Community Notice: Ed-Alert Database Update

Most parents are aware that Darien Public Schools' Ed-Alert system is an emergency notification service that allows parents and staff to receive emails and text messages about urgent information from the Office of the Darien Superintendent of Schools. Our system has been in effect for the last two school years.

Our IT Department has notified us that for efficiency of operation, we need to cleanse the database and conduct a re-enrollment for all parents and staff who would like to be recipients of Ed-Alert messages.

Therefore, the current Ed-Alert database will be erased at the end of the school day (approximately 4 p.m.) on Friday, Oct. 16, 2009 and all recipients will need to re-enroll in order to receive Ed-Alerts after that.

Re-enrollments prior to 4 pm on Oct. 16 will not be effective. You must wait until after noon on Oct. 17 to establish your updated account.

You can update your account on the Ed-Alert website.

Remember that Darien Public Schools' Ed-Alert system works as an opt-in service where you can subscribe to whichever list(s) you choose under the category of "Subscribe Me To These Lists." Also, you may opt-out of Ed-Alert, or change lists, or update your information at any time, just by revising your information at this site:

We recommend that each subscriber sign up for the "District Information" list plus for each school at which the subscriber has a child enrolled. Please note that it is your responsibility to keep your account information (email addresses and cell phone numbers and list choices) current. The Darien Public Schools provides the notification service, but it is the subscriber 's responsibility to provide account information and to keep it updated.

As in the past, we expect that Ed-Alert messages will be used for weather and emergency information. It will not be used frequently; the availability of this service has improved communications and helped provide a measure of peace of mind. Subscribing to the Ed-Alert system is entirely up to you. Thank you.

Sincerely yours,

Donald P. Fiftal
Superintendent of Schools
203-656-7400