Instant Alert Messages

District 200 uses an automated messaging system to quickly inform parents of important events or developments. Messages are sent by phone and by email to hundreds of contacts within a matter of minutes and are of two types.

Emergency Messages

Emergency messages are used for any situation in which parents need to be notified immediately such as school closings, severe weather situations, bus delays, lockdowns, evacuations or other types of emergencies. Emergency messages are sent to a family’s primary phone number, up to five additional numbers, and by email.

Outreach Messages

Outreach messages are of a non-emergency nature and are sent to keep parents informed about important events and activities going on in their child’s school or in the school district. Outreach messages can include meeting reminders, due dates, schedule changes and/or updates, and announcements of student-related events. Outreach messages can be for a specific classroom, grade level or team or can be generalized for the entire school or district. Outreach messages are sent only to a family’s primary number and/or email address.

IMPORTANT

• During severe weather conditions, emergency messages will be sent ONLY IF SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED. No message will be sent if schools are open.
• If a busy signal is received by the system, two additional attempts will be made within the hour that the original message was sent.
• To be sure no messages are missed, parents must notify their school(s) whenever there is a change in their phone number or email address. The system will not function properly without up-to-date information.