District implements alert system

Following the example of schools across the United States, the Gideon School District is taking a proactive approach toward protecting its students and increasing parent-school communication by launching an emergency messaging service that can send school updates and warning messages directly to parents via cell phones and e-mail communication.

According to Superintendent Dr. David Hollingshead, Gideon Public Schools is in the process of incorporating a mass notification system called SchoolDispatch which will alert parents to any type of emergency and will also be used to communicate important school information including inclement weather notices via text message.

Text messages will not be limited to just emergencies or weather updates, but may also include PTA news, sports scores, and notices to faculty and staff.

Hollingshead told the Daily Dunklin Democrat that the school has looked into such services in the past but one of the main things that has held it back from moving forward was lack of money.

"We have investigated several similar services in the past, but cost was always a factor," Hollingshead said.

Fortunately for the district, the SchoolDispatch system is a free messaging service supported through sponsors.

Hollingshead said SchoolDispatch will help the district in trying to obtain sponsors to foot any costs that may be associated with providing the service, however, if sponsors do not step up to the plate, SchoolDispatch has worked out a plan with Gideon and other potential schools to manage the service at no cost to the district.

According to reps from SchoolDispatch, the no-cost messaging service is part of an effort to hasten the notification of parents during critical or emergency situations that can happen on school campuses and to improve the overall communication process between schools and parents.

"We recognized the need to address the evolving communication preferences of parents in schools across the country and have developed a system that we are making available to every school in the country at no charge" said Brian Klaasmeyer, founder of SchoolDispatch.

Hollinghead said for parents within his district to activate the service they must voluntarily register their cell phone and/or e-mail information using the link on the district Web site.

Gideon sent notification to parents on Thursday, Feb. 7, informing them of the program and what they can do to be included.

"Sign-up is completely optional and parents that choose to participate can either include their cell phone, e-mail, or both," Hollingshead said. "It is an opt-in system."

Hollingshead said he feels good about the system after doing much research. According to the superintendent, one of the biggest factors swaying the school to go with SchoolDispatch, outside of it being a free service, is that research shows that unlike telephone service, e-mail alerts have proven to be effective in nearly every emergency situation.

Hollingshead said planners for the program have indicated that use of e-mail is a great way to go because it tends to not be "clogged" or "flooded" to the point where no messages are able to be sent.

The district projects introducing the new service by the middle of the month, if everything goes as planned.

To Hollingshead's knowledge, Gideon is one of few, if any, small rural districts offering such a service, though larger communities like Poplar Bluff have offered similar services at its schools for a couple of years.

For more information on Gideon Public School's plan to participate in SchoolDispatch contact Dr. David Hollingshead at (573) 448-3911.

Other schools or universities interested in learning more about SchoolDispatch may visit the company's Web site at www.vadomedia.com.