AlertNow is an automated phone messaging system. This system allows the school district to place pre-recorded phone calls to every parent or staff member in the district almost simultaneously. It is the most rapid and efficient manner in which to communicate with the community. The district will be using this system to notify parents of important school events, in particular school delays and closings.
How the system will be used?
1. School Closings & Delayed Openings: When school is closed or delayed due to inclement weather, a phone call will be placed to the primary contact number only for each child in the district. The district will also communicate school closing and delay announcements via the following media:
- WSBS 860AM, Great Barrington
- WBRK, 1340AM, Pittsfield
- WUHN 1110 AM/WUPE 95.9 FM, Pittsfield
- WBEC, 1420 AM/105.5 FM, Pittsfield
- WKZE 1020 AM/98.1 FM, Sharon, CT
- WQQQ, 103 FM, Lakeville, CT
- WRGB, Channel 6, Schenectady, NY
- WTEN, Channel 10, Albany, NY
- WNYT, Channel 13, Albany, NY
We also add updated information as quickly as we are able to our school answering service recordings at 229-8778, 229-8734, and 229-8754
2. Early Dismissal: When school is closing early due to inclement weather, AlertNow will be used for the middle and high school grades only.A call will be placed to all numbers for each student in grades 7-12. For grades K-6, a school staff member will place a personal phone call to each parent.
If it is decided before the school day begins that a half-day is in order due to weather, then the procedures for a school closing will be followed where all students, K-12, will get a call to their primary number only. The only exception will be for K-6, where a follow-up call will be placed to parents who did not answer the morning call.
3. Emergencies: If other emergencies arise, the AlertNow system will be used to call all students on all numbers as soon as it is possible.
4. Notifications & Reminders: From time to time, the district will communicate important notifications or reminders for parents via the AlertNow system. These phone calls will be targeted to only the grades affected by the event and will only be placed to the primary contact number. Examples of this include reminders on youth athletic sign-ups or college financial aid night for seniors.
Other Important Details:
1. Voicemail
The system will not be able to leave a voice message if you have either a Telemarketer Zapper or Privacy Director or your voice mail prompts the caller to press a number for more options or dial an extension.
2. No Sound or Call Was Dropped:
If you get a call, but can't hear anything or the message was cut off, this is often due to noise on the line. You can go to https://www.alertnowmessage.com, fill in the necessary information (name, school, number), and you will be able to listen to the last message sent to you on your computer. Again, if your concern is weather related, you can always check the media outlets listed above.
3. I Didn't Get a Call:
Occassionally the volume of calls can overload the local exchange and calls don't go through. Again, if your concern is weather related, you can consult the media outlets listed above. We are trying to work around this problem as best we can.
For questions or concerns, please contact Chris Thompson at cthompson@sbrsd.org.
