Avon Grove to Use Web-based Parent Communication System
The Avon Grove School District has begun testing its new Web-based parent communication system known as Edulink.
The system enables administrators to contact parents by phone to share important Districtwide reminders and news updates, as well as school-specific information. The school district also plans to use Edulink’s calling feature to announce weather-related school closings, delayed openings, and early dismissals. Such announcements will still be communicated through radio and television stations and on the District’s Web page.
School officials can customize Edulink’s call-out options depending on whether the message is a routine notification or it concerns a Districtwide or school emergency. The superintendent, school principals, and other designated school officials can record a message or type a message that the system will convert from text to voice.
One call per family would be made to the home number only for school or Districtwide event reminders and similar routine notifications. For emergencies and weather-related announcements, district officials can use the system to contact multiple phone numbers per household, including home numbers and parents’ cell phones. The system is able to make rapid notifications.
Making Sure Parent & Emergency Contact Information is Current
Avon Grove’s school nurses send emergency contact information cards home with each student at the beginning of the school year. This contact information is entered into our student information system and is used to contact parents for individual student concerns, such as when a child becomes ill at school. The contact information will also be used for making phone notifications through the new Web-based Edulink system.
It is important for parents and guardians to verify the information on their child’s emergency card is current and to make updates if necessary. Parents and guardians should return the cards to their child’s school as soon as possible so our records can be updated.
If a child’s address, parent phone number(s), e-mail or other contact information changes during the school year, parents should notify the school.
Testing the New Web-based Communication System and Maximizing Its Use
School and district administrators appreciate the patience of parents and guardians as we learn more about the capabilities of the Edulink system and begin to use this technology to enhance school-parent communications.
If a parent feels they have received a call in error, they should notify their child’s school. If a parent is aware a message was sent but they did not receive a call and the parent feels the omission was in error, the parent should notify their child’s school.
Please be advised that schools will no longer use the Newsflash e-mail and text notification system. The District will use Edulink’s e-mail notification system in the future. E-mail addresses previously entered into Newsflash will not be carried over to the new system.
Parents are encouraged to provide e-mail addresses on their child’s emergency contact card. This information will be entered into Avon Grove’s student information system and will be used in the future to contact parents using the new Web-based communication system.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009 2:32 PM
