District Purchases Emergency Contact Program
School Reach
The district has recently previewed and purchased a telephone communication software service called School Reach. The service allows the district to call every parent in the district with a previously recorded broadcast message at essentially the same time.
There are a number of features built into the program that make it extremely flexible. For example, if a spring ballgame was cancelled due to inclement weather, we could have the system phone the parent of every player to let them know. We could also have the system call every parent (and staff member) to remind them of early dismissals, parent teacher conferences or for days when we need to dismiss early or cancel school due to winter weather conditions. The list of potential applications is almost endless.
The system can be set up to call any home, cell or business extension number (or all three) and even records which calls were answered, which calls went to a recorder and which numbers were no longer in service. We can establish a broadcast from any location so long as we can get to a phone or computer. The School Reach system is in multiple St. Louis metro area locations so power outages in our area will not hinder the service.
The system allows us to record our own voice message or have the system read a message from typed computer text. The cost for the service is based on the district student count. The Pawnee PTO has agreed to pay for a portion of the costs in the first year.
We are looking forward to establishing the system as an important new tool enhancing our ability to communicate with our parents on a timely and efficient basis. We hope to have the system up and running by the end of the semester.
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