California School District to Launch Mass Notification App

California School District to Launch Mass Notification App

A major function of the app will send students, parents, and staff push notifications during emergencies.

  • By Jordan Lutke
  • September 24, 2018

Santa Rosa City Schools in Santa Rosa, Calif., has announced the rollout of an app following the school district’s new website, spearheading their efforts to keep up with a quickly-changing digital landscape.

A major function of the app will send students, parents, and staff push notifications during emergencies. Though the October wildfires did not instigate the creation of this app, they “did demonstrate the value of using every tool available to reach our school community,” said Beth Berk, the district’s communication director. The website redesign and app were decided upon at a district board meeting in June 2017.

The new website was designed with a “mobile first” mentality. “You’re more likely to go to our website via phone than you are a computer browser,” Assistant Superintended of Business Services Rick Edson said. This accompanies the website’s other upgrades, including a sleeker, easier to navigate design, and up to date accessibility standards.

Integration with social media is another way the school is using their digital presence to stay in touch with families, including large icons on the redesigned website linking to the district’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and even YouTube pages.

In a move towards going paperless, the school has employed the help of a digital service called Peachjar to send digital flyers to parents via email, in both English and Spanish.

The school district launched another app in August, SafeStop, allowing parents and staff real-time access to the district’s nearly 200 bus routes.

The school’s newest app will launch this fall.

About the Author

Jordan Lutke is an intern with 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Electrified Latch Retraction Locks Key Benefits for Retrofits

    Building owners and facility managers increasingly rely on electrified hardware to enhance security while meeting accessibility standards. Among these technologies, electrified or motorized latch retraction locks are especially effective for retrofit projects where existing door and frame conditions complicate upgrades. Latch retraction capable locks combine security, accessibility and code compliance benefits, making them ideal for retrofitting fire-rated and non-rated openings in schools, healthcare facilities, commercial buildings and more. Read Now

  • How Cloud Security Solutions Are Transforming Campus Safety

    Campus administrators today face a challenging mandate: deliver stronger security across their facilities while working within tighter budget constraints. From school districts focused on student safety to hospitals protecting patients and staff, the question remains the same: how do you build security infrastructure that evolves with your needs without requiring massive capital investments? Read Now

  • Rethinking Campus Security From the Inside

    For decades, campus security strategies focused on keeping threats outside school walls. But since the tragedy at Columbine High School, data has shown that many attacks begin inside the building, often in classrooms and corridors. This shift has prompted schools to rethink security from the inside and place greater emphasis on interior elements such as classroom doors. This shift is evidenced by a new generation of classroom door systems engineered to delay inside intruders and an ASTM standard that raises the bar on how these systems must be designed to defend against attack. Read Now

  • AI in Security: Advancing Campus Safety and Considerations for Implementing

    Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to capture attention across every sector, and the physical security industry is no exception. Once seen as experimental, AI-enabled analytics now underpin how organizations monitor environments, detect threats, and make decisions. What was once futuristic is now a practical necessity for safety professionals managing growing volumes of data, tighter resources, and increasing expectations for faster, more accurate responses. Read Now

Most   Popular