Community-wide test scheduled

The town of Harvard announced this week that it has selected the Blackboard Connect mass notification platform, enhancing communication and emergency preparedness. The first community-wide test call is scheduled for July 7.

Harvard has implemented the Blackboard Connect platform so that town officials can directly notify, update, and provide direction to the community in an efficient, timely manner, should a need arise. Using the Blackboard Connect platform, officials can record, send, and track personalized voice messages to thousands of residents, businesses, and local agencies in just minutes, through a single phone call. The town can also send text messages to cell phones, PDAs, e-mail accounts, and TTY/TDD receiving devices for the hearing impaired.

“When Harvard was hit by a severe ice storm in 2008, we leveraged the school district’s Blackboard Connect system to communicate with contacts within the school’s community. Although we were able to successfully reach many residents, the situation also shed light on the fact that we needed a reliable way to reach out to the entire town, should a need arise, which is why the town has implemented the Blackboard Connect service,” said Fire Chief Robert Mignard, who is the town’s emergency management director. “We are pleased that we now have a more efficient, streamlined way to reach residents with important, time-sensitive information.”

Town administrators can target each message to an unlimited number of groups—everything from mobilizing response teams to coordinating efforts with necessary agencies or volunteers. Authorized users can also use a map on the Blackboard Connect system to contact specific geographical locations, sending messages only to the residents within select neighborhoods when needed.

“With the Blackboard Connect service we can quickly notify residents of an urgent situation or any other important matter that may affect our community, which will help to ensure everyone is kept safe and informed,” Mignard said. “In order to make best use of the system and ensure residents are prepared to receive important notifications at all times, everyone should register their cell phones, private lines, and e-mail addresses into the service’s secure database.”

Publicly available primary residential and business phones in Harvard will automatically be included in the system. However, to ensure that the town has the most up-to-date contact information, residents should visit the town website (www.harvard.ma.us) and click on the link that says “Sign Up Now – Services By Blackboard Connect” to provide their complete information (up to three phone numbers and two e-mail addresses) and indicate if they have a TTY/TDD. Those without Internet access are encouraged to use the computers at the Harvard Public Library or call 978-456-4100 to provide their up-to-date contact information. Residents with call-blocking services should add 978-456-4100 to their approved number list to ensure they receive essential notifications from the town.

“The best way to keep residents informed and therefore safe is through communication, and the Blackboard Connect platform makes it easy,” said Karl Engkvist, executive vice president of Blackboard Connect. “With the Blackboard Connect platform, administrators have a powerful tool for mass communication without having to purchase new computers, software, and telephone lines.”

Blackboard Connect Inc. does not sell, lease, share, or rent personally identifiable information (names, addresses, phone numbers, etc.) to any companies or persons outside of Blackboard or its service providers.

For more information on the Blackboard Connect platform visit www.blackboard.com/Alert-Notification/Connect-Platform.aspx or contact the company at 818-808-1789.