Rapid Communication System / Emergency Closings

EMERGENCY SCHOOL CLOSINGS

Please visit the district’s Frequently Asked Questions webpage and scroll down to the “WEATHER & CLOSINGS” section.  There you will see information about how decisions are made to close school or adjust the school schedule due to severe weather, as well as how and when you will know if the decision has been made to close schools or adjust the schedule.  

RAPID COMMUNICATION SYSTEM (RCS)

FAVOR DE HACER CLIC AQUí PARA LEER ESTA INFORMACIóN EN ESPAñOL.

District 300 uses communications software from Blackboard Connect / AlertNow to quickly send automated news via email and telephone to D300 families and staff members.  In our district, this is called the Rapid Communication System, or “RCS.”  Please work with your school secretary, or call D300 Communication Services at 847.551.8344, for assistance on matters that are not addressed below.  The following are answers to some frequently asked questions about the RCS:

Q1.  I am a parent/guardian.  I didn’t get an RCS phone call or email but other parents at my school did.  Why not?

A1.  To reach parents/guardians, the RCS uses the contact information listed in Infinite Campus - Parent Portal.  Parents who have not provided their current phone or email information to their school secretary, which can be done during annual registration or anytime during the school year, may not receive all RCS notices. The system updates nightly based on the most current information in Infinite Campus.

As a parent, if you didn’t get a call/email but you see that your contact information is listed accurately by checking your Parent Portal account, your next step would be to call your school office.  The secretary will look up the report of recent calls/emails and see what may have happened when the RCS attempted to reach you.  Additional tests and trouble-shooting steps can be taken as needed by working with your school secretary.

Q2.  I am a D300 staff member.  I didn’t get an RCS phone call or email but my colleagues did.  Why not? 

A2:  To reach D300 staff members, the RCS uses the phone contact information listed in Lawson and their district-issued email address.  Staff members who have not provided their current phone number to Lawson, which staff should maintain using Lawson Employee Self-Service, may not receive all RCS calls.  The system updates nightly based on the most current information in Lawson.

As a staff member, if you didn’t get a call but you see that your contact information is listed accurately in Lawson, your next step would be to call D300 Communication Services at 847.551.8344.  The communication specialist will look up the report of recent calls and see what may have happened when the RCS attempted to reach you.  Additional tests and trouble-shooting steps can be taken as needed by working with D300 Communication Services.  NOTE: If you are on “leave” from the district, you will not receive RCS communications.

Q3.  Which phone numbers does the RCS call?

A3.   Emergency (time-sensitive) calls will show up as “411-000-0000” on caller ID; emergency calls will go to almost all numbers on file for the student / staff member.  For students, this means the call will go to both the primary and secondary households, and it will go to home, cell, and work numbers. (However, the call will not go to the “emergency contact” number.)  For staff, this means the call will go to the primary and supplemental numbers.

General (non-emergency) calls will show up as the school’s main phone number on caller ID.  For students, the call will only go to the first number on file for the primary household, and it will not go to the secondary household.  For staff, the call will only go to the primary number on file.

Q4.  What kinds of information can I expect to receive via the RCS?

A4.  At the district level, RCS phone calls from the Superintendent/designee are typically limited to time-sensitive or emergency announcements that impact the majority of the D300 community. These may include, but not be limited to, district-level news about school closings, emergency late starts, emergency early releases, and community safety/health alerts.  For general, non-emergency district news, the Superintendent/designee typically uses the email option.  Therefore, it is very important that parents keep a current email address on file in Infinite Campus - Parent Portal to ensure they receive district announcements. 

At the school level, RCS communications from the Principal/designee may either be for time-sensitive/emergency matters, or for general announcements such as news about exams, special events, or report cards.  Principals are encouraged to align their use of the RCS to the goals in their School Improvement Plan (SIP).