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New system at District 150 will alert parents of absences, emergencies

By: Joe Crawford, Peoria Journal Star Staff
Peoria Journal Star

August 18, 2008

An automated system meant to alert families of students in District 150 about emergencies may also make it more difficult for kids to get away with skipping school.

Bryan Chumbley, research director for the district, said the new “Family Access” system, which will allow district staff members to quickly communicate with parents with weather-related announcements or other emergencies, should be in place by Sept. 2.

The system will also be used on a daily basis, Chumbley said at a District 150 board meeting Monday night.

“The system will automatically generate phone calls to parents for attendance purposes, notifying families of students who are marked with an unexcused absence from school,” he said.

By 11 a.m., all of the morning calls should be made, he said.

There will also be calls made to parents of high school students in the evenings to let parents know which periods their children missed, he said.

Chumbley said family members must sign up before receiving calls.

Board member Martha Ross said she was happy to hear parents would be called in the morning about their child’s absences.

“I’ve had parents who said they thought their kids were at school, or they dropped them off,” she said.

Families also will be automatically notified when their child’s food service balance is low. By October, Chumbley said he also expects to be able to text message and e-mail families.

“The capabilities are far beyond where we have ever been in the past,” he said.

In other business, the board adopted a new districtwide policy directing staff members to develop procedures aimed at getting parents more involved in their children’s education.