Gettysburg Area School District leaders are working to enhance emergency communication.
District Director of Safety and Security Jim O’Shea told the board on Monday that the administration is slowly rolling out the Raptor Alert System. O’Shea said the phone and computer app will allow staff and administrators to report emergencies in real-time and call 911 if necessary. The app requires two-factor authentication so users cannot accidentally call 911. If a call is still accidentally made, O’Shea said, it can be instantly canceled.
The Raptor Alert System also helps principals and teachers locate students who use the app during an emergency. Teachers will also be able to use the system to take attendance. The app will integrate with the district’s student information system, Skyward, so data does not need to be entered twice, O’Shea said.
O’Shea said administrators are testing the app and teachers will receive access for testing in early 2024. The district plans to go live with the system during the 2024-25 school year.
“This is just another tool, we will still maintain the emergency protocols we have in place,” O’Shea said.
Biliteracy seal
Gettysburg High students are now able to add another credential to their resume, Principal Jeremy Lusk told the board.
The Pennsylvania Seal of Biliteracy recognizes students who can speak, listen, and write at a high level in English and another language, Lusk said, including American Sign Language. Lusk cited several advantages of incorporating the Seal of Biliteracy, including promoting civil and global engagement, and readiness to engage in the global community.
The district will recognize students who receive the award at the end-of-year award ceremony. It will also list their accomplishment in the high school graduation program, Lusk said.
Twenty-two districts have awarded the PA Seal of Biliteracy to students, including Adams County’s Upper Adams and Conewago Valley school districts.
Alex J. Hayes has spent almost two decades in the Adams County news business. He is passionate about sharing stories focused on the people in our communities and following local governments in an age when few journalists report on their meetings. Alex is also a freelance writer for several other publications in South Central Pennsylvania. Alex encourages readers to contact him at ahayes83@gmail.com.