Best Practices For Using Your Mass Notification System

SchoolInfo's Mass Notification Technology is an integral part of the mobile-first communication strategy that our clients know and love. Whether it's an emergency, school closure, or any other important communication needs, our mass notification system ensures administrators' messages reach their students, parents, and teachers. However, there are some things to keep in mind when using this sort of technology. In this blog, we'll go over some different ways you can use mass notifications in the way they are meant to be used: safely, effectively, and consistently.

Ensure Your Records Are Updated 

• Make sure you have the correct contact information for everyone you are trying to reach. 
• Regularly request updated information from parents, guardians, and staff to make sure no one is missed!

Develop Pre-made Templates For Urgent Situations

• Develop templates in advance to make sure you have the message you need, when you need it.

Use Only For Important Or Urgent Communication Needs

• Excessive use of mass notification systems can remove the sense of urgency related to the messages.

When communicating, there are some things that are extremely important to keep in mind. The world we live in today is complex and diverse. It's important to keep a few other considerations in mind, even when sending urgent messages.

Safety and Security of Communication

When you are building your communication plan, it is important that you consider the safety and security implications of the information you are sharing. Schools are a trusted partner in the community, and it is important that data is stored safely and securely in compliance with State and Federal law. At SchoolInfo, we understand the importance of safe and secure communications. It is why we are iKeepSafe Certified.

Public Records Information

Some information, like school board meeting minutes or agendas, requests for proposals, or student achievement data may be required to be publicly shared by law. It is best to work with legal representation to make sure all of your school’s public record data is displayed correctly in your digital communication.

Accessibility

Maintaining compliance with accessibility standards is also an important aspect of your communication strategy. With a branded mobile app, you will likely be able to take advantage of native functionality to make sure your app is accessible by most. The same applies to social media and mass notification systems. To make sure your website is compliant with accessibility requirements, you will need to follow very specific instructions when adding content to your website. Find step-by-step guidance for accessibility standards here.

Uptime

When choosing communication tools, it is important to have reliable uptime. If a user visits your site or your app and isn’t able to access the information they need, when they need it, it can cause a ripple effect of problems. To avoid frustrated users emails and phone calls, SchoolInfo, our products have a 99.9% uptime to make sure our education partners receive the support they need.

In today’s busy world, everyone in your educational community is busy. Streamlining communication makes it better for educators and easier for families, students, and your staff. Our interoperable digital communications suite simplifies communication for your school or district. Interested in learning more? Request a demo!