Grayslake District 46 explains automated phone system costs

Grayslake Elementary District 46 officials answered critics by saying they must be judicious in using a prepaid automated telephone calling system and should not enact it for promotional reasons.

Some residents groused after District 46 opted to use e-mail instead of the automated calls to promote a May 12 community forum at Grayslake Middle School. The critics said written surveys showed most residents learned about previous forums from the automated calls, not e-mails.

But cost is a significant consideration in using the phone system, District 46 Chief School Business Official Brad Goldstein said at a recent meeting. He said it costs 10 cents per call, with purchases typically made in lots of 10,000.

Superintendent Ellen Correll said the fact there were unused prepaid calls remaining before the community forum doesn't mean they should have been used to promote the event.

"That phone calling system was put in place in our district for emergencies," Correll said. "And we never know when there is going to be an emergency. And if we use that little piece of what we have left for a parent forum or something else and we need it for emergencies, it certainly will cost us more money."

Officials said the phone system was used in June 2009 just to promote the inaugural forum.

Board President Mary Garcia said future community forums should be touted on District 46's official calendar. She said establishing the forum dates well in advance would avoid conflicts with other significant activities.

"Communication is one of our board goals," Garcia said, "and I think we need to step up and make sure we have those (set dates) there."

Board member Susan Facklam said the district should use local newspapers to promote District 46 activities. She said an effort can be made to get information into the papers, without cost, to tout future forums to reach the community at large and parents without e-mail accounts.