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Escambia Schools Tried To Call All Parents. It Didn’t Go So Well. Can They Reach You?
March 20, 2020
The Escambia County School is looking to reach all parents and guardians by phone, and that has proved to be problematic for thousands on their phone list.
The school district made tens of thousands of automated phone calls Thursday to the phone numbers they have on file for each student for a simple press one or press two survey asking if they have adequate home internet service for upcoming virtual instruction.
There was a technical glitch that caused some callers to hear nothing on the line when they answered, Superintendent Malcolm Thomas said. That resulted in the district collecting little or no data for some schools.
But more importantly, Thomas said thousands of phone numbers were invalid, meaning the district does not have correct phone numbers on file for those students. He is encouraging families to contact their child’s school and update phone numbers on file after staff returns on March 30. Parents can log into the online FOCUS system and see if their number is wrong, but cannot directly update it there.
“We need to have correct numbers for all of our students,” Thomas said.
Teachers will personally call parents or guardians by April 1. If the call is not received by April 3, Thomas said parents should call their child’s school to make sure the school has the correct phone number.
Thomas said if parents received the silent survey call on Thursday, not to worry. Teachers will ask about internet access when they call the week of March 30.
Comments
41 Responses to “Escambia Schools Tried To Call All Parents. It Didn’t Go So Well. Can They Reach You?”
It’s a virus without a cure. Stay home don’t get paid loose everything. Go to school get sick. Not much of a choice. You decide. Your kids. And that paper mask don’t protect you it’s making you feel safe. Germs are everywhere. Already. Kids won’t keep them on playing. Sorry. Truth is. That were risking our lives stepping out the door. But no money ….up to you.
If parents expect their students to have lessons, teachers have to go to their classrooms to access materials, supplies, and computers, etc. Google classroom does not generate lessons, teachers create them. They had no idea when they left school last Friday that schools would be closed. Also, in order to be available to students and parents, teachers need to be at school to receive their calls.
This is crap bc they have 2 good #s for us that they call all the time and no one from the school or school System has tried to call us
The call came across showing spam call on my cell phone so I did not answer the first 2 calls.
My concern is I read that there will be high speed internet at local libraries for students but doesn’t that go against staying out of groups larger than 10? I have no access to internet at all besides my phone and I don’t even know if metro or other phone companies will be suspending that? Or allowing extra credit due to the widespread situation
What is wrong with people!?!? Stay home school children until the authorities know its safe. What happened to google classroom that we are using?!!!
Thank you Mr. Malcom Thomas for making an already stressful situation even more stressful for parents. This whole plan Places a HUGE burden on parents!
For the people confused about how it puts employees at risk by sending them back into an empty classroom must be imagining these people teleporting directly into an empty classroom.
In a world where cities are on complete lockdown with shelter in place policies, It is needlessly causing people to take on risks that just shouldn’t be happening right now.
By entering an area where there are other people, you share an environment in which a virus can lounger in the air from someone who is “only a carrier” or yet undiagnosed. Employees must share doors, areas to clock in, phones, office equipment and bathrooms to name a few.
And the more times you drive, the more often you have to stop and get gas. Again putting people at risk who then also put their own families at risk when they return home.
All of this puts people at risk when they otherwise might not be. And that is unnecessary. Whatever can be done in an empty classroom could also be done from home.
Teacher I agree with your comments. I believe the Superintendent is doing the best he can he do given the circumstances here. These students need to continue their education the best and safest way. We have to just all pull together and get through this the best way we can for our students and our employees.
First let me say, I don’t have reliable internet. We do HAVE internet but if my kids are on it at the same time it doesn’t work well. Now add to that, everyone else who will be using it for online school and it will bog down more. It already bogs down and drops constantly between the hours of 6pm and after midnight and when it rains. So, when I got the call, not only could I not hit “1″ or “2″ while I was driving (calls bluetooth to my car) but I really didn’t know how to answer since it isn’t “reliable” internet.
Second, teachers going back to school and isolating themselves to their classroom using their phone and computer, isn’t putting them in harms way. It’s a virus people, not the apocalypse for heaven sake. The seasonal flu kills 12,000-61,000 people per year in the US since 2010. Right now we are at about 275 deaths in the U.S. due to COVID-19. The reason that everyone is panicked is that folks can be infected without having any symptoms and therefore do not take the proper precautions to prevent transmission.
Third, I am very concerned about not having graduation. This totally shutting down our lives is taking away from the Senior Experience. This time will never happen again in these Senior’s lives. It has already taken away all of the extra curricular activities and state competitions. So, yes, safety is important but it is still just a virus.
Finally, wash your hands frequently, use hand sanitizer if you can’t wash your hands, cover your mouth and nose when you cough and sneeze, and stay home if you are sick unless you need medical assistance. It’s all very common sense, just use it.
I don’t have any complaints except the fact that I received 4 automated calls yesterday and of course I have Escambia County School Board in my contacts but I thought it was 4 different calls updating us on what was going on but instead it was 4 asking for me to press 1 if my children had internet access at home and to press 2 if not. But, I’d rather get 4 calls then none. I appreciate everything that Malcolm Thomas is doing to protect our kids and teachers.
Amber grow up you font know these parents stories. Maybe they were working and couldnt answer the call. Everybody cant sit at home all day like you playing in your phone
ECSD is doing what they believe is the best course of action for all employees and students in the district. Teachers are not being put in harm’s way and we want to do what’s best for the learning of our kids during this time of uncertainty. Please be more patient! An event like this hasn’t happened before! All employees of ECSD are trying to make sure our kids are educated through online technology because it is our job the make sure they are educated to the best of our ability. Please don’t add more stress to others by complaining unless you have actively given a solution that you know works and is better than what our leadership is currently trying to put into place for everyone being affected. Choose to be kind! It goes a long way when helping others during an overwhelmingly stressful time in our country ❤️
I answered the call and no one was on the other end.
Wow it’s scary to read that so many parents are upset that their child/child’s school leaves “to many” unimportant messages on their phone like INTRUDER ALERTS… 1st that is not an unimportant call 2nd say they didn’t call you…. you would be the first on the news complaining how you are so disgusted with the school system. There is just no winning with some people. I can’t understand how letting your kids school know you changed your number wasn’t a priority in the first place. I don’t get it. How uninvolved are you. Hopefully this is a wake up call for some parents. I can’t tell if you are upset that you don’t have a free babysitter anymore or that you may have to help teach your children for a few days.
never had this problem when all we had was landlines. still have mine with caller i d on the tv so as to ignore the robo calls.
I received 5 phone calls between 0900 hours and 1100 hours, there was no voice. I get calls all the time from the school, you can’t gather data if your phone system is not functioning properly.
That’s what happens when you become a spam caller. The automated calls started out as a helpful tool. The district and individual schools abused the system and the parents became sick of the calls that had absolutely nothing to do with our kids. I don’t care if band practice has changed times or if a field trip for art class has been canceled because my kids aren’t part of those things. Don’t abuse the tools you’ve been given. I can’t believe the people we allow to be in charge of our kids didn’t think about this from the start. I guess a college education doesn’t buy common sense
I get so many calls from the school on a daily basis I no longer answer them. Prom, yearbook, drills, intruder alert, blah, blah, blah. Use the system for commumicating pertinent information and I guarantee the calls will not be ignored. People may not be answering fir that reason.
#1 The Governor has required counties to come up with this education continuity plan! Kids still need to learn! Life will eventually go back to normal do you really want your kids months behind where they should be?
#2 how does returning to a building and being alone in your classroom put a teach at risk? Really? He was very specific no meetings, no face to face, teachers report straight to their rooms and do training there. So essentially teachers are still in isolation.
#3 people worried about graduation aren’t selfish. They’re concerned for their students. If when that time comes we were still in crisis people would of course understand. What most of us parents are asking is please don’t make the decision to cancel such a milestone moment now. Graduation is still 10 weeks away. A whole lot can change in that time and there is possibility this could all be in hand by then.
DID PARENTS RETURN THE INFORMATION CARD WITH CORRECT INFORMATION? IF YOU MOVE/CHANGE PHONE NUMBER, DID YOU NOTIFY SCHOOL? DO PARENTS REALLY CARE IF THE SCHOOL NEEDS THEM IN AN EMERGENCY.
Did the computer operator check cards and make updates.
Parents you can not change information , if you/student could, you could change grades…to dangerous to open up to the general public.
Wake up PARENTS, the responsibility is yours!
It is not just teachers that have to return to work. All employees except for bus drivers and bus assistants have to go back on the 30th.
Really folks…the school where I worked sent home info for parents to verify more than once a school year. We worked hard to BEG folks to return the info. While many people would be sure the people taking care of their children had a current number, for some reason, many others don’t.
I also don’t see how a teacher in his/her classroom is in harm’s way. Any virus germs will be dead by that time. The teacher will be alone in their classroom with access to their resources to help our children get what they need. Malcolm Thomas is in a no win situation. Let’s give the guy a break.
Maybe…just maybe if I didn’t get 3 and 4 calls a day to tell me something that either could have gone home with an email or note, then I would answer more often. This like…this is what we will be doing this week…
How about using the phone call system for VERY important things like this survey instead of every principle, counselor and teacher feeling like it should be used for routine information.
Maybe…just maybe if I didn’t get 3 and 4 calls a day to tell me something that either could have gone home with an email or note, then I would answer more often. This like…this is what we will be doing this week…
How about using the phone call system for VERY important things like this survey instead of every principle, counselor and teacher feeling like it should be used for routine information.
I agree with you Anne. As a teacher, I often call student’s parents/guardians only to reach a number that is incorrect. This is true of all the numbers in the contact card. It is the adult in charge to notify the school/teacher when the phone number changes. I have spent 15 minutes calling contact numbers for one student without being able to reach anyone. This is a safety concern.
They should just focus on working with Juniors and senior
at this point. Start the first of next year off where they are
At now.
What do I need to do to get Nehemiah’ Marfil’s school work packet. Whre and when do I pick it up..
Well we were one of the few that got a call, now I will say that the “blue card” that is sent home at the beginning of every year seems to never get updated to the corrections made on it….it always comes home with the 1st year’s info on it and we send it back with corrections every year.
We got the call, a lot of people are bad about updating their info. The schools send home forms with the students for parents to confirm/update contact information but at least a third don’t get returned.
Some of us are still working through this time and cannot answer our phones while at work. I personally received 12 phone calls between 0830 and 1015 that were labeled spam risk. 12. Poorly executed.
@ Anne—- absolutely! Everything you said is accurate. In addition, personally, I will take leave before I go back to an unsafe situation. Mr. Thomas would have had us back after spring break if the governor hadn’t forced his hand.
“What is he thinking” why is he putting teachers in harms way.? To stand or sit in an empty classroom and talk into a computer is about as much isolation you can get!
I just checked and the calls were labeled “ spam risk” when they came through on my phone so of course didn’t answer them. Maybe that was the case with others?
What happens if you dont have the correct number and the parents dont see the message?
What is Malcom Thomas thinking. All he is doing is putting teachers in harms way when making them go back to work on the 30th. Also do the phone survey again and see the true results before you make the teacher go back in to work. I know for a fact I did not receive a call yesterday and my phone works just fine. All the time my child’s school has automated messages I receive them but not this survey. I hope the elected county officials step in and stop this nonsense from happening. Also for all the ones complaining about the possibility of no graduation look at the big picture and stop being self centered and selfish. I’m for protecting our teachers and common sense. Which if they make the teachers go back and try to do this virtual teaching and the kids don’t have the internet at home it’s a big waste of time, money, and just putting teachers in harms way.
Mr.Thomas,
You have a system called FOCUS that parents/guardians can check to see if phone numbers are correct yet they can’t update if it’s wrong that is totally unacceptable. Who ever approved that system install that wouldn’t allow you to update your file should be removed from the IT department if that’s who approved it.Now they are going to have to call the school and get a recording that they can’t take your call and leave a message for a call back that never happen. I have been down that road several times.
When is Malcom Thomas going to realize he is putting the teachers in harms way making them go back to work on the 30th. He should try his phone survey again and see who has the internet. I did not receive a call yesterday, but it is strange he is say most phone numbers did not work yet every time the school does an automated message I revive it but not this one. I think the county administrator should step in and stop his plan on making the teachers come back on the 30th. I’m for better safe then sorry, and use common sense!! Also all the people worried about the possibility of no graduation need to look a the big picture, and stop being self-centered and selfish.
sounds like the county system has not been working and no one cared till this virus came up. then the school system has old telephome #’s. funny how being unprepared jumps up and bites you in an emergency.
Good luck with that. People change their phone numbers for a myriad of reasons and beyond porting their contacts list, they apparently just don’t think about notifying anyone else that they have a new phone number. But if you need to call them and are unable to reach them because you have their old phone number, and they suffer some adverse consequence from that, it will be your fault for not calling them. Welcome to my world.
Escambia County Schools have a HUGE number of students who seem to be moving every couple of months, they may – or not – change attendance zones but they are very mobile in changing addresses and parents phone numbers as well as Parent or Guardian names.
Even parents who have been very stable in their homes have changed phone numbers or names and that is part of the needed information for school contact.
It is a good idea, and good parenting, to check with your child’s school to make sure all the contact, and a ton of other info, is up to date and accurate.
It’s important folks.
God Bless and protect us all, Please.