Informacast Lockdown App

The new lockdown app, called Informacast, will serve as an additional layer of security, enabling any staff member to initiate a lockdown or request assistance from anywhere on school property quickly and efficiently. The app will eliminate the need to use a radio or phone, which may not always be immediately available. This allows for faster response times in critical situations. It will also alert staff members when a lockdown is initiated at their site, through either a text message or a push notification.

The app should be used to request classroom help or initiate a lockdown in cases of severe security threats like an assault or intruder whose intentions are unknown. It does not replace direct calls to administration.

All of our current systems and notification processes will remain in place. The Informacast app is an additional resource, not a replacement. Now, all staff members will have the option to immediately call a lockdown and to receive lockdown alerts on their phones, including those traveling between buildings. 

The app is available for download to any staff member with a smartphone. Please note: those operating vehicles, such as bus drivers, will continue to use our in-house routing and radio system for urgent communication to avoid distractions while driving. 

Users can choose to receive notifications either through text messages or push notifications.

Traveling staff will receive instant notifications and information about all the buildings they are assigned to. This is an improvement over our previous system, which only provided notifications for a staff member’s home building.

For mobile phones, download the app from the App Store. For iPads, download it through Self Service. On the first log in, use your name email (first.last@nkcschools.org). After the first log in, use your 9-digit number as your username.

While not mandatory, it is highly recommended that staff download the app on their mobile phones and district iPads through Self Service for enhanced security.

Location tracking is only activated if you grant permission and when you activate the lockdown feature. The app does not track your location otherwise.

The app is not geo-fenced, which means it can be activated from home or outside school property. We recommend you sign out of the app when you leave school to avoid unintended use, especially if others may be using your mobile phone. 

This function allows staff to quickly request support for issues during the school day, such as escalation or behavior. Choosing this option will send an alert to the building’s response team. Guidelines on the appropriate use of this feature will be developed by individual buildings; please look for additional information from your building principal. This program was successfully piloted at Linden West last school year. Please note this function should not be used during events outside of the school day.

Lockdown should be used to secure the school when an intruder is present with unknown or hostile intent. Classroom Help should be used when staff need additional support with student behavior or situations.