SCHOOL MESSENGER AUTOMATES ATTENDANCE TRACKING PROCEDURES

The Marcellus Central Schools uses School Messenger to report student attendance. During the 2010-11 school year, School Messenger was introduced to the community as a tool for effective communication during critical times such as school delays, early closings. We introduced this program during the spring floods, when we parents received a phone call, e-mail or text message that certain bus routes were running late and students may be delayed returning home. Parents also had the opportunity to sign up for non-emergency communications by going to the website and signing up for non-emergency messages.
This year, we are taking this a step further and using School Messenger to communicate home if your child is absent and the school district did not receive a call. DMS piloted this program in September. If your child is absent, and a parent did not call to let the school know, the computer program will call the primary number is our school information system around 9:45 to let you know your child is not in school. In October, we expanded to KCH, using this program to communicate home with parents.
As with any new system, there have been a few glitches, but we have addressed these as they came up and made the necessary changes. We have appreciated the feedback from our families as we expand this program.
Starting in December, we will be expanding this service to the Senior High School. Students who are not in school as of 9:45 a.m. will be reported as absent, and a phone call home will be made. We take the safety of our students very seriously and feel that this communication tool will assure that parents are aware of the location and attendance of their students.
If your child will be absent for any reason, you are asked to call the attendance number for their building. If you get a call in error and know that your child is in school, please contact the main office so we can verify their attendance and make the necessary changes during this transition period. On occasion, there may be an error with the attendance system and students being may be reported as absent incorrectly. Our goal is to address any issues as they manifest themselves and minimize any and all errors in communication. Please contact the following numbers to report your child will be absent that day: KCH: 673-6104, DMS 673-6204, SHS 673-6304.