Aug. 16--A new app piloted in the Dothan City Schools may help school staff communicate more quickly and securely in the event of an emergency.
Janice Horne, a school nurse at Honeysuckle Middle School, wanted to develop an app that would let school staff inform each other of medical emergencies quickly. Horne later realized such an app could also be helpful in the event of other school emergencies, such as an intruder. Horne got together with Matt Howard, a software developer, and together they created the MySchoolAlert app.
Howard explained Thursday that the app allows school staff to message each other via tablet, mobile phone or desktop computer in the event of an emergency. This provides for a secure, mobile means of alerting school staff to an emergency, as well as giving school staff the option of choosing who the message reaches.
Another benefit of the app is that it has a mapping feature that allows school administration and public safety officials such as police or firefighters to see which classroom a message is coming from, allowing them to better direct their efforts.
Howard said the app is customizable for individual schools and would have a $695 start-up fee, along with a yearly maintenance fee. Horne and Howard have piloted the app at Honeysuckle Middle School and Selma Elementary School to perfect it.
Horne and Howard presented the new app to the city school board Monday night. Horne told board members that the state Department of Education has expressed interest in the product.
Dothan City School Superintendent Tim Wilder said the school system would have to revisit policies concerning educators having their mobile devices on during the school day if the system adopts the app.
Copyright 2013 - Dothan Eagle, Ala.
