January 28, 2008

School board discusses using parent alert system

At its regular meeting Monday night, the USD 470 Board of Education discussed the need for a parent alert system.

“Currently, the district relies on manually dialing each parent individually to contact them about emergency specifics,” J.K. Campbell, assistant superintendent, said.

The technology director and business manager have had conferences with three companies that provide instant messaging and voice mail services for school districts, enabling quick and easy parent notification about emergencies, absences, events and other important issues.

These systems allow an administrator to record or type a message via a Web application or phone. Then a voice message, text message or e-mail is automatically sent to all parents or even just a specific set of parents, such as those with children on a particular bus or at one school.

“In a continued effort to improve communications to our parents and strengthen the district’s ability to keep parents informed on a timely basis, the business office will develop a request for proposals from these companies,” Campbell said.

The program chosen will be compatible with the district’s student information system. Other features the business office suggested include: the ability to translate messages into other languages, multiple messaging methods, unlimited calling, ability for parents to update contact information regularly and choose what messages they want and how they wish to receive them and the automatic retry of failed calls.

In other news, the board:

· Approved the agenda and consent agenda

· Received cookies from the high school agriculture department and FFA as a thank you for the constant support of the programs

· Recognized a gift of $1,000 from the GE Elfuns for the Guys Read program at the middle school

· Recognized the following staff resignations:

Carla Flores – Administrative Assistant – Curriculum

Samantha Hensey – Computer Lab Aide at IXL

Cassandra McGowan – Learner Support at IXL

· Approved the following new staff:

Amber Darby – At-Risk Aide at C-4

Jennifer Graham – Computer Lab Aide at IXL

Krista Jacobs – Learner Support at Adams

Teresa Moore – Learner Support at Adams

Melissa Prough – At-Risk Aide at high school

Monica Rizzuto – Learner Support at Adams

Wendy Ternes – Attendance Secretary at high school

Cindy Young – Secretary at Adams Elementary

· Heard a special report from high school staff members and students

· Discussed the 2008-2009 handbooks

· Heard a report by J.K. Campbell regarding the 2008-2009 budget

· Discussed the district crisis plan

· Moved into executive session to discuss negotiations

· Called the regular meeting back to order

· Moved into executive session to discuss personnel

· Called the regular meeting back to order

· Adjourned