POST FALLS - The Post Falls School District has launched an emergency notification system to alert parents via text about issues that affect their children.

"The system allows the district to communicate to parents regarding important matters such as a school lockdown or school closure," said Superintendent Jerry Keane. "It's one more tool to help with communication."

About 3,000 parents have signed on to the SchoolMessenger system, Keane said.

The system cost $6,400 and was paid for with state funding that the district receives for technology-related projects.

Keane said the system was recently used to announce a practice lockdown drill at River City Middle School.

"It worked well," he said. "We are planning to do the same with future practice lockdown drills."

Earlier this school year, a small amount of smoke was seen coming from River City near the end of a school day and students were evacuated as a precaution.

Keane said that was an example of how the notification system would have come in handy as some parents were calling the district and media inquiring about what was happening.

"It would have been a perfect opportunity to use the system," he said.

Keane said the system should also work well for notifying families about school closures due to weather or other factors. Such announcements have been made on TV stations and on the district's website. Those methods will continue to be used.

In some emergencies, rumors can travel fast with technology-savvy students. SchoolMessenger can help squelch those at the parent level, Keane said.

Any parent wanting to join the system should call their child's school secretary and register their cell phone number with the school if it isn't already. Directions will be given at that time about how to opt-in to the system.

The system allows for up to 160 characters in a text. In cases in which longer messages are needed, parents may be directed to the district's website for more information.

Keane said the district may consider expanding the use of the system to other groups in the future, but parents and guardians are the first focus.

The system has the capability to send messages only to parents who have children at a particular school or schools.

The Coeur d'Alene and Lakeland school districts have already had parental emergency notification systems in place.

Lakeland's program, called PowerAnnouncement, was used earlier this winter about a vehicle chase and shooting in the Athol area, which temporarily shut down a school. It also has features for non-emergency situations, including newsletters, general announcements and report cards.

"We have used it to provide information to parents regarding the new mobile medical clinic and some school surveys," said Georgeanne Griffith, who manages the system.