WESTFIELD – Parents and guardians in Westfield can now take advantage of Westfield Public School’s Text Messaging Service to receive important information and alerts, such as school closings, from the district. To sign up for the free service, send “Y’ or “Yes” to WPS short code number 67587.
“We had parents and staff telling us they prefer getting text messages than phone calls,” said WPS Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski. He said now they can opt out of phone calls and receive text messages about events, school closings, safety alerts. Or, they can receive the messages both ways, by text and robo call.
To opt out of the robo calls, parents are instructed to call the school and say they want to be taken off the list. To opt out of the text messages, they may reply “Stop” to any message.
The district will use the School Messenger service, which sends out the robo calls, for the text service. “It doesn’t cost any extra, it’s just an additional feature we’re going to take advantage of,” Czaporowski said. He said since last week when it started, 3,500 have signed up.
“Some people consider it a little less intrusive than a phone call,” the superintendent said. “It’s another way to communicate.”
School Messenger is compliant with Student Privacy Pledge, so information is safe and won’t be given or sold to anyone, according to the district’s website.
