Welcome to the Technology Department

The first few months of the 2007-2008 school year have seen several exciting technology advances in the Marblehead Public Schools district. To improve the communication and collaboration within our learning community, we have migrated to a new email system, FirstClass. Implementation of the available modules in FirstClass will continue throughout the year. Generous fundraising efforts and grants have made it possible to promote several technology initiatives in our schools, adding SmartBoards, projectors and advanced teacher stations.

In addition, thanks in part to the contribution from last year’s graduating class, we have introduced the AlertNow Rapid Notification Service to enhance school-to-home communication. This service allows Superintendent Dulac and the schools’ administrators to send a voice and/or email message to designated contacts for families.

The district may utilize AlertNow for:

• District-wide safety and security issues
• Cancellations, delays, or early dismissals due to inclement weather
• District bus transportation issues, including the closure of the Causeway

Your child’s school may utilize AlertNow for:

• Extra-ordinary building conditions, such as heat, light, and/or plumbing issues
• Neighborhood construction issues affecting traffic patterns or parking
• Early Release and Open House reminders
• Report card, progress report and parent-teacher conference reminders
• Transportation messages, such as late bus routes or field trip
• Athletic events/cancellations or reschedules
• Fine Arts productions/cancellations or reschedules

What you need to know about receiving AlertNow calls:

• Your caller ID will display your school’s or the district’s main number when a non-emergency call is generated.  Caller ID will not display a name with the number. 
• Your caller ID will display 411 when an emergency call is being sent.  Examples of an emergency include evacuation or lockdown.  
• During the call, the call recipient may press any number (1-9) to replay the message in its entirety.
• The AlertNow system will leave a message on your voicemail or answering machine. 

As always, we are thankful for the community’s continued enthusiasm and support of the schools’ technology goals.

Updated 12/19/07 MM,KC