Dist. 301 about to expand communications with parents
Central Unit School District 301 may implement a reverse-calling system next year for emergencies.
The system can send millions of pre-recorded phone calls, text messages and e-mails to parents in a short time.
The system, from Missouri-based SchoolReach, would cost the district $10,500 next year, Assistant Superintendent Todd Stirn said.
Out of nearly a dozen reverse-calling systems, SchoolReach was chosen "because it works hand in glove with our student information software," Stirn said, and would not require the district to supply any extra phone lines or computer hardware.
"What's nice is families can choose if they want to be contacted in multiple ways --by text, at home or at the office," Stirn said.
For families with caller ID, calls would show up as coming from the school, he said.
Initially, district leaders plan to use the system to communicate weather advisories, athletic event reminders and safety precautions.
"As we would grow into the system, we could begin using other features like parent surveys," Stirn said.
Parents would pay for the system through children's school registration fees, he said. The cost per child would be about $3.
If approved, Burlington-based District 301 schools will join a host of other Fox Valley districts that use similar systems.
Last week, Kaneland Unit District 302 approved buying a reverse-calling system for the 2008-2009 school year for $13,850.
Huntley Unit District 158 also began using one this spring.
Elgin Area School District U-46 has used the ConnectEd notification system for about 14 months, district spokesman Tony Sanders said.
In the 2007-08 school year, U-46 has placed 800,000 phone calls via the system, Sanders said.
Along with weather closings, the system was used to notify parents about the recent Elgin High teacher stabbing and the South Elgin High firecracker prank. U-46 also used the system to notify its staff members about selecting Jose Torres as its new superintendent, Sanders said.
"The ability to call all parents before they can get information from another source is a powerful tool to have," he said.
The District 301 school board will vote on the system at its June 16 meeting.