Web posted
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Emergency messaging in school
Ark City schools discussing ways to warn students
By FOSS FARRAR
Traveler Staff Writer
reporter@arkcity.net
The local school board Monday night gave the go-ahead for an instant messaging system to alert parents of emergencies involving their kids.
USD 470 Assistant Superintendent J.K. Campbell proposed a parent alert system that would provide multiple types of messaging to parents in case of emergencies, including e-mail, text and voice mail. Campbell made the pitch at a regular school board meeting held at Arkansas City High School.
Campbell said today he had received "very positive" feedback on the proposal from school board members.
"They felt it really supported our strategic plan and efforts to keep our parents informed," he said.
Without a formal vote, the board gave the district administration the go-ahead to pursue the project, Campbell said. A formal vote was not required because the annual cost of the system would be below the $20,000 threshold for formal approval.
"We've visited with three different companies that provide these kinds of systems," he said. "Now we'll get more specific information to make sure we get a system that is compatible with our student data system."
The district uses the Power School student data system, he said. School administrators, teachers and parents can access the system to update -- or check -- student grades and progress.
The next step for the district administration is to develop a request for proposals and send it to three to five companies that provide parent alert systems, Campbell said.
"Once we get that information back we'll make the best decision," he said.
Campbell said one company contacted by the district indicated its instant messaging system would cost about $8,000 per year.
The parent alert system would be used as part of a district crisis plan being developed by a team of school district employees, Campbell told the board.
The district crisis team has met with emergency services leaders including Police Chief Sean Wallace and Fire Chief Randy Leach to revise and update the school district's emergency response plan, he said.
These leaders and other emergency management personnel are working with the school district to develop the plan.
Campbell said he attended a conference in Philadelphia a year ago on how to set up a school district emergency plan.
"There are four phases of emergency management and a plan for each of these, to reduce life and property threats," he said.
The four phases are prevention-mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery, Campbell said. A flip-chart of procedures for school district personnel is being developed in the event of any of a broad range of emergencies, including school bus accidents, serious illness or injury, bomb threats, fires or tornadoes.
Also at last night's meeting, Arkansas City High School Dean of Students Angela Harding presented information on a peer mentoring program that was started last spring. It is part of a work ethic program for high school students involving community service, Harding said.
"I've worked with juniors and seniors who work with freshmen and sophomores at risk for not being successful," she said.
The 12 mentors in the program help at-risk students improve their grades, attendance and discipline record, Harding said.
Two seniors who work as mentors addressed the school board -- Daniel Mendoza and Mitchell Wright.
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