Huntley 158 families,
We want to inform you about a change in our mass notification system. Our vendor, Alert Solutions, has merged with another company, resulting in an enhanced service for email, text message, and phone notifications.
The change should have little impact on families. In fact, the new SwiftK12 system has been operational for the past few months, and you likely have received messages through it. Contact information from the existing system has carried over to the new one. However, we want to ensure that all families are able to check their messaging preferences and that they are receiving all the important messages we send.
An important change is that phone calls sent through the new system will now display under different phone numbers. A new phone number has been set for automated calls from the District and each of our schools. Please add to your contacts the new phone numbers for the District and all schools your children attend:
- District 158: 847-960-3085
- Huntley High School: 847-960-3153
- Marlowe Middle School: 847-960-3385
- Heineman Middle School: 847-960-3411
- Leggee Elementary School: 847-960-3425
- Mackeben Elementary School: 847-960-3433
- Chesak Elementary & Early Childhood Center: 847-960-3561
- Conley Elementary School: 847-960-3909
- Martin Elementary School: 847-960-3563
This is particularly important as we head into severe weather season, as notifications of school closures will be sent through this upgraded system. Below are instructions on how you can check and update your messaging preferences. Please note that if you have more than one child in the District, you must set up preferences for each individually.
Managing Preferences in the PowerSchool Parent Portal
Like Alert Solutions, SwiftK12 is integrated with the existing PowerSchool Parent Portal. If you log in to the Parent Portal (we suggest using Chrome or Firefox) you will see a new link called “SwiftReach SwiftK12” on the left navigation pane under “Alerting.”
View full instructions on managing your contact information and messaging preferences »
You will be able to see all the contact information our we have listed for you by clicking on the “Contact Information” button in the top navigation.
Within the Alert Preferences section of the Parent Portal, you will be able to choose your communication preferences based on message category, such as School Closures or Attendance, by placing a checkmark into the aligned contact fields.
You may opt-out of any message category except for Emergency Messages.
Emergency messages are always sent with all three message types (email, text, and voice calls) and to every contact field shown. Reserved for true emergencies, these messages will override preferences to ensure delivery of messages during potential crisis situations.
Please understand that setting up your parent preferences is your responsibility. You will receive messages to every contact field shown in Alert Preferences until updated in the parent portal. Tolls and charges associated with receipt of messages from the school are your responsibility and not the responsibility of the school. Please be sure to set your unique preferences if there are any numbers or addresses to which you do not like to be contacted. All phone numbers and email addresses must be in a valid format to save properly.
View full instructions on managing your contact information and messaging preferences »
If you do not have access to log into the Parent Portal, please contact the Registration Office at (847) 659-6147 or [email protected].
If you have any questions, please contact your child’s school. We hope you appreciate this new SwiftK12 school notification system and the flexibility it will provide for your family.
Sincerely,
Huntley 158
