Chesapeake school alerts get boost from phone setup

CHESAPEAKE

Under Chesapeake Public Schools' old parental alert system, emergency messages sometimes could be a little delayed.

The system used the division's own phone lines, so it could call only a limited number of people at one time, said James Roberts, assistant superintendent for personnel and support services.

When there were transportation problems in the Deep Creek area last year, getting the word out to all parents took three days, Superintendent W. Randolph Nichols said.

A new system, which is expected to be operating by November, makes calls using thousands of phone lines supplied by the service provider, Roberts said. It can make calls to 40,000 people within 30 minutes.

The new system, supplied by a company called SchoolMessenger, is similar to those in place at Norfolk and Virginia Beach schools.

Parents can provide three phone numbers - their home, work and cell phones, for example - where they'd like to receive alerts. If a phone line is busy or goes unanswered, the system makes four more attempts every 15 to 20 minutes.

Parents are automatically signed up to receive messages when their child enrolls in Chesapeake schools, and should receive a test call on Oct. 24.

The system can be used for more routine messages too, along with emergency alerts, such as to remind parents of an upcoming meeting, or to let them know their child isn't in school that day. Eventually, the division hopes to expand the Parental Alert System to include e-mails and text messages, Roberts said.

Alicia Wittmeyer, (757) 222-5216, alicia.wittmeyer@pilotonline.com