School Closure Notifications: How Our System Works and How Families Can Stay Informed
This morning, our district sent out an automated call to more than 1,300 parents and guardians to notify families of the school closure due to an emergency incident in the school neighborhood. As always, our goal is to ensure that every household receives timely and accurate information, especially when plans change quickly.
After the call went out, we noticed some comments on social media from parents who said they did not receive the message. We want to take a moment to clarify how the system works, share what our call data shows, and explain how families can make sure they never miss an important update.
Our Notification System Worked as Intended
Every automated message we send produces a delivery report. These reports show whether each call connected, whether it was answered, whether it went to voicemail, and whether the call was declined or hung up.
For all families who have current contact information in our system, our delivery logs show that the system did dial all numbers provided and the calls were successfully delivered/attempted. However, in many of these cases:
- The call rang but was not answered
- The call went to voicemail
- The call was declined or hung up
- A device’s “silence unknown callers,” “do not disturb,” or spam-blocking settings prevented the phone from ringing, which means the message was sent correctly—but it may not have been received due to the settings or behavior of the phone on the receiving end.
Why Accurate Contact Information Matters
Our system can only call the numbers we have on file. If a family changes phone numbers, switches carriers, or relies on a secondary number that isn’t listed in our system, they may miss important alerts.
Please take a moment to ensure that your family’s contact information is up to date. This is especially important during the winter months when weather-related decisions can impact the school schedule.
If you need to update your information, just contact your school office—we can make changes quickly.
Tips to Make Sure You Never Miss an Alert
To improve your chances of receiving district messages promptly:
- Make sure the school has your current cell phone and home phone numbers
- Check your voicemail inbox to ensure it isn’t full
- Review whether your phone blocks unknown or automated numbers
- Follow #SB118 News & Updates on Facebook
We Appreciate Your Support
We understand how frustrating it can be to feel like you missed an important message. Our commitment is to communicate quickly, clearly, and consistently with every family in the district. The system we use is reliable, and the delivery data confirms that it functioned correctly this morning.
Thank you for helping us keep your contact information current and for working with us to make sure you receive updates when you need them most. We value your partnership and want every family to stay informed.
