SchoolMessenger Communicate
SchoolMessenger Communicate is a web-based product, hosted by the vendor, that makes automated attendance, emergency, and lunch balance calls to parents. Information for the calls is kept updated through a download or data extract.
Districts can opt to use the product as a complete automated calling system, sending phone calls, text messages, or surveys, and offering an automated attendant to accept responses.
- WNYRIC provides support during WNYRIC business hours. Holidays, after-hours, and weekend support is handled by the vendor, and is available 24 hours a day.
- Unused training hours expire at the end of the school year, June 30th.
- District LAN, WNYRIC connectivity, Internet access
- Ability to extract required data from the source system. This may incur additional costs not included in the service.
- Ability to securely transmit data
- Designate a district primary and secondary contact for WNYRIC
- Promptly notify Notification Solutions Service team of a change in contact
- Provide district staff to plan implementation
- Ensure at least two (2) district employees participate in initial training, with at least one of them having access to and knowledge of the student or financial management system and procedures
- Record messages, determine calling dates and times, print reports, etc.
- Provide vendor with secure electronic access to student/staff contact data in a readable and suitable format
- Updating and maintaining the accuracy of such data is the sole responsibility of the district
- Give permission to vendor to transmit messages created by the district using the service to all numbers, addresses, and accounts provided by district
- Monitor and resolve errors in logs such as unsuccessful attempts, invalid numbers, etc.
- Comply with all applicable laws and regulations in use of system
- Provide software administrative access to WNYRIC Notifications Solutions staff to support district
- Contact vendor for off-hours support
- Schedule and facilitate planning as district requests
- Train users and provide detailed instructions and documentation
- Provide support via email, phone, and screen sharing during WNYRIC business hours
- Facilitate purchasing licenses
- Assist district in providing vendor the student/staff contact data from the district's student/staff software management systems
- Work with vendor support as needed
- Maintain strict confidentiality
The WNYRIC utilizes cost effective best practices determined by research that allows our experienced and trained technical staff to perform robust testing and support of the WNYRIC network in the areas of security, infrastructure, energy management, virtualization strategies, disaster recovery and business continuity. Therefore, we are able to be a district advocate for vendor contract issues and aggressively negotiate contract pricing and performance terms.
Staff follows best practices in order to provide necessary security as it relates to the most recent student, teacher and principal data security and privacy regulations.
Service Desk can be reached Monday–Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. by calling (716) 821-7171 or toll-free at 1-800-872-0780, by email at servicedesk@e1b.org, or via live chat. A representative will be available from 4:30 p.m. through 11:00 p.m. to assist you with calls regarding emergency situations. During all other hours and holidays, a caller will receive important information regarding coverage.