12/9/2003, Disclaimer: The Harford County Public School System cannot guarantee instant transmittal of information through schoolsout.com. On days when schoolsout.com experiences heavy usage, such as during major weather events, messages transmitted by schoolsout.com may be delayed for an undetermined time. For immediate information during these times, always visit the HCPS website at http://www.hcps.org FIRST for the most up-to-the-minute information.

In cooperation with a private Internet-based company, those interested in being notified of breaking school news or emergencies may do so through their home or business e-mail system.

The Harford County Public School System has entered into a contract with School's Out, Inc. to provide the opportunity for anyone interested to sign up, free of charge, to be on an e-mail call list for vital information. Those who want to be part of the system need only enter the Internet address http://www.schoolsout.com/view/school/46 into their web browser. Step-by-step instructions are listed at the conclusion of this article for the patron to enter an e-mail address into the School's Out, Inc. service. Users can register as many e-mail addresses as they desire.

When the Harford County Public School web administrator, acting on directions from the Superintendent of Schools and the Office of Public Information, provides an emergency or otherwise important message to the School's Out organization, it will immediately be transmitted to the e-mail addresses of those who have registered for the service.

A part of the contract with School's Out, Inc. and the Harford County Public School System establishes that e-mail addresses given to the private provider will not be sold or otherwise transmitted to any person or firm. In addition, subscribers will not be solicited for any product or service, though there is a limited amount of advertising on the School's Out, Inc. web site. School's Out, Inc. is located in New Market, Maryland.

"We see this service as just one more way we can be in communication with the public – especially our parents – in times of emergency, or when we have an important piece of information to convey," said Harford School Superintendent Jacqueline C. Haas. "We already post emergency information and a wide variety of other news on our web site, but this new service will provide communication of the information to whatever e-mail addresses are registered with School's Out, Inc."

Mrs. Haas emphasized that those who sign up through School's Out, Inc. do not have to do anything beyond the registration to receive the e-mail messages. And, she added, those who desire to terminate the service may do so by logging onto the http://www.schoolsout.com web site and follow the instructions to do so.

The HCPS to schoolsout.com connection is a secure line on which information can be posted only by the school system’s web administrator. Only those messages which are considered by the Superintendent or her designee to be of significant importance will be communicated through the system. "I can anticipate that we would provide information on any school closing for inclement weather or other emergency situations as soon as I make the decision," said Mrs. Haas. "That means, as soon as I determine road conditions are not safe enough to warrant our buses being on the roads in the morning, I will authorize our Information Office to communicate that information through our web administrator to schoolsout.com, and it will be transmitted to subscribers’ e-mail systems." Mrs. Haas said that emergency information will continue to be communicated, as appropriate, through commercial radio and television stations, as well as on the HCPS web site (http://www.hcps.org).

The Superintendent said a similar entry will be made in case there is an early closing of school or other changes in schedule. She said that unanticipated schedule changes at individual schools could also be listed on http://www.schoolsout.com. In addition, messages listing special countywide school meetings, changes in the times or dates of previously scheduled meetings, important information about the operation of the school system, and a number of other items could be forwarded to subscriber’s e-mail. Users would be able to delete messages not of interest to them or after they have taken note of the information.

Provisions exist in the contract with School's Out, Inc. for either the school system or the company to discontinue the service after a 30-day notice.

For more information on the School's Out, Inc. arrangement with the Harford County Public Schools, call the system’s Information Office, (410) 588-5203.

Directions for Subscribing to School's Out:

• Go to the School's Out home page for HCPS at:
  http://www.schoolsout.com/view/school/46
• Scroll down to the box next to the "Subscribe Me" button. Enter your e-mail address in the box and click on the "Subscribe Me" button.
• Check your email for the confirmation e-mail from School's Out, Inc.