December 2019 - Family & Employee Notification System

By Thomas L. Hosler, Superintendent

Perrysburg Schools utilizes SchoolMessenger to send news, updates and emergency communications to families and employees via email, phone and/or text message. This system synchronizes every night with our student data software, PowerSchool, and our employee data software, PeopleWerks.

Because of Federal Communications Commission rules, there are two requirements to receive messages via SMS text: the recipient’s wireless number must first be in PowerSchool or PeopleWerks and “Opt-In Confirmation” from the recipient’s wireless device. Parents/ guardians and employees may opt-in by sending “Y” or “Yes” via text message to our SchoolMessenger Short Code number: 67587 once their number is in our system for 24 hours. If they want to receive texts on multiple devices, each device number must complete the Opt-In process.

SchoolMessenger does not charge recipients for the text messages that they receive or send; however, wireless providers may charge for individual text messages, depending on the plan associated with the wireless device. Users are urged to consult their carrier if they are uncertain.

Since August 1 of this year, we have used this service to send over 369,000 individual emails, over 19,000 individual phone calls and over 31,000 text messages. It is utilized to send routine messages, such as back-to-school information, newsletters and our weekly eFlyers as well as timely and emergency messages, such as changes to the school calendar, lockdown messages and weather-related delays or cancellations.

We are able to send messages not only from laptop and desktop computers, but also using a phone app. Having the ability to communicate information quickly to employees and families via email, text and phone is helpful in a number of ways, most notably how it impacts our safety and security, the time it would take to print everything out and get it in the proper hands and money that is saved in printing and postage.

In addition to tools like our learning management system, Schoology, we are glad to have resources like this in place to better serve our families and employees.