Parshall school successfully tests state-of-the-art emergency system
Parshall school successfully tests state-of-the-art emergency system
By MARVIN BAKER
If there is a weather-related emergency, don’t bother calling the Parshall school, it will call you.
That’s right, a state-of-the-art emergency alert system has been installed in the school, has been tested and now used during an actual emergency.
Superintendent Steve Cascaden calls the system “really slick” as it gives him and everyone else trained in using the system to contact the schools patrons by telephone, cellular phone or Internet.
“I can log on and send a message instantly,” Cascaden said. “So when you get a call, it will show that the school is calling.”
Messages can be sent out instantly to alert parents, athletes, clubs and even bus drivers. The message can also be scheduled for a specific time and data is later returned to the system to show how many people responded to the message.
Designed by Honeywell, the alert system is a computer software program that Cascaden says is ideal for weather emergencies, but can also be used for other emergencies such as a lock down or to alert the district about something else like a sporting event cancellation.
In a statement, Honeywell said the system is an ideal way of alerting the public to an emergency.
“Instant Alert for schools is an essential tool for notification and communication,” said the statement. “Within minutes of an emergency, school officials can use Instant Alert to deliver a single, clear message to the students’ parents or guardians. It’s an equally effective way to keep you informed of every day activities, such as event times and locations as well as schedule changes.”
