Hiawatha CUSD 426 Improves Emergency Communication, Parent Outreach and
Response with Implementation of Connect-ED® Service
The Connect-ED service enables school/district leaders to schedule, send,
and
track personalized voice messages at up to six phone numbers and two e-mail
addresses per person. In all, the multi-modal service helps officials reach
out to parents and staff via:
· Voice messages to home phones, work phones, cell phones, and even e-
mails
· Text messages to cell phones, PDAs and other text-based devices
· Written messages to e-mail accounts
· Messages to TTY/TDD receiving devices for the hearing impaired
The system can be used to inform parents and staff members of school closures
and contingency plans due to inclement weather, issues arising from
pandemics, or other late-breaking developments. The Connect-ED service has
been successfully used for communication by schools across the country during
events such as Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Ernesto, school shootings, and to
help locate missing children. It is also an effective way to keep parents
informed about important events in their child’s education.
The school’s new time-sensitive mass notification service will play a key
role in the Hiawatha School District's emergency preparedness and response
plan and can be used for other time-sensitive issues of public interest. The
comprehensive communication system is the most effective way for school
officials to quickly communicate across the district and notify parents and
staff about important information.
Hiawatha CUSD 426 will be testing the Connect-ED service in the very near
future. The district advises that it is also testing the data
provided by parents. If you are a community member who erroneously receives
a call, please contact Karen Keneway at (815)522-2669 and your number will be
removed from the service immediately.
More information about the Connect-ED service is available online at
www.blackboardconnect.com.