FOREST LEAVES — Aug. 18, 2004

District 90 considers phone alert program

BY CHRIS LAFORTUNE

STAFF WRITER

District 90 officials are scheduled to consider Monday signing on for a service allowing schools to simultaneously telephone parents throughout the district with notices including institute day reminders or emergency alerts.

Superintendent Marlene Kamm demonstrated for the School Board July 19 the service offered by Notification Technologies Inc. The Internet-based service allows users to phone in a message, designate what recipients should receive the message, and then send it simultaneously.

Kamm telephoned in a message to each of the school trustees and administrators in attendance. Within minutes of her call, all their cell phones rang at once, delivering the message.

Kamm's former district, East Prairie School District 73 in Skokie, has used the system for the last two years, she said. It could have been used in District 90 last year to notify parents about bomb threats at two of the district's schools, she said.

"When you're in a situation like that, it's just a wonderful tool to be able to know that you could communicate information to people, and they get the same message, not six different people telling them six different things," Kamm said.

Kamm said her former district used the system for a variety of reasons, such as seeking community involvement in the schools or reminding parents of institute days.

"We found that parents really appreciated kind of having that reminder," Kamm said. "Sometimes you forget to look at your fridge calendar, and that certainly helps them make the appropriate plans for their children on days when school is not going to be in session."

The Skokie district was part of a consortium of northern Cook County schools signed up with the system, Kamm said. If District 90 decides it wants the system in place, the company is ready to allow it to join that group.

The consortium allowed the schools to receive a cost break on the program. Were District 90 to sign up, Kamm said, it would cost $3 a student to join, plus an activation fee.

As of the end of June, District 90's enrollment was 1,375.

At first, the program would be available to administrators and principals, Kamm said, but would work down to the teacher level, as well.

"I can really see teachers at the grade levels wanting to probably use it for their classroom," she said.

The School Board will talk about the program at its meeting Monday, School Board President Sally DelBeccaro said. The system, she said, could be an effective communication tool for the district, and the price is reasonable.

"It provides us with a very quick means of getting in contact with parents if there's any kind of an issue or problem," she said.

Kamm said she would have a contract proposal from the north Cook consortium and the company on Monday's school board agenda.

Chris LaFortune can be reached at clafortune@pioneerlocal.com.

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