Contact:

Deborah Bush-Suflita, (518) 464-3960
dbushsuf@gw.neric.org

CoSer: 611-7511
Service Code: 611.040

School News Notifier (SNN) is a Web-based, opt-in alert system that allows parents and other interested community members to voluntarily sign up to receive e-mail alerts, electronic newsletters and text messages from the district. SNN gives administrators and staff the power to send updates, reminders and information with the click of a button and with no special software needed. Users can choose to receive any or all of the alerts your district decides to offer, and they can elect to unsubscribe or change their alert subscriptions at any time. SNN can be an effective addition to a district's communications arsenal; when coupled with a district's Web site and other offline communications, it is truly a powerful tool.

Currently, more than 20 school districts from the Capital Region to Orange County are using SNN to enhance communications with their communities. Collectively, these districts have more than 10,000 users participating in the SNN service.

By subscribing to this service, districts are able to customize the alerts they offer and benefit from ongoing technical upgrades designed to make this communication tool state-of-the-art. Each installation of SNN is completely customized and integrated with a district's current Web design.

SNN offers key advantages over similar systems for the following reasons:

SNN 2.0 now offers text messaging and enhanced security features.

SNN can provide a higher usage/readership rate due to the “opt-in” approach. Visitors want to read your SNN alerts because they signed up on your Web site to receive them.

SNN is available to all members of your community — not just parents. This makes it an ideal tool for district-wide news —including budget and bond vote information.

SNN subscribers manage their own personal contact information, so district staff do not have to spend countless hours updating subscribers’ contact information or alert preferences.

SNN generates more confidence among users. It is customized to match the graphic design of your Web site, so visitors don’t feel they are using an unknown service.

SNN is easy to use. It was designed to work with no special software and is completely Web-based so alerts can be sent from any Internet-connected computer.

SNN is extremely popular with parents and school administrators who purchase this service.

2010-11 Pricing:

$1,100 per year for districts subscribing to the Core Communications Service, plus a one-time set-up fee of $500

$2,200 per year for all other districts, plus a one-time set-up fee of $500