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AlertNow SYSTEM LAUNCHES SOON

Keeping Parents Informed

by Paula Jensen on January 26, 2010

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      Elgin Public Schools will soon be launching an automatic calling system to alert parents, students, and staff in the event of emergency closures, late starts, or early dismissals.  This system will also be an important communication tool in the event of a school lockdown.  Alert Now rapid communication services have been contracted to perform the automatic calling for us.

      The Alert Now system will use the phone numbers, cell numbers, and e-mail addresses listed in our Schoolmaster student information system.  After initial contact is made by school officials, Alert Now calls and e-mails everyone on the list within minutes.  This system will also leave voice mail on cell phones or a message on home answering machines.  The number 411 will show on your caller ID for all emergency notifications.  This effort should result in quicker notification for all involved.

     The Alert Now system can also be used for non-emergency situations.  If a non-emergency notification is sent, the school’s telephone number will appear on your caller ID.  Perhaps the third grade is taking a field trip and a message can be sent to all 3^rd graders to remind them to bring their permission slip.  In the event that the One-Act sponsor is sick and morning practice needs to be cancelled, a message can be sent to all cast & crew members.  Sometimes general messages will remind parents of parent-teacher conferences or student registration night.  As the Alert Now system becomes commonplace, many more uses will become apparent.

        Because the system will be using the information on our computerized information system, it is very important that we have current phone numbers for all parents, students, and staff.  Soon a phone number confirmation letter will be sent to all parents.  This letter will list the contact information that is imported into the system.  It is very important to double-check the phone numbers and e-mail addresses that we have listed for your child and make any corrections to our listings.  Return this letter to the school as soon as possible so we can update our information.

        School staff is being trained in the system and when it is ready to be implemented, a test message will be sent.  This will be a good indicator of incorrect phone numbers or numbers that you do not wish to have on the list.

        The ultimate goal is that this notification service will result in more accurate and reliable communication between school and home.