Parents will receive a text message when their child does not show up to school, once the new policy set by Piedmont Unified School District (PUSD) kicks in this fall. The automatic notification system, run through Infinite Campus, will allow families to stay informed of their children’s location. PHS currently uses an automatic dialer that calls student’s homes the day following an absence.

“It’s our due diligence as a school site to account for all of our students,” Vice Principal Anne Dolid said.

Teacher’s attendance logs on Infinite Campus will communicate directly with the auto texting system. Though the details are not set, Dolid said the text will likely be sent out 15 to 20 minutes into second block, allowing time for students who are tardy or have doctors’ appointments to arrive before their parents are notified.

Adding the automatic texting feature was partly influenced by the kidnapping of a high school student in Morgan Hill on her way to school last March. Sierra LaMar, 15, was gone for the entire school day and was not reported missing until she did not arrive at home, according to CNN.

Dolid said the school had a “few scares” last year when parents arrived on campus to pick up their child, and their child was not at school.

“That’s embarrassing, and it puts the student at risk,” Dolid said.

PUSD may soon be joined by all public school districts. Responding to the kidnapping, California congresswoman Zoe Lofgren said she is advocating for a bill that would force schools to notify parents immediately if a child does not show up to class, according to SFweekly.

Graphic by Luke Johnson