News Summary
As the new school year approaches, schools are focusing on improving communication with parents through modern technology. Districts are adopting systems like SchoolMessenger and One Call Now to provide timely alerts and updates. With the rise of educational apps and smartphone integration, parents can receive notifications more efficiently. However, the increase in communication channels has created concerns about notification overload. School districts are working to streamline communications and encourage sign-ups for alert systems to keep families informed throughout the school year.
Spencerville – As the new school year approaches, parents of school-age children are focusing on ensuring both supplies and technology are ready. Enhancing communication between parents and schools has become a priority, with many districts adopting modern technology to strengthen these connections.
Traditionally, communication between schools and parents included methods such as print materials, radio and television announcements for delays and cancellations, as well as paper notes sent home with students. However, shifts in technology are now allowing schools to reach parents more effectively. Major advancements in communication methods have led to an increase in the use of email and text messaging, largely driven by the ubiquity of cellular technology.
Several local schools have implemented various systems to streamline and enhance their communication. For example, the Lima City Schools have successfully used the SchoolMessenger platform for their text alerts for several years, providing timely notifications to parents. Meanwhile, the Bluffton Schools, which previously relied on the Sendit text alert system, have now transitioned to One Call Now for their alert functionalities after Sendit ceased operations on July 31. Bluffton’s superintendent highlighted the importance of this system, particularly for athletic alerts and other community event notifications.
Similarly, Spencerville Schools also switched to One Call Now, investing approximately $4,000 per year for its text alert services. This system enables specific notifications tailored to different groups, allowing for general alerts as well as sports updates, which enhances communication efficiency and relevance for parents.
The Wapakoneta Schools and several other districts have taken a step further by developing a smartphone app to keep parents informed. This app, utilizing Thrillshare, consolidates various notification methods, such as calls, texts, emails, and social media posts, from one platform. This integrated approach aims to simplify access to critical updates while maintaining consistent communication with parents.
The growing reliance on educational apps for communication is evident. Usage statistics show that the number of education app users surged from 310 million in 2018 to 709 million in 2023. Notably, there were 939 million education app downloads in 2023 alone, with programs like Google Classroom gaining prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic, as many schools shifted to remote learning.
Education apps like ClassDojo have also emerged as pivotal tools that allow enhanced communication between teachers and students while providing updates on school announcements. However, this increase in options has left some parents feeling overwhelmed by the multitude of communication apps and alerts available. In response, school districts are working diligently to minimize notification overload and streamline communication channels.
To ensure parents are effectively informed, Bluffton Schools are actively promoting their new alert system to encourage sign-ups ahead of the new school year. Their focus is on high enrollment numbers for this service. Some districts take measures to automatically enroll families in alert systems during online registration processes, while others require parents to sign up manually.
As the new school year draws closer, both Bluffton and Spencerville districts are committed to encouraging families to register for alerts, ensuring that parents remain connected with their schools and are promptly informed of important updates.
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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
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