NewsWednesday, October 24, 2007 4:08 PM CDT

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Web-based system to streamline contact with Blue Ridge parents

By Kelly Youngblood
fcjournal@mchsi.com

FARMER CITY — Blue Ridge school officials soon will be able to contact parents nearly instantly with a new Web-based notification system.

SchoolReach gives administrators the ability to send out personalized phone and text messages and e-mails to every parent.

It will allow the district to contact parents and guardians with information about a variety of topics, including emergencies, school cancellations and general announcements.

“We anticipate that once we have the message recorded, we can call all of our parents in minutes,” said Jay Harnack, superintendent for the Farmer City-based district.

Harnack said district officials felt the program was necessary to improve crisis management and overall communication with parents.

“The primary function is for an emergency. However, we intend to use it for all sorts of communications,” he said.

Information to be broadcast could include who to do in an emergency as it happens, weather-related cancellations, bus delay, staff communications, attendance checks, rumor abatement, fundraising efforts, reminders, report card notices, and policy changes.

The cost is about $2,000.

Harnack said he hopes it will be up and running by the first week of November.

The district is asking all parents and guardians to make sure school offices have their most recent telephone and e-mail information and to specify the preferred method of contact.

In a non-emergency situation, parents will likely be reached by phone, Harnack said. In a “code red” emergency situation, all methods of contact would probably be used, including phone, text-messaging, and e-mail, he said.

A test with a welcome message will be scheduled to make sure the office has the most recent contact information for parents.

Hardesty named interim manager — For the second time in three years, Rick Hardesty has been named interim city manager for Farmer City.

He will take over Oct. 31 for Dave Joswiak, who is leaving to become the city administrator of Marathon, Wis.

The City Council named Hardesty, the town’s electric plant superintendent since 1990, on Monday to bridge the gap between Joswiak and the next manager. He also served as interim manager from February through October in 2005. He will also continue his electric plant duties.

Council members used an executive session at Monday’s meeting to begun reviewing the 15 resumes they have received for the manager opening.

Joswiak’s last day will be Oct. 30, and city officials took the time to thank him for his two years in Farmer City.

“I want to say Dave’s done a great job the last two years,” said Alderman Ted Reynolds. “I appreciate all the work you’ve gotten done.”

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