Communication Services

  • District 300’s Communications Department exists to inform and engage all members of the District 300 community.

    The Communications Department’s responsibilities are guided by the district’s Strategic Plan.

    Media Relations

    The Communications Department facilitates all media inquires for District 300, and each school, and monitors daily news reports. All media inquires should be sent to Anthony McGinn, Chief of Communications and Stakeholder Engagement at anthony.mcginn@d300.org.

    Rapid Communication System (RCS)

    District 300 uses a communications technology from FinalSite to automate communications to students, staff, parents, and community members via email, telephone, and text message.

    RCS Emails - From the district level, RCS emails will be sent to communicate important information, emergency information, late start day reminders, news updates, messages from the Superintendent, online registration information, surveys, weather-related school closure updates, school news and updates, community news and updates, and any other news items, updates, or events the district deems important.

    At the school level, RCS emails may be sent regarding general announcements, exam updates, activity schedules, special events.

    RCS Phone Calls - From the district level, RCS phone calls will be sent less frequently than emails. Phone calls are typically reserved for high-level communications, including emergency information, important news updates, online registration information, and weather-related school closure updates.

    RCS Text Messages - From the district level, RCS text messages will be used to communicate critical information - including school emergencies or important news updates.

  • Anthony McGinn

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     Chief of Communications 

    and Stakeholder Engagement

     

    Anthony McGinn

     

    anthony.mcginn@d300.org  

     

    Director of Communications
    Casey DeFauw

    Administrative Assistant
    Traci Magsamen

    District Translator
    Nallely Coria

    Graphic Designer
    Shannon Flairty

    Communications Specialist
    Kathy Balcazar

  • Frequently Asked Questions

    The Communications Department has compiled answers to frequently asked RCS questions. If you have an additional question, please contact us at communication.services@d300.org.

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

    A. To reach parents/guardians, the RCS system uses the contact information listed in PowerSchool SIS. Parents who have not provided or updated their current contact information in PowerSchool SIS may not receive all RCS notices. A user can update their contact preferences in PowerSchool SIS Parent Portal.

    The system updates nightly based on the most current information in PowerSchool SIS.

    Note: If your PowerSchool information is up to date and you are still not receiving emails, add "rcs@d300.org" to your contacts list. District 300 sends all informational, non-attendance, RCS messages using this email address. By adding it to your contacts list, your ESP (email service provider) will programmatically filter messages being sent by "rcs@d300.org" to your inbox. 

    Login and Contact Preferences: As a parent, if you didn’t receive a call/email but you see your contact information is listed accurately by checking your Parent Portal account, your next step would be to call your school’s main 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.

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

    A. To reach D300 staff members, the RCS system uses the phone contact information listed in Lawson and 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 receive a call and your contact information is listed accurately in Lawson, your next step would be to call D300 Communication Services at 847-551-8344. A 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.

    Q. Which phone numbers does the RCS call?

    Attendance Calls - The phone number labeled “Household” in PowerSchool SIS will be designated as the primary phone number for all attendance phone calls. The system will make three attempts to reach this line. If the system leaves a voicemail it will end attempts. Any phone number listed as a cell phone will be considered a secondary number. It will be called if the primary number is not reachable or unable to leave a voicemail for attendance calls.

    Emergency Calls - All phone numbers listed on the account will be called in the event of an emergency call from the RCS system. When sending an RCS call, the principal/designee decides whether the message is considered an emergency.

    Non-Emergency or Non-Attendance - The phone number labeled “Household” in PowerSchool SIS will be designated as the primary phone number for all non-emergency or non-attendance phone calls. No other number will be called for non-emergency or non-attendance messages. The system will make three attempts to reach this line. Any phone number listed as a cell phone will be considered a secondary number and will not be reached for non-emergency calls or non-attendance calls.

    Work phone numbers are not used for emergency or non-emergency RCS calls. Our system will only import primary household and cell phone numbers listed in PowerSchool SIS.

    Recognitions and Awards

    The District 300 Communications and Public Relations Department is the proud recipient of the following awards from The Illinois Chapter National School Public Relations Association (INSPRA) and the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA):

    • NSPRA - Award of Excellence - D300 Winter Weather Infographics - 2024
    • NSPRA - Award of Excellence - Principal Appreciation Day Video - 2022  
    • INSPRA - Award of Excellence - COVID-19 Communications Plan - 2021
    • NSPRA - Award of Merit - "The D300 Show" - 2021
    • INSPRA - Award of Excellence - "There's A Place Where You Belong" Video - 2020
    • INSPRA - Award of Excellence - "The D300 Show" Video - 2020
    • NSPRA - Award of Excellence - Website - 2019
    • INSPRA - Award of Excellence - Annual Report - 2018
    • INSPRA - Award of Merit - Math Informational Video Series - 2018
    • INSPRA - Award of Excellence - Website - 2018
    • INSPRA - Award of Excellence - Annual Report - 2017
    • INSPRA - Award of Excellence - District 300 Five Year Strategic Plan - 2017
    • INSPRA - Award of Merit - Commencement Programs - 2017
    • INSPRA - Award of Merit - Educator Spotlight Video Series - 2017
    • INSPRA - Award of Excellence - Annual Report - 2016
    • INSPRA - Award of Excellence - Summer STEM Video - 2016
    • NSPRA - Award of Excellence - Annual Report - 2016
    • NSPRA - Award of Merit - Educator Spotlight Video Series - 2016
    • INSPRA - Award of Excellence - Annual Report - 2015
    • INSPRA - Award of Excellence - Educator Spotlight Series - 2015

    Social Media

    The Communications Department is responsible for District 300’s social media accounts, including the district’s Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube accounts.

    Individuals may follow District 300 on social media by following any of the links below:

    The Public Relations Department oversees social media accounts but does not post on school social media accounts.

    Website Management

    The Communications and Public Relations Department is responsible for designing, maintaining, and generating content for the District 300 website and all school websites.