WHITEWRIGHT ISD

"Home of the Fighting Tigers"

Mission Statement: To provide an environment that will encourage each student to reach his/her potential.

"Exemplary" Rating by the Texas Education Agency

WISD Implements New Emergency Communication System

Whitewright ISD has implemented a system for emergency communications using electronic media (computers and cell phones) as the communication tools. The vendor we have selected for this process is FlashNews.net through Region 10 ESC.

This system allows the District to communicate its emergencies, like weather closures, to its staff, and other interested subscribers DIRECTLY to their home computers and personal cell phones. In that way the staff and parents receive the emergency information at the same time that the news media does. Therefore, you will not have to sit in front of your home television set waiting to see if Whitewright ISD is closing. A closure message will come directly to your home devices within five minutes of being sent out. It also allows for announcement of non –closure emergency or information like electricity outages.

Whitewright ISD would like for as many staff members and parents as possible to sign up to receive emergency information by this system. This sign-up is voluntary; however, for the system to work adequately and get the information to as many persons as possible, we need as many staff members and households as possible to sign up for this process. So…everyone who can (those with home computers and/or cell phones) is encouraged to register.

All cell phone numbers and home computer e-mail addresses are maintained at an off-site server. Whitewright ISD will not know who has signed up—only how many have signed up. Your home computer and cell phone are protected and will not be available to any online or text messaging marketers. This is part of the agreement with the vendor.

To register, please follow these directions in detail:

1. Sign on the www.flashalert.net.

2. Click on the Dallas Button on the map.

3. Click on Grayson & Collin Co Schools.

4. Click on Whitewright ISD

5 a. Staff Members Only: At the prompt enter your Whitewright ISD e-mail address. (The reason is that you will likely manage your account from your work desk rather than home.)

5 b. Parents and Households Only: At the prompt enter your home e-mail address. At the prompt, reenter your Whitewright ISD e-mail address (staff) or your home e-mail address (parents).

6. At the prompt, reenter your Whitewright ISD e-mail address (staff) or your home e-mail address (parents).

7. Under Add an Organization Select: Dallas/Ft. Worth/North Central Texas

8. Under Select choose: Grayson & Collin Co Schools

9. Under Organization select: Whitewright ISD

10. Click on the SUBSCRIBE BUTTON. NOTE: THIS IS IMPORTANT! IF YOU DON’T DO THIS, YOUR REGISTRATION WILL NOT WORK.

11. Add up to FOUR additional addresses to receive emergency information, i.e., home computer e-mail address, cell phone address (follow directions posted), spouse office computer e-mail, etc...NOTE: In signing up your cell phone for text messaging, there are SEVEN providers listed (Cingular/AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, Nextel, Qwest, and Alltel). Be sure and enter your CELL PHONE NUMBER PRIOR TO ENTERING THE @STEM OR IT WON’T WORK. Also, if you want to register a cell phone and do not have one of these providers, please let us know by return e-mail and we will pursue registration.

12. Click on the RED LINE to send a test message. One should appear within five minutes on your computers and your cell phone.

13. Log out (last line on the left navigation bar.)

14. You’re done and ready to receive emergency messages at home from Whitewright ISD. They will appear as info@flashalert.net .

If you have any questions or problems, please contact Donna Lucas at 903-364-2155 or e-mail her at djlucas@ednet10.net.

Weather Related Closure

The following information is provided to help parents understand how the district determines whether or not to hold school or delay opening school on bad weather days and the notification procedures which are in place. The decision to call off school is a very important one and is made only after thorough consideration.

The existence of inclement weather, such as an accumulation of frozen precipitation on the roadways, may necessitate a delayed opening or cancellation of the school day. In the event of inclement weather, a decision to close schools will be determined no later than 6 a.m. of the day in question. The district will not hold school if buses are unable to operate safely. The safety of our students and staff are our first priority.

School delays or closures will be posted on our website at www.whitewrightisd.com

The following is a list of TV and Radio Stations that will broadcast school closings in case of bad weather.

TV Stations: Radio Stations:

KXII Channel 12 K-Lake FM 97.5

KTEN Channel 10 WBAP AM 820

WFAA Channel 8

KXAS Channel 5

If school is called off, the school day must be made up later in the year on one of the dates designated as a bad weather day.

If closure or delay is not posted on website or broadcasted on TV/Radio then assume that school will open as usual.