Alpine School District announced on September 2, 2026, that it can now notify parents of school emergencies within eight minutes of an incident being reported. The district published its standardized emergency communications protocol on Wednesday, Sept. 2, describing a system that handled approximately 25 emergencies or disruptions across its schools last year.
The protocol, which has been in development for two years, relies on a messaging platform called Apptegy. District office staff send alerts to parents via text, email, and phone calls using pre-loaded message templates. The system also translates every alert into the recipient's preferred language.
According to Joe Hayes, the district's director of operations, the system managed incidents including power outages, gas leaks, and wildlife on the loose. Of the incidents handled last year, four required evacuations and six triggered a SECURE status. Hayes noted that while many disruptions are easy to resolve, the district must plan for worst-case scenarios.
Rich Stowell, the district's communications director, stated that the setup allows school staff to focus on student safety rather than drafting messages. The process involves more of the right people and includes a review for improvements after each incident.
The use of a centralized system allows administrators to report issues and immediately focus on managing the situation on the ground, according to Grovecrest Elementary assistant principal Ruthie Cheeseman. Last year, her school conducted a precautionary evacuation after staff detected an unidentified odor.
More serious situations trigger the Standard Response Protocol, a framework providing shared language and actions for students, staff, and first responders. The district expects several incidents each year across its 93 campuses.
Families seeking to ensure they receive alerts should verify that their contact information is current in Skyward, the district's student information system.
