Should Mahwah Schools Send Emergency Text Messages to Parents?

Mahwah schools are thinking about signing up for the Nixle text message alert system to alert parents about emergency closings, half days, and send out other school-related messages.

At a Board of Education meeting this week, board member Peter Wendrychowicz suggested the district look into signing up for the alerts, citing the township’s use of the system since Hurricane Sandy.

"I think it works wonderfully," he said.

The system is free for the district to sign up for, and would allow central administration to send out text messages to anyone who signed up to receive them. The messages are free to receive.

Interim Superintendent Dr. Karen Lake said she was not opposed to the idea of adding the schools to the system the township already uses.

Nixle was one of the sponsors of a school safety summit between Bergen County law enforcement officials and school officials this week in Mahwah. Panelists at the event suggested increasing communication between police agencies, schools and residents was one of the most important ways to help keep schools safe.

So, Patch wants to know, do you think Mahwah schools should sign up for Nixle, and use it to add text message alerts to its current lineup of emergency communication methods?