How Schools Can Maximise the Value of a Mass Notification System
Increasing Campus Safety Through Mass Notification Systems
Whether at a primary, secondary or college campus, clear communication and operational procedures are necessary in any crisis, and a streamlined Mass Notification System (Digital Alerts) can deliver value in any situation.
The optimal Mass Notification System should offer:
- Anonymous Reporting: Empowering students and staff to anonymously report suspicious behaviour or activities can stop threats from becoming something more serious.
- Automation: The ability to pre-program templates that enable automated sending of day-to-day alerts as well as the rapid dissemination of emergency alerts to cell phones, school security, 999, email, social media, and more is crucial when every second counts.
- Integration: The platform should seamlessly integrate with existing third-party systems and databases like social media, websites, digital signage and PA systems, allowing for streamlined communications and making it easy to reach the target audience, wherever they are, with important information.
- Location-Based Alerting: For schools with multiple campuses — or in situations where only certain areas on a single campus need specific information — a Mass Notification System with Geo Fencing capabilities enables school leaders to send the right message, to the right people.
- Versatility: The optimal platform should be capable of sending communications via all channels and devices — whether the message is a day-to-day notification or critical alert. Especially in an active shooter situation, where lives are on the line, a reliable, easy-to-use notification system, like Schoolwatch, can dramatically improve campus safety and security.
But a Mass Notification System isn’t just for emergency purposes. School leadership can maximise value and increase ROI by using the system for non-emergency communications.
Beyond Emergencies: How the Right System Enhances Day-to-Day School Communications
Targeted and highly relevant communications are vital in an era where employees are constantly bombarded with digital communications, both in their off-time and at work. This constant inundation can lead to a condition commonly known as “message fatigue,” where too many irrelevant messages cause employees to feel overwhelmed and can sometimes cause employees to stop reading employer-driven communications — no matter how urgent.
No two people communicate in the same way, and here’s how the Schoolwatch Mass Notification platform helps school leaders rise above the noise to ensure messages are heard loud and clear:
- Customised Communication Channels: Send students, teachers, staff and parents’ messages in their preferred format, including landlines, email and cell phones (SMS/text, voice, TTS or push notifications via Schoolwatch’s mobile app). An unlimited number of message templates are also provided, so communications can be customised according to each school’s unique needs.
- Staff and Teacher Communications: Create and send training updates to all employees, or individual staff members, based on pre-defined criteria. Other uses include transmitting workplace safety, and health and wellness tips.
- Parent Communications: Update parents on weather closures and delays, unexcused absences, and notifications of upcoming events like parent-teacher conferences and fundraising events.
A Smart Use of Budget: Improving Campus Communications Today
Now, more than ever, campuses of all types and sizes need cost-effective tools that streamline communications and help community members better understand what is happening on campus.
Whether school leaders want to improve response times, and provide clear direction and real-time updates to the campus community during crisis events — or simply looking to inform their community about upcoming events, training sessions, schedule changes or workplace updates — a robust Mass Notification System is a necessary and invaluable, investment.
If you need a Mass Notification system installed at your school or campus, call us on 0845 519 3660 or fill out our contact form and we will be glad to do it.