Our school district does not call just one station, all media outlets in the tri state area are called, thus making sure all stations, tv and radio are covered.
Our county has a system set up through a company called Honeywell. If you search that, you should find the website. Last year a form was sent to all parents asking if they wanted to join. You can give a home phone, cell phone, email address or text message number. I gave all of them. In the case of any emergency, you get a message on every thing you gave contact info for. We also get messages about school holidays, bad weather announcements for school closings, things like that. It has even been used to announce meetings or programs scheduled after school. Each school can use the program to send out their own message and the school board can send a message to everyone signed up county wide.
Being that I signed up for every contact possible, it gets a little frustrating when I'm home sometimes. Running around to the house phone, 2 cell phones, clearing the text message and then it's in an email too! But, if there ever was a serious emergency...I'd definately know! Better safe than sorry!
Hey Diem, I'm in Thornton and wehave been talking about the same issue. Our school has an audio dialer system that works if you answer your phone! HA! I like the e-mail idea AND using the audio dialer if we can get the system better perfective. (is that a word?)
Our charter school is in constant lock-down and you are required a photo CO ID to enter and to pick-up your children. Yes, even the PTO President has been asked to return to her van and retrive her ID...that was me!
With 75% (give or take) of our parents a two income household, a calling tree may not be the best solution. The other thing to look at, not all emergencies are reported onthe same radio stations nor can we guarrentee that everyone listens tothe same station!
When "Columbine" happened word spred fast and the rumors sped faster! Our charter school was less than a block away from THornton High School which was rumored to be "the next school" . At that time we were a close knit bunch of less than 500 parents and could getthe wordout very fast! Now we are 1400+ and I would bet most don't even know School Board Elections are next week!
At the end of the day, it's a nessary evil I would rather not have to think about but do pray for our children's safety everyday.
Another thought...what about sending an emergency broadcast text message to all parent's cell phones? Don't know if it can be done or how it can be done but since you are thinking outside the box, why not explore it.
I don't that the phone tree's the best method of first contact communication. Our schools have been ineffective in getting the word out. Last year, for example, we had a non-routine early closing due to high winds and power outages. I got word from a friend via e-mail. I then sent it to all those people I had addresses for through sports etc. Most got back to me saying thanks but I never got my phone tree phone call from my upline on the phone tree.
I agree with dlf that a phone tree is the best first contact system.
Congratulations for working to insure that parents are informed. I would imagine that the software could be an important part of the plan, being used for updates after the initial contacts are made. For those who still choose not to register, using the schools website for updates could be a viable solution.
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