By JACK PALMER
palmer@crescent-news.com
School schedules change. Buses run late. Emergencies happen.
Thanks to a new instant alert system created by New Jersey-based Honeywell International, several northwest Ohio schools will soon be able to notify parents more quickly and conveniently.
"It provides a more efficient and effective way to send clear and consistent messages to parents and staff within minutes," said Jim Roach, superintendent of Northeastern Local Schools. "In today's environment, it's vital that we provide information to parents as quickly as possible."
The new notification service allows parents to decide how and where they receive messages, including via phone, e-mail, cell phones, pagers and PDAs (personal digital assistants). It can send 150,000 clear, consistent 30-second phone messages in 15 minutes and 6,400 text-based messages per minute.
"Honeywell came and gave a demonstration to area superintendents on the NBEC (Northern Buckeye Education Council) board, of which I am a member," said Roach. "The Bryan, Millcreek-West Unity and North Central districts have had it for about a year and they all have favorable things to say about it."
Roach took a proposal to his district's school board, which last week approved a three-year contract with Honeywell to provide the service.
The first-year cost is $1,255 ($1 per student), with increases of not more than 5 percent for years two and three.
"Our rate is based on a consortium of 30,000-35,000 total students," said Roach. "Most of the superintendents are in favor of this, and I think it's just a matter obtaining board approval.
"The majority of districts in our four-county area are involved, plus a few in western Lucas County like Springfield Local and Anthony Wayne," he added. "We needed to have a group of 30,000 to receive the rate we did."
To send out the notifications, a designated school representative initiates the messages over a secure website or by phone, which are then relayed to all contact points. The service can also be customized to send messages to pre-selected subgroups, and parents can easily change their contact information online.
"We hope to have this operational by late January or early February," said Roach. "Honeywell will come in and do the training.
"Once it gets up and running we will probably add subgroups like individual sports teams to cover situations where practices or events are canceled because of weather."
Emergency situations such as lockdowns and intruders in school buildings can also be instantaneously communicated to parents.
"Technology has come a long way and we're just looking for another way to utilize that technology," said Roach. "Instant communication with parents is an important development that can help assist all school districts."