NEWS--

For immediate release

January 17, 2008

Bloomington schools to launch parent notification system

Service will enhance emergency and outreach communications

Bloomington Public Schools will launch next month the Connect-ED communication service that will provide the district with the ability to reach all parents, faculty and staff with time-sensitive information within minutes.

Principals and district officials can use the mass notification and communications service to periodically and personally communicate with parents on issues such as student attendance, state testing, parent-teacher meetings, and in the event of a district or school emergency.

Connect-ED is an Internet-based school-to-parent communication service that enables school administrators to send and track personalized messages to thousands of staff and parents in just minutes. The system allows up to six phone numbers and two e-mail addresses per person, as well as text messages to cell phones, PDAs and other text-based devises, and TTY/TDD messages for the hearing impaired.

"Effective communication with parents has a direct impact on the academic success of a student. We now have a tool to help parents stay engaged," said Superintendent Les Fujitake.

The district's communications director also praised the new capabilities provided by Connect-ED in the event of an emergency.

"Today we are forced to prepare for emergency situations that years ago we never anticipated. We recognize the important role that immediate communication plays in safety as well as with ongoing parent outreach initiatives," said Rick Kaufman, executive director of community relations.

Kaufman, who was the crisis response leader to the Columbine High School shooting tragedy in 1999, said it is crucial to notify parents immediately in emergency situations because "timely communication helps minimize the spread of misinformation, restore order and provide direction."