Tahoma purchases automated parent-notification system

Tahoma School District this year will have a faster, more efficient way to contact parents to deliver urgent or emergency information, using an automated telephone and e-mail notification system.

At its meeting Aug. 28, the Tahoma School Board approved purchase of a parent-notification system provided by a company called SchoolMessenger. The system is capable of simultaneously sending thousands of phone calls and e-mail messages in minutes.

The service is hosted by the company and requires no local software or hardware. Instead, school district users will log onto a secure Web page where they can select prerecorded messages or they can phone in a message that will be recorded and then sent to a list of phones and e-mail addresses chosen by school officials.

The system also can be used for non-emergencies, such as making attendance calls or sending reminders about important dates or activities. The system relies on a database of phone numbers and e-mail addresses that are part of the electronic student information system called Skyward, which the district already uses. Parents will be asked to keep their phone and e-mail information current so that the notification system is effective.

Use of the system costs Tahoma $17,820, or $2.25 per student per year in addition to a setup charge. The system will be available for use by late September or early October.