Committee approves technology reorganization and three‑year RAVE safety app contract

The Blackstone–Millville Regional School Committee voted unanimously June 22 to reorganize the district’s technology office and approve a three‑year contract for a school safety and notification app.

Dan Saltzman, the district’s lead technician, described progress on electronic registration and re‑registration using the existing Aspen student information system and explained challenges of ensuring family access. He also outlined a reorganization of the technology office: the current data specialist position will be retitled and reclassified as an assistant office manager with broader responsibilities (help‑desk management, project coordination, liaison duties and continued state reporting). The committee confirmed the position is not a new FTE and the budgetary funding had been included in the technology line.

On a separate operational item, Denise Carrier presented vendor research and a three‑year quote for the RAVE emergency‑communication system, explaining geofenced notifications, two‑way app functionality and interoperability with local emergency dispatch. The committee discussed staff training, union communication and a one‑year vs three‑year purchase option; the committee approved the three‑year contract for the quoted price and asked staff to negotiate implementation details with the vendor and union where required.

“Programming can happen in one day; law enforcement can access the system and authorities can be notified through existing 911 dispatch when required,” Carrier said, describing how the system integrates with regional emergency response. The committee asked staff to ensure staff notification expectations and bargaining implications are handled through normal labor‑management channels.

What’s next: Staff will implement the new job title and duties and begin contract implementation for the RAVE system, bringing back specifics on staff rollout, union impacts and any additional budget items.