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Frequently Asked Questions about AlertNow
How will AlertNow be used?
The AlertNow system will be used by the district to send important messages quickly to parents/guardians, students and staff. These messages can be sent by phone and/or email about emergency situations or school delays or closings due to inclement weather. Messages can also be sent to alert parents, students or staff about important events, testing schedules, open houses, field trips and more.
Do I need to register or sign-up to receive messages from the district via AlertNow?
No. If you are a parent/guardian, student or staff member in the Wauwatosa School District, you will automatically receive messages the district sends out via the AlertNow system.
How will parents/guardians be notified by AlertNow?
As a parent/guardian, there are different ways messages will be delivered to you.
- For non-emergency messages, you will receive a telephone call most likely to your home phone.
- In the event of a school emergency, in addition to the call to your home, you will receive a call to the various phone numbers listed on your child's registration form.
- In addition to receiving messages via telephone, you will receive messages via email, if the district has an email address on file for you.
- The AlertNow system has the capability of calling five of your phone numbers (home, alternate or cell, and work) and sending messages to up to five different email accounts for parents/guardians identified as residing with the students or identified as receiving copies of student reports.
- Multiple phone numbers and email addresses will only be used to notify you during a school emergency.
How will AlertNow messages be delivered to staff?
As with parents/guardians, the AlertNow system will be used to communicate with staff members in a timely and efficient manner. For staff, AlertNow messages will be delivered as follows:
- Non-emergency messages - You will receive a telephone call to your primary contact phone number.
- Emergency messages - You will receive multiple messages that will be sent to you home phone, cell phone and, if provided, your district email.
How will I know that I have received a message from AlertNow?
Here is what you need to know about receiving messages by telephone from AlertNow:
- If you have Caller ID, if the message is non-emergency, your schools main number will appear in the display, or if the message originated from the district office, (414) 773-1000 will appear.
- If you have Caller ID and the message is an emergency, "411" will appear in the display.
- AlertNow will leave a message on any answering machine or voicemail.
What if the line is busy or there is no answer?
The AlertNow system will make up to four attempts to reach each number, with three minutes between each call. If there is no answer after the fourth attempt, the system will consider that a failed call. If you are aware of a message that was not delivered to your number, please contact your school.
How does the AlertNow system know the difference between a live person and an answering machine?
The AlertNow system uses Advanced Machine Detection (AAMD) software. This software allows the system to start the message immediately after the phone is answered while listening for interruptions. If the system is not interrupted with the first 3.5 seconds, the message is delivered in its entirety. If the system detects a greeting longer than a few seconds, it treats this as an outgoing message from an answering machine and will wait for a pause before begining the message to be recorded.
Why is there only half of the message on my answering machine?
Your answering machine may only record a portion of a message if your greeting is sporadic with varied periods of silence. The AlertNow system may mistake the message for a live person.
My Caller ID shows the school or district called but there is no message. Why?
If there is a break or substantial silence in the outgoing message, the system reacts as if it has reached a live person and will begin the message before the voicemail recording is engaged.
Are there other reasons a message may not be left on my answering machine?
The AlertNow system is set to ring each line six times. If your answering machine or voicemail system is set to pick up on seven or more rings, the message may not be delivered.
Will AlertNow call phone numbers with extensions?
AlertNow is only works with direct-dial phone numbers and cannot navigate menus or extensions.
I have more questions, who should I contact?
You can contact the district's Communication Office at (414) 773-1020 or the district's Technology Services Office at (414) 773-1054.
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