrations).
     - Collect static files.
     - Recompile the theme.
     """
@@ -55,8 +55,6 @@ def handle_noargs(self, **options):
         default_options.update(options)
         options = default_options
         call_command('clean_pyc', **options)
-        call_command('syncdb', **options)
         call_command('migrate', **options)
-        call_command('install', **options)
         call_command('collectstatic', **options)
         call_command('recompile_theme', **options)
diff --git a/esp/useful_scripts/server_setup/new_site.sh b/esp/useful_scripts/server_setup/new_site.sh
index 175b31837a..3729f743e1 100644
--- a/esp/useful_scripts/server_setup/new_site.sh
+++ b/esp/useful_scripts/server_setup/new_site.sh
@@ -302,7 +302,6 @@ LOG_FILE = '$LOGDIR/$SITENAME-django.log'
 
 # Debug settings
 DEBUG = False
-TEMPLATE_DEBUG = DEBUG
 SHOW_TEMPLATE_ERRORS = DEBUG
 DEBUG_TOOLBAR = True # set to False to globally disable the debug toolbar
 USE_PROFILER = False
@@ -356,8 +355,8 @@ then
     echo "$DBNAME database.  Please follow their directions."
 
     cd $BASEDIR/esp/esp
-    ./manage.py syncdb
     ./manage.py migrate
+    ./manage.py createsuperuser
     cd $CURDIR
     
     #   Set initial Site (used in password recovery e-mail)
diff --git a/fabfile.py b/fabfile.py
index 903bdbe3d6..e3ff39b79b 100755
--- a/fabfile.py
+++ b/fabfile.py
@@ -135,10 +135,10 @@ def setup_apache():
     fabtools.require.apache.site('devsite', template_source=relative('deploy/config_templates/apache2_vhost.conf'), **context)
 
 def initialize_db():
-    #   Activate virtualenv (should make a context manager)
+    #   Activate virtualenv
     with esp_env():
-        run('python manage.py syncdb')
         run('python manage.py migrate')
+        run('python manage.py createsuperuser')
 
 def link_media():
     #   Don't do this if the host is Windows (no symlinks).