News Summary
As the new school year nears, schools are enhancing communication between educators and families through modern technology. Many districts are transitioning to efficient text alert systems like One Call Now and utilizing smartphone applications for announcements and updates. This shift aims to streamline communication and engage parents more effectively, despite concerns about notification overload. Schools such as Bluffton and Spencerville are actively promoting enrollment in these systems to ensure a smooth transition for families as they prepare for the upcoming school year.
Spencerville – As the new school year approaches, parents of school-age children are actively preparing by ensuring they have the necessary supplies and technology ready for their children. With a focus on enhancing communication between educators and families, schools are increasingly embracing modern technology to ensure timely and effective updates.
Traditionally, parental alerts from schools were communicated through print media, radio, television announcements for delays and cancellations, and paper notes sent home with students. However, the evolution of communication methods has prompted schools to adopt more efficient practices such as email and text messaging. This shift has been powered largely by the rise of cellular technology.
In Lima, schools have successfully utilized a text alert platform called SchoolMessenger for several years, allowing for efficient communication with parents. Bluffton schools recently transitioned from the Sendit text alert platform, which ceased operations on July 31, to a new system called One Call Now. This change was highlighted by Bluffton superintendent Greg Denecker, who noted the importance of their athletic alert system and other event notifications for community members.
Similarly, Spencerville schools have made the switch to One Call Now, spending approximately $4,000 annually on its text alert functionality. This alert system is designed to send specific notifications tailored for different groups, including general alerts as well as sports updates.
Wapakoneta schools, along with numerous other districts in the area, has developed a smartphone application to provide alerts and disseminate district information, such as staff directories and athletic schedules. This app utilizes a platform called Thrillshare, which consolidates various notification methods, allowing schools to send calls, texts, emails, and social media posts from a single system.
The usage of education-related applications has seen a remarkable increase, with the number of app users rising from 310 million in 2018 to 709 million in 2023. In the same year, there were 939 million downloads of education apps, with Google Classroom experiencing significant usage during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, ClassDojo serves as another communication app that enhances the communication channels between teachers and students while facilitating school announcements.
Despite the advantages that various communication applications provide, some parents may feel overwhelmed due to the multitude of platforms and alerts available. However, school districts are striving to minimize this notification overload while still ensuring effective communication. For instance, Bluffton’s district is promoting their new alert system to encourage parent sign-ups, aiming for high enrollment rates ahead of the school year.
In terms of enrollment in these alert systems, some districts automatically enroll families during the online registration process, while others require parents to manually sign up. Bluffton and Spencerville districts are actively focusing on encouraging families to register for alerts as the start of the new school year draws near, to ensure a smooth and well-informed experience for all involved.
The evolution of school communication methods marks a significant shift towards more efficient and effective engagement between parents and educators, a trend that is likely to continue as technology further advances.
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Additional Resources
- Lima Ohio: Communication Between Schools & Parents
- News9: School Closings
- KHQ: School Closures & Delays
- PennLive: School Closings & Delays
- WTOL: School Closings & Weather Events
- Wikipedia: School Closure
- Google Search: School Communications
- Google Scholar: Technology in Education
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Education
- Google News: School Communications
