Alert Now

AlertNow is the most robust communication solution available to educators. It is an easy- to-use rapid notification tool that supplements or replaces traditional methods—such as phone trees, “auto dialers,” newsletters, mailers and notes which are often ineffective and time consuming to produce and distribute.
AlertNow helps schools communicate with parents more effectively by providing tools that customize message content by language, group, message type or contact device and more efficiently by delivering information almost instantaneously. AlertNow has the ability to deliver voice or text messages to telephones, mobile phones, pagers, PDAs or any other Internet-enabled device at a rate of up to 6,000 per minute.

How AlertNow benefits parents

AlertNow allows school administrators to keep you updated quickly and efficiently with personalized messages and helps you, as a parent, stay actively involved in your child’s education.
AlertNow has the ability to:

• reach thousands of parents per minute
• send notifications even when school phone lines are down
• rapidly deliver information for emergency and non-emergency situations (such as weather-related delays or closings)
• perform polls and surveys
• quell rumors before they get out of hand
• boost fundraising efforts
• notify parents when lunch balances are running low
• send reminders on field trip forms, PTA meetings, etc.

Receiving messages

Parents will receive two different types of calls from schools:

1. Routine notification calls do not directly affect the safety of students, staff or parents; these calls include upcoming events, delayed school bus routes and absenteeism. These messages display the school’s phone number on caller ID.
2. Emergency notification calls are used during critical incidents where a child, staff member or parent’s safety is in immediate jeopardy; these calls include lockdowns, evacuations and relocations. Emergency messages display “411” on caller ID so parents recognize the urgency of the call.