Schools' Storm Response Reviewed
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/artic [2008-7-1]
Tag : Phone Parts
Drozd's 8-year-old was already home.
"We were happy to have the call, but we laughed about it," Drozdsaid of the automated message that came nearly an hour and a halfafter his child is usually dismissed from school.
The storm that day, which knocked out power lines, downed trees andblocked roadways in many parts of the Washington area, was thefirst emergency test of the Loudoun County school district's newphone and e-mail alert system. The system, called Connect-Ed, coststhe district $147,000 a year and was put in place last fall. Untilthe storm, it had been used only for non-emergency alerts such asreminders about parent meetings.
A School Board committee is reviewing the district's response tothe storm, including the performance of Connect-Ed, and willpresent its findings at a future board meeting.
"I think people were caught in a very unexpected situation," saidboard Vice Chairman John Stevens (Potomac), who made the motionseeking the review. He said that by the time officials had decidedto delay dismissal of elementary school students, some childrenwere on buses.
Schools spokesman Wayde Byard said he was pleased with the wayConnect-Ed functioned. "For the first time out, that was a prettygood trial run," he said.
Connect-Ed sent out 64,462 automated calls that day, warningparents of late dismissals and delayed buses. Of those messages, 80percent went through the first time; the others had to be re-sentbecause of a brief power outage that shut down computers at theschool administration building.
Drozd said he understands that technical problems are sometimesunavoidable. He said officials should have done more to prepare forthe storm when the initial weather warnings were announced.
"I've lived in a lot of places that have tornadoes. . . . We knowthat seconds and minutes matter," he said.
Lisa Glasgow went to Little River Elementary School in South Ridingthat afternoon, expecting that her children would be dismissed asusual at 2:35 p.m. Instead she was greeted by a school official whotold her the children were being kept inside.
"They had some challenges to meet," Glasgow said of schoolofficials, noting the awkward timing of the storm. The fact thatshe didn't get her first phone alert until 3:05 p.m. wasinappropriate, she said.
Drozd, Glasgow and a handful of other parents sent e-mails to theSchool Board chairman about the problems they experienced with thealert system. Many parents posted similar comments on local blogs,saying they received alert messages that were late or repetitive.Other parents posted positive comments and applauded the schooldistrict for sending information quickly and focusing on children'ssafety.
Byard said the district has taken steps in response to the June 4glitches, including buying an alternative power source that willallow computers to keep running during an outage.
Drozd's 8-year-old was already home.
"We were happy to have the call, but we laughed about it," Drozdsaid of the automated message that came nearly an hour and a halfafter his child is usually dismissed from school.
The storm that day, which knocked out power lines, downed trees andblocked roadways in many parts of the Washington area, was thefirst emergency test of the Loudoun County school district's newphone and e-mail alert system. The system, called Connect-Ed, coststhe district $147,000 a year and was put in place last fall. Untilthe storm, it had been used only for non-emergency alerts such asreminders about parent meetings.
A School Board committee is reviewing the district's response tothe storm, including the performance of Connect-Ed, and willpresent its findings at a future board meeting.
"I think people were caught in a very unexpected situation," saidboard Vice Chairman John Stevens (Potomac), who made the motionseeking the review. He said that by the time officials had decidedto delay dismissal of elementary school students, some childrenwere on buses.
Schools spokesman Wayde Byard said he was pleased with the wayConnect-Ed functioned. "For the first time out, that was a prettygood trial run," he said.
Connect-Ed sent out 64,462 automated calls that day, warningparents of late dismissals and delayed buses. Of those messages, 80percent went through the first time; the others had to be re-sentbecause of a brief power outage that shut down computers at theschool administration building.
Drozd said he understands that technical problems are sometimesunavoidable. He said officials should have done more to prepare forthe storm when the initial weather warnings were announced.
"I've lived in a lot of places that have tornadoes. . . . We knowthat seconds and minutes matter," he said.
Lisa Glasgow went to Little River Elementary School in South Ridingthat afternoon, expecting that her children would be dismissed asusual at 2:35 p.m. Instead she was greeted by a school official whotold her the children were being kept inside.
"They had some challenges to meet," Glasgow said of schoolofficials, noting the awkward timing of the storm. The fact thatshe didn't get her first phone alert until 3:05 p.m. wasinappropriate, she said.
Drozd, Glasgow and a handful of other parents sent e-mails to theSchool Board chairman about the problems they experienced with thealert system. Many parents posted similar comments on local blogs,saying they received alert messages that were late or repetitive.Other parents posted positive comments and applauded the schooldistrict for sending information quickly and focusing on children'ssafety.
Byard said the district has taken steps in response to the June 4glitches, including buying an alternative power source that willallow computers to keep running during an outage.
Related News »
In Focus »
footwear exports
Last month, European footwear manufacturers proposed extending anti-dumping measures against ..
B2B Keywords:
International market Chinese Importer Wholesale trade Wholesale products World trade Wholesale distributors International trade Foreign trade Wholesale distributor Importers Import export business Sell online Help u sell Global trade How to market a product Online supplier Wholesale product
International market Chinese Importer Wholesale trade Wholesale products World trade Wholesale distributors International trade Foreign trade Wholesale distributor Importers Import export business Sell online Help u sell Global trade How to market a product Online supplier Wholesale product
Hot Products: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 0-9
-
-
About Us -
Links -
Privacy Policy -
Terms of Use -
Site Map -
Contact Us -
Call Center: 0086-95105561 © 2007 Tootoo.com -
