When the district needs to communicate with the entire CBSD community or large portions of the community, the district uses a service called "Messages XR Enterprise," or Messages XRE, to send email, text and voice messages. The service is operated by Finalsite, the same company that hosts the district's website.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the district's mass notification system, Messages XRE, used?
The system is used by the district to send important messages quickly to parents, guardians, staff members, students and community members. These messages can be sent by email, text and/or phone and can concern important information about district operations and initiatives; emergency situations or other urgent matters; and school delays or closings due to inclement weather or other issues.
I am a parent/guardian of a current CB student. Do I need to register or sign up to receive automated messages?
No. If you are a parent, guardian or staff member in Central Bucks School District, you will automatically receive messages the district distributes via the system.
How do I opt out of text messages?
Text STOP to 23177 and you will not receive text messages. You will still receive emails and phone calls.
How will parents and guardians receive notifications?
There are different ways messages will be delivered to parents and guardians.
- For non-emergency messages, you will receive an email from the district, school or transportation office.
- For attendance messages, you will receive a phone call.
- In the event of a closure due to weather or a school emergency, you will receive text messages and emails. Subsequent text message and emails may be sent depending on the event to keep the community updated.
I am a CB community member without students in CBSD schools and would like to receive communications from the district. Can I sign up?
The district maintains an email list of community members who wish to receive community-wide emails sent by the district. Learn more.
How will I know that I have received an attendance message?
- Your Caller ID will display the school's or district's main number.
- The system will leave a message on any answering machine or voicemail.
What if the line is busy or there is no answer?
The system will make up to four attempts to reach each number, with three minutes between each call. If there is no answer after the fourth attempt, the system will consider that a failed call. If you are aware of a message that was not delivered to your number, please contact your school.
How does the system know the difference between a live person and an answering machine?
The system uses Advanced Machine Detection (AAMD) software. This software allows the system to start the message immediately after the phone is answered while listening for interruptions. If the system is not interrupted within the first 3.5 seconds, the message is delivered in its entirety. If the system detects a greeting longer than a few seconds, it treats this as an outgoing message from an answering machine and will wait for a pause before beginning the message.
Why might I only receive half or part of the message on my answering system?
Your machine or answering service through your telephone provider may only record a portion of a message if your greeting is sporadic with varied periods of silence. This may be mistaken for a live answer and the message will start playing before your outgoing message has finished.
My Caller ID shows the school or district called, but there is no message. Why?
The system plays the message as soon as the phone is picked up or answered. However, errors can occur if the person repeatedly says "hello" or answers in a noisy environment. Generally, if a person offers an extended greeting such that it overlaps the message, the system pauses, waits for silence, and replays the message from the beginning. With background noise, it is possible that the system is unable to detect the end of the "greeting" and thus the message did not initiate. In a noisy environment, call recipients can press any number (1-9) and the message will play from the beginning without interruption.